Las Vegas dealmaker John Knott, best known for his part in the sales of several high-profile Strip properties, died August 16 at his home. He was 62.
As a member of the real estate giant CBRE Group since 1999, and head of the firm’s global gaming group since 2003, Knott brokered more than $1.2 billion of sales just in the last few years. They include: the stadium site for the Oakland Raiders ($77.5 million); the sale of the ill-fated Alon casino site to Wynn Resorts ($300 million); Virgin’s purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel ($500 million); and the shuttered Lucky Dragon ($36 million).
He also shopped the former Fontainebleau and shepherded a $345 million sale of the Sahara Hotel Casino just before the local property market collapsed in the global financial crisis a decade ago.
Michael Newman, managing director of CBRE’s Las Vegas office, hailed Knott’s “larger than life personality” and the “larger than life legacy” he leaves behind.
He “was deeply passionate about Las Vegas and remained bullish on the city even throughout the economic downturn,” Newman said.
