:Sheldon Adelson

Adelson was born on August 4, 1933, and grew up in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, the son of Sarah (née Tonkin) and Arthur Adelson.{{cite web|date=April 26, 2020|title=Sheldon Adelson Biography: Success Story of Las Vegas Sands CEO|url=https://www.vyapaarjagat.com/international/sheldon-adelson/|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=VyapaarJagat.com|language=en}} He was Jewish.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/sheldon-adelson-jewish-self-made-tycoon-passes-away-at-87-655157|date=January 12, 2021|work=The Jerusalem Post|title=Sheldon Adelson, Jewish self-made tycoon, passes away at 87|first=Greer Fay|last=Cashman|access-date=January 13, 2021}} His father's family was of Ukrainian Jewish and Lithuanian Jewish ancestry.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVX04oMAPu8C&q=%22Sheldon+Adelson%22+MOTHER+IMMIGRATED|title=The Computer Entrepreneurs|author1=Robert Levering|author2=Michael Katz|author3=Milton Moskowitz|publisher=Penguin|year=1985|access-date=August 19, 2012|isbn=9780452257504|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027150920/https://books.google.com/books?id=OVX04oMAPu8C&q=%22Sheldon+Adelson%22+MOTHER+IMMIGRATED|url-status=live}} His mother emigrated from England, and Adelson said that his grandfather was a Welsh coal miner.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sheldon-adelson-i-endorse-donald-trump-for-president/2016/05/12/ea89d7f0-17a0-11e6-aa55-670cabef46e0_story.html Sheldon Adelson: I endorse Donald Trump for president]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514080043/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sheldon-adelson-i-endorse-donald-trump-for-president/2016/05/12/ea89d7f0-17a0-11e6-aa55-670cabef46e0_story.html |date=May 14, 2016 }} The Washington Post. May 13, 2016. His father was a taxi driver, and his mother ran a knitting shop.{{cite news|last=Warren|first=Katie|title=Meet the casino billionaire behind The Venetian and Marina Bay Sands, who's worth $37 billion, lives in a Vegas mansion, and has donated more than $25 million to Trump|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-sheldon-adelson-billionaire-casino-mogul-megamansion-trump-2019-5|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=Business Insider|archive-date=April 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421070750/https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-sheldon-adelson-billionaire-casino-mogul-megamansion-trump-2019-5|url-status=live}}

He began his business career at the age of 10 when he borrowed $200 from his uncle ({{Inflation|US|200|1945|fmt=eq}}) and purchased a license to sell newspapers in Boston.{{cite web |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/risk-is-crucial-in-business-so-is-having-an-uncle-al/ |title=Risk is crucial in business; so is having an Uncle Al |first=John L. |last=Smith |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=May 6, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123815/http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/john-l-smith/risk-crucial-business-so-having-uncle-al |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }} In 1948, at the age of 15, he borrowed $10,000 ({{Inflation|US|10000|1948|fmt=eq}}) from his uncle to start a candy vending-machine business.{{cite web|last=Reinl|first=James|title=Who is Sheldon Adelson and can he sway the US election?|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2016/6/15/who-is-sheldon-adelson-and-can-he-sway-the-us-election|access-date=January 12, 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112150930/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2016/6/15/who-is-sheldon-adelson-and-can-he-sway-the-us-election|url-status=live}} He attended the City College of New York, but did not graduate.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson/#282be4944a22|title=Sheldon Adelson|work=Forbes|access-date=August 27, 2018|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116054901/https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson/#282be4944a22|url-status=live}} He attended trade school in a failed attempt to become a court reporter, then joined the army.

After being discharged from the army, he established a business selling toiletry kits, then started another business, De-Ice-It, which marketed a chemical spray that cleared ice from windshields. In the 1960s, he started a charter tour business.Rivlin, Gary [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/business/17adelson.html?ex=1358312400&en=b4cace9cda969972 "When 3rd Place on the Rich List Just Isn't Enough"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075209/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/business/17adelson.html?ex=1358312400&en=b4cace9cda969972|date=October 3, 2017}} The New York Times, January 17, 2008. He soon became a millionaire, although by his thirties he had built and lost his fortune twice. Over the course of his business career, Adelson created almost 50 businesses, making him a serial entrepreneur.[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/10/25/adeslon.facts/index.html Sheldon Adelson profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203115302/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/10/25/adeslon.facts/index.html |date=February 3, 2014 }} CNN.com, October 26, 2007.

In the late 1970s, Adelson and his partners developed the COMDEX trade shows for the computer industry, beginning in 1979. It was one of the largest computer trade shows in the world through much of the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1995, Adelson and his partners sold the Interface Group Show Division, including the COMDEX shows, to SoftBank Group of Japan for $862 million; Adelson's share was over $500 million.

File:Palazzo-at-night.JPG, Las Vegas]]

In 1988, Adelson purchased the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for $110 million (approximately {{Inflation|US|110000000|1988|fmt=eq|r=-4}}).{{Cite news|last1=Hagerty|first1=James R.|last2=Hagerty|first2=Alexandra|date=January 12, 2021|title=Sheldon Adelson, Casino Mogul and Big Republican Party Donor, Dies at 87|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sheldon-adelson-a-giant-in-the-casino-resort-industry-dies-at-87-11610457531|access-date=January 12, 2021|issn=0099-9660}} The next year, he and his partners built the Sands Expo and Convention Center, then the only privately owned and operated convention center in the U.S.{{Cite web|title=Las Vegas Sands Sells Venetian, Expo Center For $6.25B: What Investors Need To Know|url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/las-vegas-sands-sells-venetian-153013117.html|access-date=2021-11-13|website=www.yahoo.com|date=March 3, 2021 |language=en-US}}

In 1991, while honeymooning in Venice with his second wife, Miriam, Adelson came up with the idea for a mega-resort hotel. He razed the Sands and spent $1.5 billion to construct The Venetian, a Venice-themed resort hotel and casino, which opened on May 3, 1999.{{Cite web|title=Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson dies|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Casino-magnate-Sheldon-Adelson-dies|access-date=2021-11-13|website=www.travelweekly.com|language=en}}

In the late 2000s, Adelson and the company built a casino resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is one of five stand-alone casinos that were awarded a slots license by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2006. The casino opened May 22, 2009.Petty, Precious (June 10, 2009). [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2009/06/sands_casino_resort_bethlehem_1.html "Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem Opens With Pledge from Sheldon Adelson, Protest from Church Group"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924131412/http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/today/index.ssf/2009/06/sands_casino_resort_bethlehem_1.html |date=September 24, 2012 }}, The Express-Times; retrieved August 18, 2012.

In 2010, during the Great Recession, Adelson told The Wall Street Journal "If it were today, we probably wouldn't have started it."Assad, Matt. [http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2010_2nd/Apr10_SandsCEO.html "Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson Admits If He Had to Decide Today He Wouldn't Build a Casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103093852/http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2010_2nd/Apr10_SandsCEO.html |date=November 3, 2012 }}, hotels-online.com, April 8, 2010; retrieved August 18, 2012.

In 2019, the Las Vegas Sands Corp. sold the Bethlehem casino for $1.3 billion to Alabama-based Wind Creek Hospitality.Satullo, Sara. [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/03/we-now-know-exactly-whats-being-sold-in-the-sands-bethlehem-casino-deal.html "We now know exactly what’s being sold in the Sands Bethlehem casino deal"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203180057/https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/03/we-now-know-exactly-whats-being-sold-in-the-sands-bethlehem-casino-deal.html |date=February 3, 2023 }}, Lehigh Valley OnlineMar. 3, 2019; retrieved June 12, 2023. The new owner, Wind Creek Hospitality, is owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.Coneller, Philip. [https://www.casino.org/news/sands-bethlehem-officially-changes-name-to-wind-creek-bethlehem-to-reflect-new-ownership/ "Sands Bethlehem Officially Changes Name to Wind Creek Bethlehem to Reflect New Ownership"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203140751/https://www.casino.org/news/sands-bethlehem-officially-changes-name-to-wind-creek-bethlehem-to-reflect-new-ownership/ |date=February 3, 2023 }}, Casino.OrgJuly 19, 2019; retrieved June 12, 2023. The casino's new name is the Wind Creek Bethlehem.

File:Venetian Macau.jpg, the seventh-largest building in the world by floor space]]

Adelson led a project to bring Las Vegas Sands casinos to Macau. The {{convert|1000000|sqft|m2}} Sands Macao became China's first Las Vegas-style casino when it opened in May 2004.{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|title=Sands Macao: The House That Built Sheldon Adelson|language=en|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2014/05/15/sands-macao-the-house-that-built-sheldon-adelson/|url-status=live|access-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814201040/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2014/05/15/sands-macao-the-house-that-built-sheldon-adelson/|archive-date=August 14, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Warren|first=Katie|title=Meet the casino billionaire behind The Venetian and Marina Bay Sands, who's worth $37 billion, lives in a Vegas mansion, and has donated more than $25 million to Trump|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-sheldon-adelson-billionaire-casino-mogul-megamansion-trump-2019-5|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421070750/https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-sheldon-adelson-billionaire-casino-mogul-megamansion-trump-2019-5|archive-date=April 21, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020|website=Business Insider}} He recovered his initial $265-million investment in one year and, because he owned 69% of the stock, he increased his wealth when he took the stock public in December 2004. Following the opening of the Sands Macao, Adelson's personal wealth multiplied more than fourteen times.

In August 2007, Adelson opened the $2.4 billion{{Cite news|title=Macao opens world's largest casino, giving Las Vegas a run for its money|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/macao-opens-world-s-largest-casino-giving-las-vegas-a-run-for-its-money-1.959235|access-date=2021-11-13|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} Venetian Macao Resort Hotel on Cotai{{Cite news|last=Cohen|first=Muhammad|date=August 28, 2017|title=How the Venetian made Macau great again|url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2107790/how-venetian-made-macau-great-again|access-date=January 12, 2021|work=South China Morning Post|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2007-08-27|title=Adelson bets on Macau for world's biggest casino|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macau-casino-idUSHKG20423320070827|access-date=2021-11-13}} and announced that he planned to create a massive, concentrated resort area he called the Cotai Strip, after its Las Vegas counterpart. Adelson said that he planned to open more hotels under brands such as Four Seasons, Sheraton, and St. Regis. His Las Vegas Sands planned to invest $12 billion and build 20,000 hotel rooms on the Cotai Strip by 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/move-over-vegas-worlds-biggest-casino-opens-in-china/|title=Move over, Vegas: World's biggest casino opens in China|date=August 28, 2007|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920191140/http://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/move-over-vegas-worlds-biggest-casino-opens-in-china/|archive-date=September 20, 2017}}

Adelson's company was reportedly under federal investigation over alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act relating to payments made to a Macau lawyer.{{Cite news|title=Bribes, Chinese Mob Ties Alleged at Casino of Gingrich Money Man|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/bribes-chinese-mob-ties-alleged-casino-gingrich-money/story?id=15455918#.TyXe_YHgdJl|date=January 27, 2012|first1=Brian|last1=Ross|work=ABC News|first2=Matthew|last2=Mosk|first3=Cindy|last3=Galli|first4=Rhonda|last4=Schwartz|access-date=January 29, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128173014/http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/bribes-chinese-mob-ties-alleged-casino-gingrich-money/story?id=15455918#.TyXe_YHgdJl|archive-date=January 28, 2012}}{{cite web|author1=Isaacs, Matt |author2=Bergman, Lowell |author3=Engelberg, Stephen |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-investigation-of-leading-republican-money-man-sheldon-adelson|title=Inside the Investigation of Leading Republican Money Man Sheldon Adelson|publisher=ProPublica|date=July 16, 2012|access-date=August 23, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822163805/http://www.propublica.org/article/inside-the-investigation-of-leading-republican-money-man-sheldon-adelson|archive-date=August 22, 2012}} In 2015, Sands agreed to pay a $9 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission,{{cite magazine|last1=Choma|first1=Russ|title=Sheldon Adelson's Casino Agrees to Pay $9 Million in Foreign Corruption Case|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/04/sheldon-adelsons-casino-agreed-pay-9-million-foreign-corruption-case|magazine=Mother Jones|access-date=November 3, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104013301/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/04/sheldon-adelsons-casino-agreed-pay-9-million-foreign-corruption-case|archive-date=November 4, 2016}} which included no admission of wrongdoing.

File:Marina Bay Sands in the evening - 20101120.jpg, Singapore, the twelfth-most expensive building in the world]]

In May 2006, Adelson's Las Vegas Sands was awarded a hotly contested license to construct a casino resort in Marina Bay, Singapore. The new casino, Marina Bay Sands, opened in 2010 at a rumored cost of $5.5 billion.

In 2010, when it opened, at a total cost of S$8 billion including land cost, the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Complex of Singapore was the most expensive building in the world, ranking over the new development of World Trade Towers in Manhattan of New York and the Burj Khalifa of Dubai.{{cite web |title=Marina Bay Sands |url=https://waterb.com.sg/blog/marina-bay-sands%26ncat%3D1/ |website=Water B |access-date=Jan 30, 2021 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528225607/https://waterb.com.sg/blog/marina-bay-sands%26ncat%3D1/ |url-status=dead }}

MBS Singapore includes stores at "The Shoppes", an ultraluxury indoor Venetian canal-lined exclusive shopping belt with tenants such as Ferrari, Chanel, the Theatre of Marina Bay and Convention Center for Sands Live concert series, multiple swimming pools, a rooftop infinity pool, night clubs in Maison pavilions on newly constructed mini islands, and 2,500 luxury hotel rooms.{{cite web|last1=Staff Reporter|title=Singapore's 50 largest hotels 2015|url=http://sbr.com.sg/hotels-tourism/feature/singapores-50-largest-hotels-2015|website=Singapore Business Review|access-date=December 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906192434/http://sbr.com.sg/hotels-tourism/feature/singapores-50-largest-hotels-2015|archive-date=September 6, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Vare|first1=Rosie|title=Top 10 gambling cities around the world|url=http://money.aol.co.uk/2015/11/13/top-10-gambling-cities-around-the-world/|website=money.aol.co.uk|publisher=AOL Money|access-date=December 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116163658/http://money.aol.co.uk/2015/11/13/top-10-gambling-cities-around-the-world/|archive-date=November 16, 2015}}

{{main|Eurovegas}}

In 2012, Adelson proposed a hotel-casino complex in Europe, later narrowing it to Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. In 2013 the project was cancelled, allegedly because the Spanish government would not grant the asked exemptions from tax, employment and smoking regulations.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

File:The Parisian 2016.jpg, a $2.5 billion project]]

In 2007, Adelson made an unsuccessful bid to purchase the Israeli newspaper Maariv. When this attempt failed, he proceeded with parallel plans to publish a free daily newspaper to compete with Israeli, a newspaper he had co-founded in 2006 but had left.{{Cite news|author=|publisher=Arutz Sheva|title=American Billionaire Launching Free Israeli Daily|date=July 12, 2007|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/129798|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203115519/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/129798|archive-date=December 3, 2008}} The first edition of the new newspaper, Israel Hayom, was published on July 30, 2007. On March 31, 2014, Adelson received the go-ahead from a Jerusalem court to purchase Maariv and the conservative newspaper Makor Rishon.[http://www.jta.org/2014/03/31/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/sheldon-adelson-approved-to-buy-israeli-newspaper-website Sheldon Adelson approved to buy Israeli newspaper] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402041347/http://www.jta.org/2014/03/31/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/sheldon-adelson-approved-to-buy-israeli-newspaper-website |date=April 2, 2014 }}, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, March 31, 2014; accessed September 16, 2015. In 2016, Adelson's attorney announced that he does not own Israel Hayom, but that it is owned by a relative of his.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/adelsons-attorney-says-billionaire-doesnt-own-israel-hayom/|title=Adelson's attorney says billionaire doesn't own Israel Hayom|newspaper=The Times of Israel|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213152043/http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/adelsons-attorney-says-billionaire-doesnt-own-israel-hayom/|archive-date=February 13, 2016}}

According to a Target Group Index (TGI) survey published in July 2011, Israel Hayom, which unlike all other Israeli newspapers is distributed for free, became the number-one daily newspaper (on weekdays) four years after its inception.[http://www.israelhayom.com/site/israel.php "Israel Comes to You"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830041637/http://www.israelhayom.com/site/israel.php |date=August 30, 2012 }}, Israel Hayom; retrieved August 23, 2012. This survey found that Israel Hayom had a 39.3% weekday readership exposure, Yedioth Ahronoth 37%, Maariv 12.1%, and Haaretz 5.8%. The Yedioth Ahronoth weekend edition was still leading with a 44.3% readership exposure, compared to 31% for the Israel Hayom weekend edition, 14.9% for Maariv, and 6.8% for Haaretz. This trend was already observed by a TGI survey in July 2010.{{cite news|last=Friedman|first=Ron|title=Israel Hayom beats Yediot in readers|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Israel-Hayom-beats-Yediot-in-readers|access-date=January 25, 2014|newspaper=Jpost|date=July 29, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201235035/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Israel-Hayom-beats-Yediot-in-readers|archive-date=February 1, 2014}}

In 2011, the Israeli press said that Adelson was unhappy with the coverage on Israeli Channel 10 alleging he had acquired a casino license in Las Vegas inappropriately through political connections. The channel apologized after Adelson threatened a lawsuit. This led to the resignations of the news chief, Reudor Benziman; the news editor, Ruti Yuval; and the news anchor, Guy Zohar, who objected to the apology.{{Cite news|author=|url=http://www.vosizneias.com/90893/2011/09/08/jerusalem-israeli-news-chief-quits-over-apology-to-mogul|title=Israeli News Chief Quits Over Apology to Mogul|date=September 8, 2011|publisher=Vos Iz Neias?|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402045343/http://www.vosizneias.com/90893/2011/09/08/jerusalem-israeli-news-chief-quits-over-apology-to-mogul|archive-date=April 2, 2012}} After two months of deliberations, the Israeli Second Authority for Television and Radio ruled that although there were some flaws in the manner in which the apology had been conducted, the decision to apologize had been correct and appropriate.{{cite news|last=Cashman|first=Greer Fay|date=November 7, 2011|url=http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=244710|title=Second Authority backs Channel 10's Apology to Adelson|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816022510/http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=244710|archive-date=August 16, 2012}}

In December 2015, Adelson purchased the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper. The purchase was made through a limited liability company called News + Media Capital Group LLC and his involvement with the deal was initially kept secret.{{cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2015/12/15/the-las-vegas-review-journals-new-owner-hard-to-identify-sheldon-adelson/|title=Why The Las Vegas Review-Journal's New Owner Remains a Mystery|last=Primack|first=Dan|date=December 15, 2015|work=Fortune|access-date=October 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045036/http://fortune.com/2015/12/15/the-las-vegas-review-journals-new-owner-hard-to-identify-sheldon-adelson/|archive-date=October 12, 2017}} A week after the purchase was announced, three Review-Journal reporters revealed that the deal had been orchestrated by Adelson's son-in-law Patrick Dumont on Adelson's behalf.{{cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/adelson-son-in-law-orchestrated-familys-purchase-of-las-vegas-review-journal/|title=Adelson son-in-law orchestrated family's purchase of Las Vegas Review-Journal|last1=DeHaven|first1=James|last2=Stutz|first2=Howard|last3=Robison|first3=Jennifer|date=December 17, 2017|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=October 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044643/https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/adelson-son-in-law-orchestrated-familys-purchase-of-las-vegas-review-journal/|archive-date=October 12, 2017}} Commentators described the $140 million paid for the paper as "lavish" and as a dramatic overpayment, and speculated that the move was a power play to further Adelson's business or political agendas.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/business/media/sheldon-adelsonspurchase-of-las-vegas-paper-seen-as-a-power-play.html?_r=1|title=Sheldon Adelson's Purchase of Las Vegas Paper Seen as a Power Play|date=January 2, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095012/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/business/media/sheldon-adelsonspurchase-of-las-vegas-paper-seen-as-a-power-play.html?_r=1|archive-date=October 12, 2017}}

Within a few weeks the paper's editor stepped down in a voluntary buyout.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/23/460806804/newspaper-editor-steps-down-after-publications-billionaire-buyer-unmasked|title=Newspaper Editor Steps Down After Publication's Billionaire Buyer Unmasked|last=Domonoske|first=Camila|date=December 23, 2015|publisher=NPR|access-date=October 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044639/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/23/460806804/newspaper-editor-steps-down-after-publications-billionaire-buyer-unmasked|archive-date=October 12, 2017}} In January 2016, a set of editorial principles were drawn up and publicized to ensure the newspaper's independence and to deal with possible conflicts of interest involving Adelson's ownership. In February Craig Moon, a veteran of the Gannett organization, was announced as the new publisher and promptly withdrew those principles from publication. He also began to personally review, edit, and sometimes kill stories about an Adelson-promoted proposal for a new Las Vegas football stadium.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/02/sheldon-adelson-tightens-grip-on-review-journal-004384|title=Sheldon Adelson tightens grip on Review-Journal|last=Doctor|first=Ken|date=February 4, 2016|work=Politico|access-date=October 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828234017/http://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/02/sheldon-adelson-tightens-grip-on-review-journal-004384|archive-date=August 28, 2017}} In the months since, reporters say that stories about Adelson, and particularly about an ongoing lawsuit involving his business dealings in Macau, have been heavily edited by top management.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/business/media/in-adelsons-newsroom-looser-purse-strings-and-a-tighter-leash.html|title=In Sheldon Adelson's Newsroom, Looser Purse Strings and a Tighter Leash|last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=May 22, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914181551/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/business/media/in-adelsons-newsroom-looser-purse-strings-and-a-tighter-leash.html|archive-date=September 14, 2016}}

Many reporters and editors left the newspaper citing "curtailed editorial freedom, murky business dealings and unethical managers."{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/09/477423367/more-journalists-leaving-las-vegas-review-journal-after-sale-to-billionaire|title=More Journalists Leaving 'Las Vegas Review-Journal' After Sale To Billionaire|last=Wagner|first=Laura|date=May 9, 2016|publisher=NPR|access-date=October 11, 2017|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012094909/http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/09/477423367/more-journalists-leaving-las-vegas-review-journal-after-sale-to-billionaire|url-status=live}} All three reporters who originally broke the story about Adelson's ownership have left. Longtime columnist John L. Smith, who had often written about Adelson and had been unsuccessfully sued for libel by him, resigned after he was told he could no longer write anything about Adelson.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal was the first major newspaper nationwide to endorse Trump in 2016.{{cite news |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-donald-trump-president | title = EDITORIAL: Donald Trump for president | date = October 22, 2016 | work = Las Vegas Review-Journal | edition = online | access-date = October 25, 2016 | url-status = live | archive-url=https://archive.today/20161023175105/http://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-donald-trump-president | archive-date = October 23, 2016 | df = mdy-all }}{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-lands-first-major-newspaper-endorsement/ar-AAjhTIP?ocid=ob-fb-enus-280|title=Trump lands first major newspaper endorsement|publisher=MSN|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034207/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-lands-first-major-newspaper-endorsement/ar-AAjhTIP?ocid=ob-fb-enus-280|archive-date=October 14, 2017}}

In a panel discussion at Yeshiva University on October 22, 2013, Adelson said that the United States must get tougher on the issue of Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program. He said: "You pick up your cell phone and you call somewhere in Nebraska and you say 'OK, let it go' and so there's an atomic weapon goes over, ballistic missiles in the middle of the desert that doesn't hurt a soul, maybe a couple of rattlesnakes and scorpions or whatever". He explained that, after a show of force and a threat to also drop a nuclear bomb on Tehran, the U.S. should then say: if "You [Iran] want to be peaceful, just reverse it all and we will guarantee that you can have a nuclear power plant for electricity purposes, energy purposes."{{cite news|title=Adelson: Nuke Iran to Get It to Talk Business (video)|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/adelson-nuke-iran-to-get-it-to-talk-business-video/2013/10/24|access-date=October 26, 2013|newspaper=Jewish Press|date=October 24, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025234929/http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/adelson-nuke-iran-to-get-it-to-talk-business-video/2013/10/24/|archive-date=October 25, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Shwayder|first=Maya|title=Adelson: US should drop atomic bomb on Iran|url=http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Adelson-US-should-drop-atomic-bomb-on-Iran-329641|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=October 24, 2013 |access-date=October 26, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026010121/http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Adelson-US-should-drop-atomic-bomb-on-Iran-329641|archive-date=October 26, 2013}} Adelson's spokesman told reporters that Adelson "was obviously not speaking literally" about using an atomic bomb in the desert, and that he was "using hyperbole to make a point that ... actions speak louder than words".{{cite web|title='Loose the nukes' talk from Adelson isn't helping|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/steve-sebelius/loose-nukes-talk-adelson-isnt-helping|access-date=October 31, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101142925/https://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/steve-sebelius/loose-nukes-talk-adelson-isnt-helping|archive-date=November 1, 2013}}

During the Suen trial, Bill Weidner, the president of Adelson's Las Vegas Sands company, testified about a telephone conversation between Adelson and his friend then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) about a bill proposed by Representative Tom Lantos (D) that would have prevented the U.S. Olympic Committee from voting in favor of the Chinese bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. A few hours later, DeLay called back and told Adelson he could tell the mayor of Beijing "this bill will never see the light of day". The resolution did not pass. Adelson testified in court that the demise of the resolution "resulted from the press of other legislation, [not from] a deliberate move by DeLay to help his benefactor."

Fighting cannabis legalization was a personal passion of Adelson, whose son Mitchell died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine.{{cite web|last1=Fineout|first1=Gary|title=Casino mogul and trial lawyer pay for pot battle|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/23/casino-mogul-and-trial-lawyer-pay-for-pot-battle/?page=all|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119063037/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/23/casino-mogul-and-trial-lawyer-pay-for-pot-battle/?page=all|archive-date=November 19, 2014}} Mitchell used cocaine and heroin from an early age.{{cite news|last1=Zohar|first1=Amir|title=The Adelson method|url=http://www.haaretz.com/the-adelson-method-1.240773|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904050613/http://www.haaretz.com/the-adelson-method-1.240773|archive-date=September 4, 2014}} Adelson believed cannabis is a gateway drug.{{cite web|last1=Joseph|first1=Chris|title=Sheldon Adelson Donates Another $1.5 Million to Anti-Medical Marijuana Group|url=http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/10/sheldon_adelson_donates_another_15_million_to_anti-medical_marijuana_group.php|publisher=browardpalmbeach.com|access-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006000408/http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/10/sheldon_adelson_donates_another_15_million_to_anti-medical_marijuana_group.php|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}

At the November 2017 conference of the Israeli-American Council (IAC), Adelson declared that the organization should become primarily a political lobbying group on Israel-related issues. In contrast to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which supports a two-state solution and continued aid to the Palestinians, Adelson charted a course for IAC to oppose both of these positions;{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Adelson himself opposed a two-state solution.{{Cite book|last=Hägel|first=Peter|title=Billionaires in World Politics|date=December 7, 2020|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-259415-0|language=en|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=CZcMEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA121 121]}} Israeli journalist Chemi Shalev said that IAC had not intended to become a political pressure group and that Adelson had "hijacked" it for his "hard-right agenda".{{cite news |title=Adelson Has Hijacked the Israeli-American Community for His Hard-right Agenda; New political pressure group will outflank AIPAC and fragment the Jewish establishment |author=Chemi Shalev |date=November 7, 2017 |newspaper=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.821317 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108064926/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/1.821317 |archive-date=November 8, 2017 }}

Adelson fought against internet-based gambling in his later life.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2013/11/22/sheldon-adelson-says-he-is-willing-to-spend-whatever-it-takes-to-stop-online-gambling/|title=Sheldon Adelson Says He Is 'Willing To Spend Whatever It Takes' To Stop Online Gambling|first=Nathan|last=Vardi|magazine=Forbes|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108153518/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2013/11/22/sheldon-adelson-says-he-is-willing-to-spend-whatever-it-takes-to-stop-online-gambling/|archive-date=November 8, 2017}} Despite the legalization, and acceptance from many Las Vegas casino CEOs, Adelson poured money into candidates wanting to overturn state legislation that legalizes online gambling. In early 2015, Adelson publicly backed a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, named the Restore America's Wire Act, was met with mixed reviews by the Republican Party.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/26/adelson-gambling-ban_n_6951990.html Adelson profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424090355/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/26/adelson-gambling-ban_n_6951990.html |date=April 24, 2015 }}, HuffPost, March 26, 2015.

Adelson and his wife, Miriam Adelson, were presented with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution on March 25, 2008.{{cite press release|title=Sheldon G. Adelson and Dr. Miriam Adelson Receive Prestigious Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sheldon-g-adelson-and-dr-miriam-adelson-receive-prestigious-woodrow-wilson-award-for-corporate-citizenship-57143927.html|publisher=Las Vegas Sands Corp. (via PR Newswire)|date=March 26, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022151216/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sheldon-g-adelson-and-dr-miriam-adelson-receive-prestigious-woodrow-wilson-award-for-corporate-citizenship-57143927.html|archive-date=October 22, 2014}}

Adelson received the Chairman's Award from the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a think tank in Las Vegas, for his efforts to advance free market principles in Nevada.[http://npri.org/events/past-anniversary-dinners "Past Anniversary Dinners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513181935/http://www.npri.org/events/past-anniversary-dinners |date=May 13, 2008 }}, Nevada Policy Research Institute; retrieved August 24, 2012.

In 2014, Adelson was named to CNBC's list of 200 people who have transformed business over the last 25 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/25-vote/|title=CNBC First 25: The Contenders|publisher=CNBC|date=January 17, 2014|access-date=February 4, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203162733/http://www.cnbc.com/id/101345394|archive-date=February 3, 2014}}

File:President Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit (49193133993) (cropped).jpg

According to The New Yorker, Adelson began making major contributions to the Republican National Committee following clashes with labor unions at his Las Vegas properties.Bruck, Connie, [https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_bruck?currentPage=all "The Brass Ring — A Multibillionaire's Relentless Quest for Global Influence"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121083016/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_bruck?currentPage=all |date=January 21, 2013 }}, The New Yorker, June 30, 2008; retrieved August 17, 2012.

The New Yorker article also quoted Shelley Berkley, a Nevada Democratic Party congresswoman, with whom Adelson had a long feud. She worked for him in the 1990s as vice-president of legal and governmental affairs, and said Adelson told her that "old Democrats were with the union and he wanted to break the back of the union, consequently he had to break the back of the Democrats". The Boston Globe said that Adelson "waged some bitter anti-union battles in Las Vegas".Beam, Alex (May 31, 2008). [https://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/05/31/adelson_bets_big_on_right_wing_politics "Adelson Bets Big on Right-Wing Politics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022101504/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/05/31/adelson_bets_big_on_right_wing_politics/ |date=October 22, 2012 }}, The Boston Globe; retrieved August 17, 2012. Berkley is further quoted in The New Yorker article as saying that Adelson "seeks to dominate politics and public policy through the raw power of money".

In February 2012, Adelson told Forbes magazine that he was "against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections. But as long as it's doable I'm going to do it. Because I know that guys like Soros have been doing it for years, if not decades. And they stay below the radar by creating a network of corporations to funnel their money. I have my own philosophy and I'm not ashamed of it. I gave the money because there is no other legal way to do it. I don't want to go through ten different corporations to hide my name. I'm proud of what I do and I'm not looking to escape recognition."{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/02/21/billionaire-sheldon-adelson-says-he-might-give-100m-to-newt-gingrich-or-other-republican|title=Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Says He Might Give $100M to Newt Gingrich or Other Republican|work=Forbes|first=Steven|last=Bertoni|date=February 21, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221144313/http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/02/21/billionaire-sheldon-adelson-says-he-might-give-100m-to-newt-gingrich-or-other-republican/|archive-date=February 21, 2012}}

In 2005, Adelson and his wife each contributed $250,000 to the second inauguration of George W. Bush.{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Drinkard|title=Donors Get Good Seats, Great Access This Week|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=January 17, 2005|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235354/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inauguration-donors_x.htm|archive-date=June 28, 2012}}{{cite news|author=|title=Financing the Inauguration|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=January 16, 2005|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235320/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-16-inaugural-donors_x.htm|archive-date=June 28, 2012}}{{cite news|author=|title=Some Question Inaugural's Multi-Million Price Tag|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-14-price_x.htm|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today|date=January 14, 2005|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628235330/http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-14-price_x.htm|archive-date=June 28, 2012}} President George W. Bush appointed the Adelsons to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008.{{cite news|author=Lake, Eli|url=http://www.nysun.com/foreign/bush-visit-may-boost-olmert/76303|title=Bush Visit May Boost Olmert|work=The New York Sun|date=May 13, 2008|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911043651/http://www.nysun.com/foreign/bush-visit-may-boost-olmert/76303|archive-date=September 11, 2012}}

Adelson was the principal financial backer of Freedom's Watch, a now-defunct political advocacy group founded to counter the influence of George Soros and Democratic-leaning lobby groups such as MoveOn.org. "Almost all" of the $30 million Freedom's Watch spent on the 2008 elections came from Adelson.{{registration required|date=August 2012}} {{cite news|author=Luo, Michael|date=April 12, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/us/politics/12freedom.html|title=Great Expectations for a Conservative Group Seem All but Dashed|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 12, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203064848/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/us/politics/12freedom.html|archive-date=December 3, 2011}}

In 2010, Adelson donated $1 million to American Solutions for Winning the Future, a political action committee (PAC) supporting Republican former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivsdetail.php?id=U0000000310&cycle=2010|title=Sheldon G. Adelson Contributions to 527 Organizations, 2010 Cycle|publisher=OpenSecrets.org|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022074648/http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivsdetail.php?id=U0000000310&cycle=2010|archive-date=October 22, 2012}} In December 2011, during Gingrich's bid for the U.S. presidency, Adelson spoke favorably of controversial remarks Gingrich had made about Palestinians, saying "read the history of those who call themselves Palestinians, and you will hear why Gingrich said recently that the Palestinians are an invented people."{{cite news|last=Blumenfeld|first=Revital|date=December 26, 2011|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/sheldon-adelson-to-birthright-group-gingrich-is-right-to-call-palestinians-invented-people-1.403671|access-date=January 28, 2012|title=Sheldon Adelson to Birthright Group: Gingrich Is Right to Call Palestinians 'Invented People'|work=Haaretz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127064052/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/sheldon-adelson-to-birthright-group-gingrich-is-right-to-call-palestinians-invented-people-1.403671|archive-date=January 27, 2012}} Adelson donated to U.S. Senate and House of Representatives candidates.{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/sheldon-adelson.asp?cycle=10|title=Sheldon Adelson - $139,200 in Political Contributions for 2010|publisher=Campaignmoney.com|access-date=August 19, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006195716/http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/sheldon-adelson.asp?cycle=10|archive-date=October 6, 2012}}

During the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries, Adelson first supported Newt Gingrich and then the eventual nominee Mitt Romney.Marc Fisher, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/sheldon-adelson-casino-magnate-mega-donor-is-a-man-of-many-motives/2012/10/23/926d031e-0744-11e2-858a-5311df86ab04_story.html "Sheldon Adelson: Casino magnate, mega-donor is a man of many motives"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123023110/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/sheldon-adelson-casino-magnate-mega-donor-is-a-man-of-many-motives/2012/10/23/926d031e-0744-11e2-858a-5311df86ab04_story.html |date=November 23, 2017 }}, Washington Post, October 23, 2012. Altogether he spent $92 million supporting losing candidates during the 2012 United States presidential election cycle.Matea Gold and Philip Rucker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/billionaire-mogul-sheldon-adelson-looks-for-mainstream-republican-who-can-win-in-2016/2014/03/25/e2f47bb0-b3c2-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html?hpid=z4 "Billionaire mogul Sheldon Adelson looks for mainstream Republican who can win in 2016"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140326151718/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/billionaire-mogul-sheldon-adelson-looks-for-mainstream-republican-who-can-win-in-2016/2014/03/25/e2f47bb0-b3c2-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html?hpid=z4 |date=March 26, 2014 }}, Washington Post, March 25, 2014.

On January 7, 2012, Adelson bolstered Gingrich's then-faltering campaign with a $5-million donation to the pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future.{{cite news|author1=Shear, Michael D. |author2=Confessore, Nicholas |date=January 7, 2012|access-date=September 16, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/us/politics/candidates-crisscross-new-hampshire-making-final-pitches.html|title=As Primary Looms in N.H., Donor Gives Lift to Gingrich|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528183806/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/us/politics/candidates-crisscross-new-hampshire-making-final-pitches.html|archive-date=May 28, 2015}} By the next day, the super PAC had reserved more than $3.4 million in advertising time in the South Carolina primary, which included production and distribution of a half-hour movie that portrayed Gingrich's political rival Mitt Romney as a "predatory corporate raider".{{cite news|author1=Gabriel, Trip |author2=Confessore, Nicholas |date=January 8, 2012|access-date=January 7, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/us/politics/pro-gingrich-pac-plans-tv-ads-against-romney.html|title=PAC Ads to Attack Romney as Predatory Capitalist|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109042932/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/us/politics/pro-gingrich-pac-plans-tv-ads-against-romney.html|archive-date=January 9, 2012}} On January 23, Adelson's wife, Miriam, contributed an additional $5 million to the same organization with instructions to use it to advance a "pro-Newt message".{{cite news|author-link=Cynthia McFadden|first1=Cynthia|last1=McFadden|first2=Melinda|last2=Arons|date=January 24, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2012|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/billionaire-expects-millions-gingrich-super-pac-source/story?id=15433505#.TySeZIHfWSo|title=Billionaire Expects 'Nothing' for His Millions to Gingrich Super PAC, Source Says|work=ABC News Nightline|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819004354/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/billionaire-expects-millions-gingrich-super-pac-source/story?id=15433505#.TySeZIHfWSo|archive-date=August 19, 2012}}{{cite news|author=Confessore, Nicholas|date=January 23, 2012|access-date=January 23, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/us/politics/super-pac-for-gingrich-to-get-5-million-infusion.html|title='Super PAC' for Gingrich to Get $5 Million Infusion|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124043707/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/us/politics/super-pac-for-gingrich-to-get-5-million-infusion.html|archive-date=January 24, 2012}} {{registration required|date=August 2012}} Adelson told Forbes that he was willing to donate as much as $100 million to Gingrich.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/02/21/adelson-says-he-could-give-100-million-more-to-help-gingrich|title=Adelson Says He Could Give $100 Million More to Help Gingrich|last=Mundy|first=Alicia|date=February 21, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003084116/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/02/21/adelson-says-he-could-give-100-million-more-to-help-gingrich/|archive-date=October 3, 2012|publisher=Washington Wire (blog of The Wall Street Journal)}} He also donated $5 million to the right-leaning{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/politics/sheldon-adelson-injects-more-cash-into-gop-groups.html|title=New G.O.P. Help From Casino Mogul|first=Nicholas|last=Confessore|date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312202133/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/politics/sheldon-adelson-injects-more-cash-into-gop-groups.html|archive-date=March 12, 2017}} super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund[http://www.congressionalleadershipfund.org/About "About"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029071447/http://www.congressionalleadershipfund.org/about/ |date=October 29, 2014 }}. Congressional Leadership Fund; retrieved August 18, 2012. and over $60,000 to the Republican National Committee.{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3695948/sheldon-adelson-online-gambling/|title=House Introduces Online Gambling Bill Backed by Sheldon Adelson|magazine=Time|first=Alex|last=Rogers|date=February 4, 2015|access-date=March 10, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128103221/http://time.com/3695948/sheldon-adelson-online-gambling/|archive-date=January 28, 2017}}

In June 2012, Adelson donated $10 million to the pro-Romney PAC Restore Our Future.{{Cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2018426463_adelson14.html|title=Casino Magnate Sheldon Adelson Gives $10 Million to Pro-Romney PAC – The Casino Magnate's Check to the Pro-Romney Restore Our Future Instantly Skyrockets Him to the Top of That Super PAC's List of Megadonors|first=Matea|last=Gold|date=June 13, 2012|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=August 18, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718101925/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2018426463_adelson14.html|archive-date=July 18, 2012}} In July, Adelson attended a Romney fundraiser held in Jerusalem.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/another-hiccup-romneys-foreign-1487057.html|author=Peoples, Steve|date=July 31, 2012|title=Another Hiccup? Romney's Foreign Trip Not Smooth|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=August 18, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803021641/http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/another-hiccup-romneys-foreign-1487057.html|archive-date=August 3, 2012}} Adelson joined Woody Johnson, John Rakolta, Paul Singer, and several dozen other contributors on the trip.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-29/romney-donors-on-agenda-along-with-policy-on-israel-trip|title=Romney Donors on Agenda Along with Policy on Israel Trip|first=Lisa|last=Lerer|date=July 30, 2012|magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=October 22, 2012|quote=Among the 50 donors gathered around a U-shaped conference table for the event were meatpacking magnate John Miller, a close friend of Romney's; oil investor L.E. Simmons; New York finance Chairman Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets; hedge fund manager Paul Singer; and Detroit businessman John Rakolta.... When Romney arrived, he took a seat at the head of the table, next to the other unofficial guests of honor: Adelson and his wife, Miriam.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105194408/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-29/romney-donors-on-agenda-along-with-policy-on-israel-trip|archive-date=November 5, 2012}} According to Bloomberg Businessweek, as of July Adelson had given Republicans more than $30 million for the 2012 election cycle.

Romney believed that the People's Republic of China should have been pressured to drop its presumptively low fixed exchange rate policy; according to Bloomberg, Adelson would have benefitted financially in U.S. dollar terms through his interest in Chinese casinos if the Chinese yuan were to have appreciated.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-29/donors-invest-millions-in-romney-for-billions-in-returns.html|title=Donors Invest Millions in Romney for Billions in Returns|date=August 31, 2012|access-date=September 2, 2012|work=Bloomberg|first1=Alison|last1=Fitzgerald|first2=Julie|last2=Bykowicz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902034910/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-29/donors-invest-millions-in-romney-for-billions-in-returns.html|archive-date=September 2, 2012}}

Early in 2014, Adelson donated $2.5 million to the Drug Free Florida Committee, the political committee trying to defeat Florida's Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative which would legalize medical cannabis in that state.{{cite web|title=Nevada billionaire spending millions against Fla. marijuana amendment|url=http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/25755667/nevada-billionaire-spending-millions-against-fla-marijuana-amendment|access-date=June 12, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613211825/http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/25755667/nevada-billionaire-spending-millions-against-fla-marijuana-amendment|archive-date=June 13, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Klas|first1=Mary Ellen|title=Medical marijuana opponents gain money and allies, including billionaire Sheldon Adelson|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/medical-marijuana-opponents-gain-money-and-allies-including-billionaire/2183785/|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=June 30, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707150032/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/medical-marijuana-opponents-gain-money-and-allies-including-billionaire/2183785|archive-date=July 7, 2014}} Later in 2014, Adelson donated an additional $1.5 million to the No On 2 campaign. He believed that cannabis is a gateway drug.

According to a 2014 Washington Post report, Adelson's strategy for the 2016 United States presidential election was to support a mainstream candidate capable of winning the presidency. In March 2014 Adelson was set to hold one-on-one chats with possible candidates Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, and John Kasich during the spring meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition held at Adelson's hotel and casino The Venetian Las Vegas. During the December 2015 Republican debate held at that same venue, Adelson held one-on-one meetings with several of the candidates prior to the start of the debate, including front runner Donald Trump.{{cite web|title = Just a Reminder That the Real Host of Tonight's GOP Debate Is Sheldon Adelson|first=Ed|last=Kilgore|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/12/real-host-of-cnns-gop-debate-is-sheldon-adelson.html|website = Daily Intelligencer|date=December 15, 2015 |access-date = December 17, 2015|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218051431/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/12/real-host-of-cnns-gop-debate-is-sheldon-adelson.html|archive-date = December 18, 2015|df = mdy-all}} The bidding to become Adelson's favorite, and ultimately receive tens of millions in financial support, was informally called "The Adelson Primary".{{cite web| title=Millions at stake, the 'Adelson primary' is neck and neck|first=Michael|last=Isikoff| website=Yahoo! News|date=December 2, 2015 | url=https://news.yahoo.com/millions-at-stake-the-adelson-primary-is-neck-125553624.html| access-date=February 18, 2018| archive-date=February 7, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207130641/https://news.yahoo.com/millions-at-stake-the-adelson-primary-is-neck-125553624.html| url-status=live}}{{cite web | title=Marco Rubio is trying to win the Sheldon Adelson primary | website=Tampa Bay, Florida news | date=December 14, 2015 | url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/marco-rubio-is-trying-to-win-the-sheldon-adelson-primary/2257755/ | access-date=February 18, 2018 | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142709/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/marco-rubio-is-trying-to-win-the-sheldon-adelson-primary/2257755 | url-status=live }} On May 13, 2016, he endorsed Trump for president,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sheldon-adelson-i-endorse-donald-trump-for-president/2016/05/12/ea89d7f0-17a0-11e6-aa55-670cabef46e0_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|title=Sheldon Adelson: I endorse Donald Trump for president|first=Sheldon G.|last=Adelson|date=May 13, 2016|access-date=May 22, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516080121/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/sheldon-adelson-i-endorse-donald-trump-for-president/2016/05/12/ea89d7f0-17a0-11e6-aa55-670cabef46e0_story.html?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|archive-date=May 16, 2016}} and pledged as much as $100 million to support his campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/us/politics/sheldon-adelson-donald-trump.html|title=Sheldon Adelson Is Poised to Give Donald Trump a Donation Boost|first=Jonathan|last=Martin|date=May 13, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224205122/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/us/politics/sheldon-adelson-donald-trump.html|archive-date=February 24, 2017}} Adelson was later described as a Trump partisan.{{Cite news|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=January 12, 2021|title=Sheldon Adelson, magnat des casinos et partisan de Donald Trump et Benyamin Nétanyahou, est mort|language=fr|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2021/01/12/sheldon-adelson-magnat-des-casinos-et-partisan-de-donald-trump-et-benyamin-netanyahou-est-mort_6066003_3210.html|access-date=January 12, 2021}}

In October 2016, Adelson donated one million dollars to the campaign against Massachusetts ballot question 4 the Massachusetts Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Initiative which legalized marijuana for personal use.[http://www.ocpf.us/Reports/DisplayReport?menuHidden=true&id=588170#schedule-a] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101042344/http://www.ocpf.us/Reports/DisplayReport?menuHidden=true&id=588170|date=November 1, 2016}} question 4 2016 Oct 20 Report (BQ) Adelson also donated $1,500,000 towards the unsuccessful effort to thwart the 2016 Florida medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative.{{Cite news|url=http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/money-pouring-marijuana-committees#stream/0|title=Money Pouring Into Marijuana Committees|last=Florida|first=The News Service of|access-date=November 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111060631/http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/money-pouring-marijuana-committees#stream/0|archive-date=November 11, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.tbo.com/ap/gop-leaders-gambling-bill-heads-to-fla-lawmakers-20150227/|title=GOP leader's gambling bill heads to Florida lawmakers|date=February 27, 2015|newspaper=TBO.com|access-date=November 22, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111062303/http://www.tbo.com/ap/gop-leaders-gambling-bill-heads-to-fla-lawmakers-20150227/|archive-date=November 11, 2016}}

Adelson sat out the 2016 Republican primaries, with some early indicators at the beginning of 2016 interpreted as showing that Adelson favored Trump.[http://forward.com/news/336275/is-sheldon-adelson-warming-up-to-donald-trump-his-paper-in-israel-offers-ta Is Sheldon Adelson Warming Up to Donald Trump? His Paper in Israel Offers Tantalizing Clues] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104081621/http://forward.com/news/336275/is-sheldon-adelson-warming-up-to-donald-trump-his-paper-in-israel-offers-ta/ |date=November 4, 2016 }} Nathan Guttman, March 17, 2016 In May 2016, explaining his reasons for officially endorsing Donald Trump's presidential bid, Adelson cited the importance of CEO experience in a presidential nominee.

For the 2018 United States elections, Adelson donated approximately $113 million to the Republican Party through various conservative political action committees.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-20/adelsons-add-25-million-to-their-midterm-campaign-spending|title=Adelsons Add $25 Million to Their Midterm Campaign Spending|date=October 20, 2018|last1=McCormick|first1=John|last2=Allison|first2=Bill|work=Bloomberg|access-date=November 11, 2018|archive-date=November 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111215402/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-20/adelsons-add-25-million-to-their-midterm-campaign-spending|url-status=live}}

On January 31, 2019, ABC News reported that Adelson and his wife Miriam had contributed $500,000 to the Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust, which was set up in 2018 to assist aides of President Trump under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. The contributions are the Trust's largest to date.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Soo Rin |title=Casino mogul gave $500K to Trump campaign's legal defense fund |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/casino-mogul-sheldon-adelson-wife-gave-500k-trump/story?id=60768531 |website=ABC News |access-date=February 1, 2019 |language=en |date=January 31, 2019 |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201191341/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/casino-mogul-sheldon-adelson-wife-gave-500k-trump/story?id=60768531 |url-status=live }}

It was estimated Adelson would donate $200 million to Trump and the GOP for the 2020 election cycle. Given a call to Adelson by Trump in early August complaining that Adelson had not done enough for him, there was speculation that the amount of a donation could be affected.Isenstadt, Alex, ''[https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2020/08/08/eyes-on-the-skies-for-bidens-pick-for-no-2-490020?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000015f-9714-d3a6-addf-971dd1d60001&nlid=630318 Trump antagonizes GOP megadonor Adelson in heated phone call] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022132137/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2020/08/08/eyes-on-the-skies-for-bidens-pick-for-no-2-490020?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000015f-9714-d3a6-addf-971dd1d60001&nlid=630318 |date=October 22, 2020 }}, Politico, August 8, 2020 On October 15, 2020, Adelson gave $75 million to a Trump PAC, in a late push for reelection.{{cite news|last=Schouten |first=Fredreka |title=Adelsons provide $75 million cash infusion to Trump's reelection effort|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/15/politics/sheldon-adelson-funds-trump-super-pac/index.html|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=CNN|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016153956/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/15/politics/sheldon-adelson-funds-trump-super-pac/index.html|url-status=live}} In the second half of October 2020, Adelson and his wife gave a further $35 million to three super-PACs supporting the Republican Party and Trump's re-election.{{cite web|last=Tindera|first=Michela|title=Sheldon Adelson Poured Another $35 Million Into Pro-Trump And GOP Super-PACs In Final Weeks Before Election|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2020/12/04/sheldon-adelson-poured-another-35-million-into-pro-trump-and-gop-super-pacs-in-final-weeks-before-election/|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204155105/https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2020/12/04/sheldon-adelson-poured-another-35-million-into-pro-trump-and-gop-super-pacs-in-final-weeks-before-election/|url-status=live}} PACs to which the Adelsons donated in the 2020 cycle included Preserve America and the Senate Leadership Fund.{{Cite news|last=Stone|first=Peter|date=2020-10-31|title=Billionaire casino boss Sheldon Adelson splashes the cash in bid to help Trump|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/31/sheldson-adelson-trump-republicans-election|access-date=2021-01-13|work=The Guardian|language=en}}

File:President Donald J. Trump Presents Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson - 45863432542.jpg presents the Medal of Freedom to Adelson's wife.]]

On September 23, 2016, Adelson announced a $25 million donation to Trump's presidential campaign, as part of a $65 million donation to the Republican electoral campaign for 2016. This rendered Adelson by far the biggest donor in either party (Republicans or Democrats) in the 2016 election cycle. It also makes him by far the largest donor to Donald Trump's White House bid. Adelson was the largest donor to Trump's inaugural celebrations, with a $5 million donation to the celebrations.[http://www.jta.org/2017/04/19/news-opinion/politics/sheldon-adelson-gave-record-5-million-to-trump-inauguration-celebrations Sheldon Adelson gave record $5 million to Trump inauguration celebrations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429032000/http://www.jta.org/2017/04/19/news-opinion/politics/sheldon-adelson-gave-record-5-million-to-trump-inauguration-celebrations |date=April 29, 2017 }} April 19, 2017, Jewish Telegraphic Agency

According to federal records, from 2010 through 2020, Adelson and his wife donated more than $500 million to Republican Party campaigns and super PACs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/12/us/politics/adelson-republican-fundraising.html |title=How Sheldon Adelson's Death Could Affect the G.O.P.'s Future|work=The New York Times|first1=Jeremy W.|last1=Peters|first2=Shane|last2=Goldmacher|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=January 13, 2021}}

Since 2007, the Adelson Family Foundation has made contributions totaling $140 million to Birthright Israel, which finances Jewish youth trips to Israel.{{cite news|last=Benari|first=Elad|title=Adelson Foundation Gives Taglit An Extra $5 Million Boost|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/150285#.TtyWX0KxWh0|access-date=December 5, 2011|publisher=Arutz Sheva|date=January 12, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203083610/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/150285#.TtyWX0KxWh0|archive-date=December 3, 2011}} He also donated $5 million to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces in 2014.{{cite news|title=Hollywood gala raises a record $33 million for IDF|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/hollywood-gala-raises-a-record-33-million-for-idf|access-date=November 17, 2014|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=November 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114062523/http://www.timesofisrael.com/hollywood-gala-raises-a-record-33-million-for-idf/|archive-date=November 14, 2014}} Adelson donated over $25 million to The Adelson Educational Campus in Las Vegas to build a high school.{{Cite news|title=Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson expected to set new charity donation record|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/philanthropy/article/vegas_billionaire_sheldon_adelson_expected_to_set_new_charity_donation_reco|date=December 14, 2006|first=Tom|last=Tugend|work=The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles|access-date=January 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213121100/http://www.jewishjournal.com/philanthropy/article/vegas_billionaire_sheldon_adelson_expected_to_set_new_charity_donation_reco/|archive-date=February 13, 2012}}{{Cite news|title=Jewish school celebrates new home|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/oct/02/jewish-school-celebrates-new-home|date=October 2, 2008|first=Ashley|last=Livingston|work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=January 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006174844/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/oct/02/jewish-school-celebrates-new-home/|archive-date=October 6, 2012}} In 2006, Adelson contributed $25 million to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2159775/pagenum/all//workarea/3|title=The 2006 Slate 60: Pledges|magazine=Slate|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=January 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712083805/http://www.slate.com/id/2159775/pagenum/all/workarea/3|archive-date=July 12, 2010}}

Adelson also funded the private, Boston-based Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation.[http://www.adelsonfoundation.org/amrfphil.html "About AMRF: Philosophy and Vision"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922015745/http://www.adelsonfoundation.org/amrfphil.html |date=September 22, 2013 }}, Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation; retrieved January 28, 2012. This foundation initiated the Adelson Program in Neural Repair and Rehabilitation (APNRR) with $7.5 million donated to collaborating researchers at 10 universities.[http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=502&action=detail&ref=227 "Friends: Gifts" (Winter 2007)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505150601/http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0 |date=May 5, 2011 }}, uclahealth.org; accessed September 16, 2015.

File:Sheldon y Miriam Adelson reciben Woodrow Wilson Awards.JPG

In the 1970s, Sheldon Adelson lived in Massachusetts with his wife, Sandra, and her three children, Mitchell, Gary, and Shelley,Zohar, Amir, [http://www.haaretz.com/the-adelson-method-1.240773 "The Adelson method"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904050613/http://www.haaretz.com/the-adelson-method-1.240773 |date=September 4, 2014 }}, Haaretz.com, March 13, 2008; accessed September 16, 2015. whom Sheldon adopted when they were young. The couple divorced in 1988.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/politics/the-man-behind-gingrichs-money.html |last1=McIntire |first1=Mike |first2=Michael |last2=Luo |date=January 28, 2012 |title=The Man Behind Gingrich's Money |newspaper=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219043719/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/politics/the-man-behind-gingrichs-money.html |archive-date=February 19, 2017 }}

Adelson met Miriam Farbstein Ochshorn, a medical doctor, on a blind date the following year; they married in 1991. She was previously married to a Tel Aviv physician, Dr. Ariel Ochshorn, with whom she had two daughters. Miriam "Miri" Farbstein was born in Mandatory Palestine in 1945, to parents that fled Poland before the Holocaust and settled in the city of Haifa. After earning a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a medical degree from Tel Aviv University's Sackler Medical School, she went on to become the chief internist in an emergency room at Tel Aviv's Rokach (Hadassah) Hospital. In 1993, she founded a substance abuse center and research clinic there, and in 2000, the couple opened the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Research Clinic in Las Vegas.{{cite web | title=Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson | website=Fortune | date=February 8, 2012 | url=http://fortune.com/2012/02/08/meet-the-woman-behind-sheldon-adelson/ | access-date=March 25, 2018 | archive-date=March 30, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330085216/http://fortune.com/2012/02/08/meet-the-woman-behind-sheldon-adelson/ | url-status=live }}

A June 2008 profile in The New Yorker detailed several controversies involving Adelson. In 2008 Richard Suen, a Hong Kong businessman who had helped Adelson make connections with leading Chinese officials in order to obtain the Macau license, took Adelson to court in Las Vegas alleging he had reneged on his agreement to allow Suen to profit from the venture. Suen won a $43.8 million judgement; in November 2010, the Nevada Supreme Court overturned the judgment and returned the case to the lower court for further consideration.{{Cite news|title=Court overturns $43.8 million judgment against Las Vegas Sands|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/18/court-overturns-438-million-judgment-against-las-v/|date=November 18, 2010|first=Cy|last=Ryan|work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=January 27, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829031755/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/nov/18/court-overturns-438-million-judgment-against-las-v/|archive-date=August 29, 2011}} In the 2013 retrial, the jury awarded Suen a verdict for $70 million.{{Cite news|title=Casino owner Sheldon Adelson hit with $70-million verdict|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2013-may-14-la-na-nn-sheldon-adelson-sands-verdict-20130514-story.html|date=May 14, 2013|first=John M.|last=Glionna|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125153618/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/14/nation/la-na-nn-sheldon-adelson-sands-verdict-20130514|archive-date=November 25, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-sands-adelson-loses-court-battle/|title=Las Vegas Sands' Adelson loses court battle|work=CBS News|date=May 14, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125113251/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-sands-adelson-loses-court-battle/|archive-date=November 25, 2015}} The judge added another $31.6 million in interest, bringing the total judgment against Adelson to $101.6 million.{{Cite news|title=Judgment calls for Las Vegas Sands to pay Suen $101.6 million|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-courts/judgment-calls-las-vegas-sands-pay-suen-1016-million/|date=May 28, 2013|first=Tim|last=O'Reiley|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125215606/http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-courts/judgment-calls-las-vegas-sands-pay-suen-1016-million|archive-date=November 25, 2015}}{{cite web|author=Pettersson, Edvard|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-05-29/sands-told-to-pay-101-6-million-over-macau-permit/|title=Sands Told to Pay $101.6 Million Over Macau Permit|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=May 29, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106003653/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-05-29/sands-told-to-pay-101-6-million-over-macau-permit|archive-date=January 6, 2016}} Adelson was in the process of appealing again.{{cite web|author=Pettersson, Edvard|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-20/adelson-may-have-to-answer-ex-macau-chief-s-casino-firing-claims|title=Adelson May Have to Answer Ex-Macau Chief's Casino Firing Claims|publisher=Bloomberg Business|date=April 29, 2015|access-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813043210/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-20/adelson-may-have-to-answer-ex-macau-chief-s-casino-firing-claims|archive-date=August 13, 2015}} Adelson faced another trial over claims by three alleged "middlemen" in the deal who are suing for at least $450 million.

In February 2013, the Las Vegas Sands, in a regulatory filing, acknowledged that it had likely violated federal law that prohibits the bribing of foreign officials. Allegedly, Chinese officials were bribed to allow Adelson to build his Macau casino.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-operator-admits-likely-violation-of-an-antibribery-law.html|title=In Filing, Casino Operator Admits Likely Violation of an Antibribery Law|first=Michael|last=Schwirtz|date=March 2, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228172741/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/business/in-filing-casino-operator-admits-likely-violation-of-an-antibribery-law.html|archive-date=February 28, 2017}}

Adelson successfully sued the London Daily Mail for libel in 2008. The newspaper had accused him of pursuing "despicable business practices" and having "habitually and corruptly bought political favour". Adelson won the libel case, which was described as "a grave slur on Mr Adelson's personal integrity and business reputation," and he won a judgment of approximately £4 million, which he said he would donate to London's Royal Marsden Hospital.{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=966538&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1|title=Sheldon Adelson Wins Millions in Damages from British Newspaper|newspaper=Haaretz|agency=Reuters|date=March 20, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327174701/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=966538&contrassID=1&subContrassID=1|archive-date=March 27, 2008}}

In August 2012, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), after being threatened with a libel suit, apologized and withdrew two blog posts that claimed Adelson had donated "Chinese prostitution money" to Republicans.{{cite web|author=Tetreault, Steve|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/democratic-party-arm-apologizes-to-adelson-164821526.html|title=Democrats Apologize to Adelson|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=August 2, 2012|access-date=August 24, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805231201/http://www.lvrj.com/news/democratic-party-arm-apologizes-to-adelson-164821526.html|archive-date=August 5, 2012}} Another organization, the National Jewish Democratic Council, posted on their website that Adelson "personally approved" of prostitution at his Macau resorts. Adelson sued for libel, but a federal judge dismissed the suit in September 2013, ordering Adelson to pay the NJDC's legal fees.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/sheldon-adelson-defamation-lawsuit-97564.html?hp=r13|title=Court dismisses Sheldon Adelson defamation suit|author=Tal Kopan|newspaper=Politico|date=September 30, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610212930/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/sheldon-adelson-defamation-lawsuit-97564.html?hp=r13|archive-date=June 10, 2015}}

Prior to Adelson's death, he had been scheduled to testify in the corruption trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.{{cite Q|Q125145267}}

In 2007, Adelson's estimated wealth was $26.5 billion, making him the third-richest person in the United States according to Forbes,{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Sheldon-Adelson_ER9O.html|title=#6 Sheldon Adelson|publisher=Forbes|work=The World's Billionaires|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=July 17, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718022728/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/10/07billionaires_Sheldon-Adelson_ER9O.html|archive-date=July 18, 2012}} and $26 billion for 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Sheldon-Adelson_ER9O.html|title=#12 Sheldon Adelson|work=Forbes|series=The World's Billionaires|date=March 5, 2008|access-date=July 17, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709085640/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Sheldon-Adelson_ER9O.html|archive-date=July 9, 2012}}

In 2008, the share prices of the Las Vegas Sands Corp. plunged. In November 2008, Las Vegas Sands Corp. announced it might default on bonds that it had outstanding, signaling the potential bankruptcy of the concern.{{cite news|last=Jinks|first=Beth|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aws07wpBjjZI|title=Las Vegas Sands Plunges on Default, Bankruptcy Risk|publisher=Bloomberg|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=September 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713142833/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aws07wpBjjZI|archive-date=July 13, 2013}} Adelson lost $4 billion in 2008, more than any other American billionaire.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-10-fi-forbes10-story.html|title=Now Who's the Richest? The Forbes 400 List Is recalculated to Reflect Financial Meltdown|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=October 10, 2008|access-date=September 16, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914204153/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/10/business/fi-forbes10|archive-date=September 14, 2015}}[http://forbesbillionaires.daylife.com/topic/sheldon_adelson Sheldon Adelson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219032237/http://forbesbillionaires.daylife.com/topic/sheldon_adelson |date=February 19, 2011 }}, daylife.com; accessed September 16, 2015. In 2009, his net worth had declined from approximately $30 billion to $2 billion, a drop of 93%.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/11/12/what-is-it-like-to-lose-100-million-a-day|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Robert|last=Frank|title=What Is It Like to Lose $100 Million a Day?|date=November 12, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109023040/https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/11/12/what-is-it-like-to-lose-100-million-a-day/|archive-date=November 9, 2017}} He told ABC News "So I lost $25 billion. I started out with zero ...[there is] no such thing as fear, not to an entrepreneur. Concern, yes. Fear, no".{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/11/22/vegas-tycoon-so-i-lost-25-billion|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Robert|last=Frank|title=Vegas Tycoon: 'So I Lost $25 Billion'|date=November 22, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108204747/https://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/11/22/vegas-tycoon-so-i-lost-25-billion/|archive-date=November 8, 2017}} In the Forbes 2009 world billionaires list, Adelson's ranking dropped to No. 178 with a net worth of $3.4 billion,[https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_The-Worlds-Billionaires_NameProper.html "The World's Billionaires 2009"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718140831/https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_The-Worlds-Billionaires_NameProper.html |date=July 18, 2017 }}, forbes.com, March 11, 2009. but by 2011, after his business had recovered, he was ranked as the world's 16th-richest man with a net worth of $23.3 billion.[https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson Sheldon Adelson profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918175959/https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson/ |date=September 18, 2017 }}, Forbes.com; retrieved January 25, 2012.

In 2013, Adelson earned a top ranking on Forbes{{'}} Annual "Biggest Winner" List, his dramatic growth a result of the success of his casinos in Macau and Singapore, adding an estimated $15 billion to his net worth during the year.{{cite news|last=Algemeiner Staff|title=Jewish Mega Philanthropist Sheldon Adelson Tops Forbes' Annual "Biggest Winner" List, Fortune Climbs $15 Billion|url=http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/12/24/jewish-mega-philanthropist-sheldon-adelson-tops-forbes-annual-biggest-winner-list-fortune-climbs-15-billion|work=The Algemeiner|access-date=December 24, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225114356/http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/12/24/jewish-mega-philanthropist-sheldon-adelson-tops-forbes-annual-biggest-winner-list-fortune-climbs-15-billion/|archive-date=December 25, 2013}} In 2013, Adelson was worth $37.2 billion according to Forbes,Luisa Kroll,[https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2013/12/23/billionaire-sheldon-adelson-was-years-biggest-winner-with-fortune-jumping-15-billion "Billionaire Sheldon Adelson Was Year's Biggest Winner, With Fortune Jumping $15 Billion"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205210025/https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisakroll/2013/12/23/billionaire-sheldon-adelson-was-years-biggest-winner-with-fortune-jumping-15-billion |date=December 5, 2017 }}, forbes.com, December 23, 2013. and in December 2014, his net worth was $30.4 billion.[https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson Sheldon Adelson profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918175959/https://www.forbes.com/profile/sheldon-adelson/ |date=September 18, 2017 }}, forbes.com; retrieved December 29, 2014.

Adelson owned a fleet of private jets through Las Vegas Sands.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/sheldon-adelson-vegas-billionaire-pummeled-recession-claws-back/story?id=12184313|title=Vegas Billionaire, Pummeled by Recession, Claws His Way Back|date=November 19, 2010|work=ABC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709021806/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/sheldon-adelson-vegas-billionaire-pummeled-recession-claws-back/story?id=12184313|archive-date=July 9, 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Sun|first1=Leo|title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Las Vegas Sands Corp.|date=May 15, 2017 |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/05/15/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-las-vegas-sands-corp.aspx|publisher=The Motley Fool|access-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615190336/https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/05/15/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-las-vegas-sands-corp.aspx|archive-date=June 15, 2017}} On January 2, 2017, Adelson's Airbus A340-500 jet set a record for the Ben Gurion International Airport by making the longest flight ever leaving the airport by flying nonstop to Honolulu, Hawaii, by way of the Arctic Ocean."Sheldon Adelson's 18-hour flight from Israel to Honolulu sets record". (January 4, 2017). [http://www.jta.org/2017/01/04/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/sheldon-adelsons-private-plane-sets-israeli-record-with-nearly-18-hour-flight-to-honolulu Jewish Telegraphic Agency website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116184440/http://www.jta.org/2017/01/04/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/sheldon-adelsons-private-plane-sets-israeli-record-with-nearly-18-hour-flight-to-honolulu |date=January 16, 2017 }}

In 2001, Adelson was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, which restricted his ability to stand and walk.{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Muhammad |title=Las Vegas Sands Head Sheldon Adelson Illness Echoes Macau Bid History |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2019/03/01/las-vegas-sands-head-sheldon-adelson-illness-echoes-macau-bid-history/#348764e52541 |website=Forbes |access-date=March 1, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301185758/https://www.forbes.com/sites/muhammadcohen/2019/03/01/las-vegas-sands-head-sheldon-adelson-illness-echoes-macau-bid-history/#348764e52541 |url-status=live }}

On February 28, 2019, Las Vegas Sands announced that Adelson was receiving treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.{{cite web |last1=Cano |first1=Regina Garcia |title=Casino mogul, GOP donor Adelson getting treatment for cancer |url=https://apnews.com/f860f202dd1e4f21bdf29498c82784a5 |website=AP NEWS |access-date=March 1, 2019 |date=March 1, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301155710/https://apnews.com/f860f202dd1e4f21bdf29498c82784a5 |url-status=live }} The news was disclosed after a Sands attorney claimed Adelson was too weak to sit for a deposition in a court case involving Richard Suen. Sands spokesman Ron Reese said the side effects of Adelson's medical treatment had "restricted his availability to travel or keep regular office hours” but had not "prevented him from fulfilling his duties as chairman and CEO" of Las Vegas Sands.{{cite web |last1=Palmeri |first1=Christopher |title=Sheldon Adelson Undergoing Cancer Treatment |url=http://fortune.com/2019/03/01/sheldon-adelson-cancer-treatment/ |website=Fortune |access-date=March 1, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301151256/http://fortune.com/2019/03/01/sheldon-adelson-cancer-treatment/ |url-status=live }}

On January 11, 2021, Adelson died at his home in Malibu, California, at the age of 87, after long-term illnesses.{{cite news|url = https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/sheldon-adelson-las-vegas-convention-visionary-and-philanthropist-dies-at-87-2250326/|title = Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Convention Visionary and Philanthropist, Dies at 87|last = Johnson|first = Peter G.|work = Las Vegas Review-Journal|date = January 12, 2021|access-date = January 12, 2021|archive-date = January 12, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210112150934/https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/sheldon-adelson-las-vegas-convention-visionary-and-philanthropist-dies-at-87-2250326/|url-status = live}}{{cite web|date=January 12, 2021|title=Las Vegas Sands Announces Passing of Company Founder and Industry-Changing Entrepreneur Sheldon G. Adelson|url=https://investor.sands.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2021/Las-Vegas-Sands-Announces-Passing-of-Company-Founder-and-Industry-Changing-Entrepreneur-Sheldon-G.-Adelson/default.aspx|access-date=January 12, 2021|website=VyapaarJagat.com|language=en|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112135920/https://investor.sands.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2021/Las-Vegas-Sands-Announces-Passing-of-Company-Founder-and-Industry-Changing-Entrepreneur-Sheldon-G.-Adelson/default.aspx|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Frazier|first=Donald|title=Sheldon Adelson, casino magnate who influenced policy from D.C. to Jerusalem, dies at 87|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/sheldon-adelson-casino-magnate-who-influenced-policy-from-dc-to-jerusalem-dies-at-87/2021/01/12/639974ec-54d8-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=January 12, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112144216/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/sheldon-adelson-casino-magnate-who-influenced-policy-from-dc-to-jerusalem-dies-at-87/2021/01/12/639974ec-54d8-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html|url-status=live}}

On January 14, 2021, Adelson's body arrived in Israel.{{cite news |last1=TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF |title=Sheldon Adelson laid to rest at small funeral on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/sheldon-adelson-laid-to-rest-in-small-funeral-service-in-jerusalem/ |access-date=15 January 2021 |publisher=Times Of Israel |date=15 January 2021}} His coffin was draped in U.S. and Israeli flags and was on display at Ben Gurion Airport, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to pay his respects. Adelson was buried the next day, in a small private ceremony on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem.

• List of people and organizations named in the Paradise Papers

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Wikiquote-inline}}
• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{C-SPAN}}
• {{Charlie Rose view|167}}
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/donor_detail.php?cycle=2012&id=U0000000310&type=I&super=N&name=Adelson%2C+Sheldon+G.+%26+Miriam+O. Campaign contributions in 2012 to outside spending groups] at OpenSecrets
• {{New York Times topic|people/a/sheldon_g_adelson}}
• {{Haaretztopic|Sheldon%20Adelson}}

{{Las Vegas Sands Corporation}}

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Category:People named in the Paradise Papers