Elaine Wynn, a pioneering casino executive, philanthropist, and co-founder of Wynn Resorts, died Monday at age 82, her family foundation announced Tuesday. A cause of death was not disclosed, but a spokesperson said she “passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a brief illness”.
Born Elaine Pascal in New York City in 1942, Wynn helped shape the modern Las Vegas Strip alongside her former husband, Steve Wynn. The couple married in 1963 and together developed iconic resorts including the Golden Nugget, The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio through Mirage Resorts. After selling Mirage Resorts in 2000, they co-founded Wynn Resorts, where Elaine Wynn served as a director and, for a time, the largest individual shareholder.
Wynn’s influence extended far beyond gaming. She was a driving force in Nevada’s education reform, serving on the State Board of Education and leading the Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force. She was also a passionate supporter of the arts, helping to establish the Las Vegas Art Museum in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and serving as co-chair of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Her philanthropic work included national leadership of Communities in Schools, a nonprofit dedicated to helping at-risk students, and chairing the UNLV Foundation. “She was a force for compassion, the arts and philanthropy in our city,” Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley said in a statement.
Wynn is survived by her daughters, Kevyn and Gillian, and seven grandchildren. Her foundation requested that contributions in her memory be made to support the construction of the Las Vegas Museum of Art.
“Elaine Wynn was more than a businesswoman or philanthropist; she was a force of nature—a curator of dreams in a city built on aspirations,” her foundation said.
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