Las Vegas Sands owner Miriam Adelson and Galaxy Entertainment Group’s Lui Che Woo stand as the world’s richest gaming industry representatives and the only ones in the top 200 of the Forbes’ 38th annual World’s Billionaires list, released overnight.
This year’s list, which features a record-breaking 2,781 billionaires – 141 more than last year – sees the world’s billionaires sitting with combined wealth of US$14.2 trillion, while 14 individuals boast fortunes of US$100 billion or more.
Leading the way for the global gaming industry is Adelson, the wife of Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson who passed away in 2021. Coming in at No.53 on the World’s Billionaires list, Adelson – who controls more than 50% of the company – boasts a fortune of US$32 billion according to Forbes, down from US$35 billion a year ago.
The only other gaming industry figure inside the top 200 is Galaxy Entertainment Group chairman Lui Che Woo, who places 180th with a US$11.2 billion fortune. The fortune of Dr Lui, who also heads Hong Kong construction giant K. Wah International Holdings, peaked at US$20.1 billion in 2018.
Other gaming industry identities to make the list include Bet365 co-CEO Denise Coates at No.249 with US$9.5 billion, Novomatic’s Johan Graf at No.385 with US$7.1 billion and Playtech founder Teddy Sagi at No.432 with US$6.4 billion.
Topping the World’s Billionaires list in 2024 is Bernard Arnault, Chairman And CEO of French luxury goods giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, with a US$233 billion fortune, while Elon Musk comes in second with US$195 billion.
The list includes 813 billionaires from the United States, followed by 473 in China and 200 in India.