Elaine Wynn, the co-founder of Wynn Resorts and ex-wife of Steve Wynn, has passed away at the age of 82. According to local media reports, she died peacefully at her Los Angeles home on Monday following a brief illness.
In a statement, Wynn Resorts said, “We are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn and send our condolences to her daughters, grandchildren and her many close friends. As co-founder and one of the largest shareholders of Wynn Resorts, she helped to create and grow the company to become the most esteemed luxury resort brand in the world. Her many talents and special touches are indelibly imprinted on the company and still evident throughout our resorts.
“Elaine cared deeply about the employees of our resorts. The current and former employees who worked alongside her to create Wynn and Encore Las Vegas cherish the many fond memories they have of her, especially of when they opened Wynn Las Vegas with her 20 years ago this month.
“She was a tireless advocate for Las Vegas, for children and their education, and for the arts. We’re grateful that the enduring sense of philanthropy she instilled in our company continues to this day.”
Born in New York City in 1942 as Elaine Pascal, she first met Steve Wynn on a blind date with the pair marrying in 1963. They moved to Las Vegas in 1967 after investing in the Frontier Hotel and later founded Mirage Resorts in 1976. Its centerpiece – the 3,000-room The Mirage – is credited with ushering in the era of the Las Vegas mega-resort.
The couple went on to found Wynn Resorts in 2020, opening Wynn Las Vegas as a new benchmark of luxury on the Las Vegas Strip.
Elaine and Steve married twice and divorced twice – for the last time in 2010 but she continued as one of Wynn Resorts’ largest shareholders and wielded considerable influence, particularly after Steve Wynn was accused of sexual harassment and stepped down from the company in 2018.
However, it was Elaine Wynn’s philanthropic pursuits that largely defined her career.
Her charity, the Elaine P Wynn & Family Foundation – which first announced her passing – described her as a “a force of nature – a curator of dreams in a city built on aspirations.”
Wynn’s “most lasting contribution is the people-first culture she always prioritized,” the Foundation said. “Her unwavering empathy for her colleagues and employees is undeniably the magic quality she infused in everything she touched.
“As the largest individual shareholder of Wynn Resorts, Ms Wynn wielded significant influence, not just as an investor, but as a steward of a vision that transcended mere entertainment. She understood that Las Vegas was not just a destination; it was an experience – an ever-evolving tapestry woven with threads of art, culture and the human spirit.”
Wynn championed the arts via her work with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and more recently funding the soon-to-rise Las Vegas Museum of Art.
Through the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation, she also actively supported community organizations aligned with her passions. Committed to improving children’s lives through education, Elaine Wynn served in various leadership roles at local, state, and national levels, co-chaired Nevada’s Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force in 2011, resulting in significant reform legislation, and served on Nevada’s State Board of Education, twice elected as its President.
Additionally, she chaired the UNLV Foundation, demonstrating her strong devotion to higher education. She was a constant and engaging presence at the Elaine Wynn Elementary School.
She also dedicated herself to the mission of Communities In Schools (CIS), working as Chairman alongside Founder Bill Milliken to tirelessly provide resources for children to thrive. During her tenure, CIS expanded its reach to over 1.7 million students, across 2,900 schools in 26 states.
“As we remember Elaine Wynn, we celebrate a life lived with purpose – a life that embraced the extraordinary potential of Las Vegas, a city she truly loved,” the Foundation said. “Her legacy will echo through the vibrant streets and the stories of those she touched. In the heart and soul of Las Vegas, she will forever reign, not as Ms Las Vegas but as a visionary who turned possibilities into realities, inspiring all who followed in her footsteps.”
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