Sheldon Adelson, the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands and a major donor to Republican politicians, died late Monday following complications related to his cancer treatment, his company said. He was 87.
Adelsontook a leave of absence from Sands last week to resume treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Calling his achievements in the hospitality industry "well-documented," the company said that Adelson's vision "transformed the industry, changed the trajectory of the company he founded, and reimagined tourism" in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore.
Adelson was Sands' first employee, which has since grown to 50,000 employees.
"His impact on the industry will be everlasting," the company said.
Adelson's funeral will be held in Israel, the birthplace of his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson. Plans for a memorial in Las Vegas, where he ran the Venetian and Palazzo casinos, will be held at a later date.
The couple is a friend of President Donald Trump, who also owns a resort in Las Vegas. Trump gave Adelson's wife a Presidential Medal of Freedom award in 2018 for establishing research centers committed to fighting substance abuse.
