An 82-year-old billionaire hotel tycoon known for orchestrating some of the most famous tourist spots on the Las Vegas strip alongside her former spouse has passed away.

Elaine Wynn and her ex-husband Steve managed a namesake global chain of resorts and casinos that were synonymous with the city of Las Vegas. They were associated with the likes of Donald Trump, who also launched a series of resorts in Nevada during the 1990s.

Specifics regarding the cause, location, and date of Wynn’s passing have not been disclosed yet. According to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported Wynn’s demise, she held the largest individual stake in Wynn Resorts.

But she was ousted from her role on its board after divorcing Steve for the second time in 2010.

The colorful couple, who share two daughters called Kevyn and Gillian, originally married in 1963 after meeting on a blind date, and they divorced for the first time in 1986. They tied the knot again in 1991 but divorced 19 years later. 

The casino power couple faced horrific trauma in 1993 when Kevyn was kidnapped. 

Elaine Wynn, a billionaire philanthropist who created the famous Wynn Hotels and Casino resorts with ex-husband Steve, has died aged 82 

Elaine Wynn and her ex-husband Steve are pictured with magicians Siegfried and Roy at Elizabeth Taylor’s 79th birthday in 2007. The couple married and divorced twice 

Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the Las Vegas strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano (shown above), and the Bellagio fountains

Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the Las Vegas strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano, and the Bellagio fountains (shown above)

Stricken Wynn paid a $1.45 million ransom for the safe return of her daughter, with the blundering kidnappers caught when they tried to use the cash to buy a Ferrari.

Wynn was born to a middle-class family of New York Jews and founded Vegas’ iconic Mirage Resorts with Steve in 1976. 

The couple went on to develop the famously glitzy Wynn resorts in 2000. Their combined efforts were credited with revitalizing the Vegas Strip and helping the area shake off its seedy reputation. 

Wynn Resorts issued a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about her passing. 

‘We are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn, and send our condolences to her daughters, grandchildren, and her many close friends,’ the company said. 

‘As co-founder and one of the largest shareholders of Wynn Resorts, she helped to create and grow the company to become the most esteemed luxury resort brand in the world. 

Wynn and her ex-husband Steve designed and ran an eponymous global collection of casinos and hotel resorts synonymous with Las Vegas. They are pictured together in 2007 

Elaine Wynn, a billionaire philanthropist who created the famous Wynn Hotels and Casino resorts with ex-husband Steve, has died aged 82

The Wall Street Journal , who broke news of Wynn’s death, said she was the largest individual shareholder in Wynn Resorts. She is pictured on the left in Las Vegas, September 2009

The Wynn Hotel & Casino, located on the famed Las Vegas Strip and located next to its sister hotel, The Encore, is seen in this 2009 Las Vegas, Nevada, exterior photo

‘Her many talents and special touches are indelibly imprinted on the company and still evident throughout our resorts.

‘Elaine cared deeply about the employees of our resorts. 

‘The current and former employees who worked alongside her to create Wynn and Encore Las Vegas cherish the many fond memories they have of her, especially of when they opened Wynn Las Vegas with her 20 years ago this month.

‘She was a tireless advocate for Las Vegas, for children and their education, and for the arts. We’re grateful that the enduring sense of philanthropy she instilled in our company continues to this day.’ 

Wynn spoke about moving to Las Vegas in 1967 with author Jack Sheehan, for a biography he wrote about her mentor, banker E Parry Thomas.  

‘Initially I did feel very out of place because I still was in most respects a very traditional middle-class Jewish girl … and life here seemed pretty fast,’ Wynn said. 

‘But I had grown up in Miami Beach, and it was a similar environment to Las Vegas minus the gaming. A lot of the same people who wound up in Las Vegas.’ 

Wynn and her ex-husband Steve designed and ran an eponymous global collection of casinos and hotel resorts synonymous with Las Vegas. They are pictured together in 2007

Pictured: Steve Wynn and Elaine Wynn during La Bete Nightclub Opening at Wynn Las Vegas at La Bete at Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Pictured: Roberto Cavalli, Elaine Wynn, Steve Wynn, Melania Trump, Eva Cavalli and Donald Trump

Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the Las Vegas strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano (shown above), and the Bellagio fountains

Born Elaine Pascal, the hotel tycoon was raised in New York City and graduated from George Washington University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

She met her ex-husband Steve on a blind date, and they ran his father’s East Coast bingo parlors together. 

They moved to Las Vegas in 1967 after he purchased a stake in a since-closed hotel and casino. 

Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the Las Vegas strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano, and the Bellagio fountains.  

Breaking news, more to follow…