Sheldon Adelson, the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands and a major donor to Republican politicians, died Monday, January 11, at the age of 87.
Adelson grew up in Boston and overcame a hardscrabble childhood to become one of the world's richest men. He spent his multibillion-dollar fortune to become an influential behind-the-scenes player in Washington, working to shape US policy toward Israel, help guide Republican Party strategy and lobby against threats posed to his business interests.
He also donated hundreds of millions of dollars to medical research and Jewish causes.
"Many, many among the Jewish people, in the State of Israel, and in the whole world, share in this heavy mourning," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. "Sheldon's great efforts to strengthen Israel's position in the United States and to strengthen the connection between Israel and the Diaspora will be remembered for generations."
