Elaine Wynn, possibly the most visible executive in Wynn Resorts after her ex-husband Steve Wynn, and John Strzemp, one of the major “behind the scenes” influences in the company, both passed away last week. Each of them contributed mightily to the success of Mirage Resorts and subsequently Wynn Resorts.
The culture of the Mirage/Wynn companies was unlike any other in the gaming industry. It was fostered by Steve and Elaine Wynn who desired to give their customers the best experience by giving their employees the power to make it right if a customer had an issue.
Elaine’s presence at Steve’s side and on her own sent a powerful message to the women who worked in the industry. John Strzemp’s domain was equally as important and focused on the gaming floor, particularly poker, where he could identify with the players because he himself was a player.
Elaine’s Legacy
Elaine Wynn died at 82 years old April 14 after a short illness surrounded by family and loved ones. Her death was announced by the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation.
Wynn Resorts issued a statement about Wynn:
“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 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 was married to Steve Wynn in 1963 and helped him revitalize the Wynn bingo business in Maryland after the untimely death of his father.
They grabbed an opportunity to invest in the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas in 1967, with the help of legendary Las Vegas banker Parry Thomas, and then bought the Downtown Las Vegas Golden Nugget. In 1980, they opened the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, which quickly became the top casino on the Boardwalk.
When offered $440 million by Bally’s in 1987, they sold the Atlantic City property and formed Mirage Resorts. Elaine 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, with Encore Las Vegas following soon thereafter. The company also obtained a license to operate casinos in the former Portuguese colony of Macau.
Elaine left the board of Wynn Resorts in 2020 after helping Wynn Resorts get licensed for its Massachusetts casino, Encore Boston Harbor.
Elaine was twice married to Steve, but endured a bitter breakup following the second divorce when her ex-husband sued her for control of her shares of Wynn Resorts. When Wynn stepped down as chairman of Wynn Resorts in 2018, following a sexual harassment scandal, Elaine became one of the largest shareholders. At the time of her death, she controlled over 9 percent of shares, second only to Tilman Fertitta, who now owns over 11 percent of shares.
Charity Involvement
But Elaine Wynn’s enduring legacy will surely be her philanthropy, which concentrated on education in Nevada at all levels. Her efforts at first were focused on UNLV where she led the charge to build the Thomas & Mack Center, an arena for the then popular basketball team.
In 1985, she became chairwoman of the UNLV Foundation, the university’s fundraising arm. In 2011, she was appointed to co-chair Nevada’s Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force. She was also co-chair of the Greater Las Vegas After-School All-Stars.
She was most proud of her involvement in Communities in Schools, an organization that helps at-risk students navigate social services, such as healthcare, counseling and scholarship opportunities.
Elaine is survived by two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian Wynn, as well as seven grandchildren.
Touching Tributes
Tributes poured in following the announcement of her death.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo posted to X:
“Donna and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn this morning. Not only was Elaine a visionary Las Vegas businesswoman, but she was an unparalleled philanthropist with a deep love for improving education and bettering her community. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with her family and loved ones.”
UNLV Officer in Charge Chris Heavey referenced Elaine’s funding of the Lee Pascal Rose Garden in honor of her mother. The garden includes “Show Biz,” roses, recognizing the Wynn family’s involvement in the gaming and entertainment world.
“The UNLV family was profoundly saddened to learn of the passing of business entrepreneur and philanthropist Elaine Wynn today,” Heavey said. “Her advocacy for UNLV and education at all levels in Las Vegas could be seen in her dedication and generosity as a founding member of the UNLV Board of Trustees and active engagement with the university for 25 years, including her tenure as board chair. We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to Elaine’s family at this time.”
Former Mayor Oscar Goodman told a story about a dinner he hosted with his wife Carolyn, also a former Las Vegas mayor, during the filming of the movie Casino, in which he played a small role. The event included the star of the production, Sharon Stone.
“At the end of dinner, Carolyn collected the dishes and went into the kitchen, and Elaine and Sharon Stone also got up to help,” Goodman said. “These three regal women, side-by-side, working together. It was amazing. It’s a memory that is still very vivid to me.”
Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, the leaders of Station Casinos, sent an email:
“Elaine Wynn was an extraordinary visionary and an accomplished business leader. Her legacy will be most profoundly felt through her philanthropic efforts, especially those aimed at helping children, as she empowered countless young people to reach for their dreams. Our community, state, and nation are better off because of the exceptional life she led and the example she set.”
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health co-founder Larry Ruvo was Steve Wynn’s partner in Southern Wine & Spirits, the main distributor for Las Vegas. He remembers Elaine as a “beautiful woman and a beautiful person.”
“She guided me through my life, helped immensely with the Cleveland Clinic, my personal life when I married Camille, a huge supporter of us,” Ruvo said. “I am an only child, but when she came into my life, I had a sister.”
Strzemp Remembered
John Strzemp II was born in Chicago on November 3, 1951 to John and Dolores Strzemp. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois and was a CPA. He held executive positions at several Las Vegas casinos, including the Aladdin, Hilton and the Dunes. He joined the Golden Nugget in 1978 as vice president of finance, and stayed with the Wynn organizations for the rest of his career. He was also president of Treasure Island.
At Wynn Resorts, Strzemp was the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of the company, a position he held from March 2008 before retiring in 2017. From September 2002 to March 2008, Strzemp served as executive vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer.
Steve Wynn paid tribute to Strzemp upon his retirement with a memo to Wynn team members in 2017:
“This week, after being a member of our Wynn family for 28 years, John Strzemp has decided to retire,” the memo said. “John worked with me at Mirage Resorts and has continued to be a key executive for me over the years, helping to grow our company on a global scale. I have great admiration for John and I’ve asked him to be a senior advisor to the company for the rest of this year, before going into full time retirement. I will miss John, and I know our Wynn team will, too.”
Poker Pro
Strzemp’s path to Las Vegas came through his love of gambling. Growing up on the streets of Chicago, he was adept at childhood games like matching baseball cards, flipping coins and playing poker. As a big fan of baseball through his devotion to the Chicago Cubs, Strzemp went to Las Vegas as a young man to bet baseball, which led to sports betting during the other seasons. While there, he began playing in poker tournaments at the Stardust, as well as being a regular at the midnight tournament at Palace Station.
Strzemp participated in the World Series of Poker most years and his most notable finish occurred in 1997, when he was heads-up at the final table with the legendary Stu Ungar, who had already won two Main Event bracelets. At the time, Strzemp was president of Treasure Island, and had to attend to his duties arriving to play in the tournament. The final table also included such skilled poker players as Ron Stanley and Mel Judah, but when it came down to the final two, Strzemp had $600,000 in chips to Ungar’s $2.5 million.
On the final hand Ungar raised $40K with an A-4 while Strzemp called with an A-10. The flop was A-5-3 off suit. Strzemp bet $120,000 and Ungar raised $800,000 and put Strzemp all-in. Fourth street brought another 3, giving Ungar two chances to win, and he got one of them when a Deuce flopped on the river giving him a straight and his third—and last—championship.
Friends Recall
Alan Feldman, the former spokesman for Mirage Resorts and a member of the AGA Gaming Hall of Fame, remembers Strzemp fondly. He recalls watching Super Bowl 34 in 2000 at the Mirage sportsbook, when Strzemp leaned over and told him he had bet $5,000 on the Rams.
“The game is very close ending with the opposing Titans player stretching out to almost reach the goal line as time expired,” Feldman says. “The Mirage explodes with people reacting to the result. In the midst of all the tumult, John leans over and whispers ‘never in doubt’ and calmly goes to collect his winnings.”
Marc Schorr, who was second in command to Steve Wynn for many years, also paid tribute to Strzemp:
“What a guy! Not only was John a brilliant CFO and gaming executive but also a good friend,” said Schorr. “The most valuable attribute John had, as a casino operator, was his understanding of the mentality of the customer, because he was a player himself. John was a world class poker player. He was loved by the employees he worked with and will be missed by anyone who knew him.”
Debi Nutton, also a Gaming Hall of Fame member, was running the table games for Mirage and Treasure Island at that time, and will miss Strzemp.
“I had the honor of being part of the Treasure Island opening team with John,” she said. “He was a dedicated and brilliant CFO, and later, our exceptional property president. When I joined Wynn Resorts, it was a privilege to be reunited with him. John was a true servant leader—an extraordinary example of integrity, humility, and the very best of the Wynn way.”
Ryan Beauregard, executive director of poker operations for Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, called Strzemp a mentor and a friend.
“John’s legacy will live on in the soul of Wynn Poker,” he said. “The knowledge he shared with those he mentored created a timeless playbook for what we, and our brand, should stand for in the industry.
“I am grateful for his lessons, and for the pride in ownership he instilled. His fingerprints will forever be part of my professional DNA, and his voice will always return when I am looking for advice.”
Strzemp is survived by son John Strzemp III and partner Winnie, parents of granddaughter Kylie, daughter Jacqueline Strzemp Miller/Joe Miller, brother Joe Strzemp, and Bonnie Ratner, his loving partner of 24 years.
