Phil Ruffin, owner of Treasure Island, in his office on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.
Five Nevadans appear on the new Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, though some of the local gaming titans saw their fortunes decline because of reductions in their companies' stock prices.
The richest Nevadan, and ranked 12th in the nation Wednesday with a fortune of $20.5 billion, is Republican donor and Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. In 2011, Forbes listed his net worth at $21.5 billion and he was the eighth-richest American.
Also ranked this year, at No. 100, is Nancy Walton Laurie of the family behind Wal-Mart. She lives in Henderson and has a net worth of $3.9 billion, Forbes estimated.
Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin is ranked at No. 179 with a fortune of $2.5 billion. He tied with Wynn Resorts Ltd. Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn, also worth $2.5 billion.
Elaine Wynn
Wynn Resorts board member Elaine Wynn is ranked at No. 328 with a fortune of $1.4 billion.
Steve Wynn's net worth is down by about $300 million, while Elaine Wynn's is off by about the same amount, Forbes said.
Missing from this year's list are Station Casinos and Ultimate Fighting Championship investor brothers and executives Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta. Last year they were both listed with fortunes topping $1.2 billion. This year they weren't ranked because their net worths each slipped to $900 million, Forbes said.
Their cousin, restaurant investor and Golden Nugget casino group owner Tilman Fertitta of Houston, is ranked at No. 298 with $1.6 billion.
Carl Icahn of New York, who controls casino operator Tropicana Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas and the stalled Fontainebleau casino-resort building and real estate here, is listed at No. 21 with a net worth of $14.8 billion.
MGM Resorts International shareholder Kirk Kerkorian of Beverly Hills, Calif., came in at No. 142 with a net worth of $2.9 billion.
Again topping the list is the Seattle area's Bill Gates, valued at $66 billion, thanks to his Microsoft fortune.