Elaine Wynn Passes Away

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Elaine Wynn, the former wife and business partner of Steve Wynn, died in April after a short illness, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was 82. Her death was announced by the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation.

Wynn Resorts issued the following statement: “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 Wynn was born in New York City and raised largely in Miami Beach. She graduated with a degree in political science from George Washington University in 1964. She married Steve Wynn in 1963 and helped him revitalize Wynn’s bingo business in Maryland after the untimely death of his father.

After moving to Las Vegas in 1967 to oversee various investments, she was co-founder of Mirage Resorts in 1989. She was heavily involved in the design of the Mirage, which transformed the Las Vegas Strip and gaming in general. The company later built Treasure Island and the Bellagio. Mirage was purchased by MGM Resorts in 2000.

Elaine and Steve Wynn founded Wynn Resorts in 2002 and opened Wynn Las Vegas in 2005. The company also obtained a license to operate casinos in the former Portuguese colony of Macau.

She left the board of Wynn Resorts in 2020 after helping the company win the license for the Massachusetts casino, Encore Boston Harbor.

But Elaine Wynn’s enduring legacy will surely be her philanthropy, which concentrated on education in Nevada at all levels.