Sheldon Adelson Fights for No. 1 Spot
Sheldon Adelson must be a Rolling Stone's fan. He still can't get no satisfaction.
It seems being the third richest man in the United States has not sated Adelson's ambition or appetites. Oliver Staley interviewed the 73-year-old Adelson for Bloomberg at The Venetian on Tuesday about his desire to be the richest person in the country:
"I've already figured out when I am going to be No. 2 and No. 1."
No 2. is Warren Buffett and No. 1, of course, is Bill Gates. Adelson does not say if there are others running in this race. Buffett and especially his partner in charity, Gates, seem to be more focused right now on giving their money away; that sure makes it easier for Adelson to reach the top of the list.
Oh, in the interview, Adelson too mentions vague charitable plans to fight unspecified diseases at some future point. "I see this as my humanitarian legacy. We're prepared to pay billions."
How quirky that Adelson says "pay" billions instead of "give" billions; kind of makes it sound like a humanitarian legacy is something hanging in a store window with a price tag on it. Other little quirks Adelson offers in the interview are his similes for the discussion of his Macau casino operation.
"In my entrepreneurial language, it's a no-brainer. It's like bringing a blanket to someone on an ice floe, or bringing water to someone in the desert.''
These are Adelson's examples of entrepreneurship and not charity? Anyway, that is his view of what his Venetian Macau gambling operation will bring to tourists from Korea and Japan.
Of course, in my view, in charity, motivation is less important than action, the actual giving of money. In that regard, the only thing missing from Adelson's announced plan are those pesky details about when he will give these billions that will go to humanity to fight unnamed diseases and in what way he will give it. Charity is often done in private, yes, but understand if you are the third-wealthiest person in the country, people get really curious.
(Photo: Kim Cheung / AP)
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Why are you so hung up on his giving his money to charity. It is his money and he provided plenty of jobs for working people in several continents. This is ultimately more beneficial to society than some hand-out.
Posted by: s candland | September 28, 2006 at 07:12 PM
I don't get it. What's the point of this blog. The Pulitzer-Prize-winning Los Angeles Times thinks it's a great idea to provide space for the most inconsequential musings about Las Vegas and Las Vegans? This is your second entirely substance-free report on Sheldon Adelson. A little bird told me the Jewish Adelson gives a ton to right-wing pro-Israel shadowy Zionist groups. How about performing what is known as a little journalism, please, and investigating then reporting on this sinister aspect of where all those Venetian Hotel slot-machine quarters & high-roller millions are ending up.
Posted by: RussBBinVegas@aol.com | September 28, 2006 at 08:53 PM
"the Jewish Adelson" and "shadowy Zionists groups." Interesting, way of putting things. Do you think the ZOG is involved as well? I'll be sure to get right on that. Yrs., Richard
Posted by: Richard Abowitz | September 29, 2006 at 10:27 AM
Perhaps,it's high time to put this entrepreneur under the microscope and examine his claim to fame and his exact contributions to humanity. He founded a trade show expo and sold it to Softbank before the bubble burst (Excellent timing!) and re-invested in a "Sin" industry paying minimum wage and ruining thousands of families bankrupted by the very industry that propelled him to among the wealthiest. He will never be in the same league as Bill Gates, a selfless philantropist and who could argue how the "PC" changed society?
Adelson is a scum of society , make that a rich scum.
Posted by: george allen | September 29, 2006 at 10:51 AM
Very nice Russ, blame Mr. Adelson for supporting "right-wing, pro-Israel, shadowy, Zionist groups". As if donating money to a pro-Israeli organization (most likely AIPAC) or being pro-Israel is somehow fundamentally wrong or worthy of investigation. Remember that this blog does not owe you anything, and if the content is not to your anti-Semitic liking you can simply choose to stop reading it.
Posted by: Jeremy Ziskind | September 29, 2006 at 11:55 AM
Despite his financial wealth, Adelson is one of the most despised casino owners in Las Vegas. He's nothing but a thug who sends his lawyers instead of hit men after those who dare speak against him or otherwise challenge his role as dictator. No amount of money will buy him respect or admiration as he deserves neither. Even his own kids filed a lawsuit against him after asserting that he ripped them off in a financial scheme (he won the lawsuit, but it still speaks volumes about the kind of person he is). Maybe his alleged charitable contributions are some kind of effort to redeem his tarnished name. If so, it's going to take a whole lot of money and a whole lot of forgetting about all of the crap he's done to get where he is.
Posted by: joan | September 29, 2006 at 09:34 PM
"CONGRATULATIONS" Sheldon you deserve this success
I think you are Great man with a passion for life and achievement. You live up to your Starsign!!
Hope to see you in the near future.
Vicky Amery
Posted by: Vicky Amery | October 02, 2006 at 12:47 PM
When Sheldon Adelson says he's going to do something, you can take it to the bank. He is the biggest genius in the business world today. Adelson is truly a kind hearted man when it comes to charity. We need more people like him.
Posted by: RJ | April 05, 2008 at 12:59 PM
"In my entrepreneurial language, it's a no-brainer. It's like bringing a blanket to someone on an ice floe, or bringing water to someone in the desert.''
These are Adelson's examples of entrepreneurship and not charity?....Abowitz
It makes perfect sense as an example of his entrepreneurship.... he would never GIVE water to someone in the desert.
Posted by: Bogatyr | May 19, 2008 at 04:39 AM