Forbes Magazine’s 2022 World’s Billionaires List, released on April 5, puts Miriam Adelson at number 50 on the global rich list, with an estimated net worth of US$27.5 billion. The widow of casino legend Sheldon Adelson ranked first among those who reap their fortunes from Asian gaming.
Adelson, who died in January 2021, founded the Las Vegas Sands Corp., which has casino operations in Macau and Singapore. In February, with the $6.25 billion sale of its Las Vegas assets, Sands reaffirmed its commitment to Asian markets, though it also has its eye on U.S. states including Florida, New York and Texas.
Absent from the 2022 list is Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., which has operations in Macau, the Philippines and Cyprus. Ho had a net worth of $2.4 billion in 2021.
According to GGRAsia, there are 2,668 people on this year’s Forbes list, 87 fewer than a year ago. Those listed are worth a collective $12.7 trillion, down $400 billion on 2021′s aggregate. Many of those with riches derived from the Asian casino sector have seen a year-on-year decline in their net worth, linked to a decline in stock prices.
The second gaming name the global list, at No. 166, is Lui Che Woo, chairman of Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, with $11.6 billion, down from $19.4 billion last year.
Enrique Razon, chairman of Bloomberry Resorts Corp., promoter of the Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila, Philippines actually saw his wealth rise to $6.7 billion this year from $5 billion in 2021. Steve Wynn, a co-founder and former chairman of U.S.-based Wynn Resorts Ltd., which has Macau and Las Vegas, Nevada, operations, is number 913, with $3.3 billion, up from US$3.2 billion the previous year. His ex-wife and Wynn Resorts co-founder Elaine Wynn ranked at No. 1,645 on the list, with $1.8 billion, down from US$2.3 billion a year earlier.
Pansy Ho, a co-chair of Macau operator MGM China Holdings Ltd., is at No. 951, with $3.2 billion, down from $4.3 billion a year before. Her father’s fourth consort, Angela Leong On Kei, an executive director of Macau operator SJM Holdings Ltd, is No. 1,096, with $2.8 billion, compared to $3.4 billion in 2021.
