President Donald Trump publicly praised Miriam Adelson, the casino magnate and political donor who has contributed over $100 million to his 2024 campaign, during his address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday. He asked her to stand as lawmakers gave her a thunderous standing ovation for her unwavering support of Israel.
The Billionaire Behind Trump’s Victory
The 79-year-old Adelson became Trump’s leading financial supporter through his $106 million donation to Preserve America, which operated as a super PAC for his presidential campaign. The donation from Adelson exceeded all major Republican donor contributions, including Elon Musk’s $75 million donation, to become the largest amount given to the super PAC.
The Israeli-born physician and businesswoman, Sheldon Adelson, left her a $35 billion fortune through his ownership of Las Vegas Sands Corporation after he died in 2021. During their many White House visits, Sheldon Adelson became so determined to meet with Trump that he would enter through windows, according to the president.
The Adelsons played a key role in shaping significant Middle East policies through their influence on the president, according to Trump. The president stated that the Adelsons played a crucial role in shaping three significant Middle East policies, including his 2017 recognition of Jerusalem as the capital, the 2018 relocation of the embassy, and the 2019 endorsement of sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
From Medical Pioneer to Casino Mogul
Adelson was born in Tel Aviv in 1945 to Polish immigrant parents. She became a doctor who treated addiction patients before marrying Sheldon Adelson in 1991. She entered Las Vegas Sands with substantial stock holdings at the time of her marriage to Sheldo,n which made her eligible to become one of the world’s wealthiest women after she took control of the company following his death.
“She loves Israel... Look at her sitting there so innocently.”
— President Donald Trump, addressing the Israeli Knesset
In 2022, they focused their casino business on profitable Asian markets, specifically Macau and Singapore. The Adelson family sold their Las Vegas Strip properties, including the Venetian resort, for $6.25 billion. The Adelson family received more than $10 billion in dividend payments from their business operations, while Las Vegas Sands generated $11.3 billion in revenue during 2024.
Expanding Empire Beyond Casinos
The business portfolio of Adelson expanded through his 2023 acquisition of the NBA Dallas Mavericks from Mark Cuban for $3.5 billion. The NBA gave its approval for the deal in December 2023, while Patrick Dumont became the team's governor, and Mark Cuban retained control of the basketball operations.
The acquisition of 259 acres of land by the casino owner near Dallas sparked rumors about building a new basketball stadium and casino facility, despite Texas maintaining a ban on gambling activities. The Texas Sands political action committee received $2 million from Adelson, while he donated $1 million to Republican Governor Greg Abbott for efforts to legalize casinos in Texas.
Media Empire and Political Influence
The political statements of Adelson became more extreme after Hamas launched its attacks on October 7, 2023. The author of the Israel Hayom column stated that people who oppose Israel support the West’s efforts to eliminate the Jewish people from existence. The author declared that these individuals should be treated as if they were dead to us, according to Al Jazeera’s news report.
Trump honored Adelson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, citing her contributions to addiction research and medical philanthropy. She has established medical centers and launched the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, maintaining her connection to healthcare despite the expansion of her business empire.
Behind-the-Scenes Hostage Negotiations
The behind-the-scenes efforts of Adelson led Trump to make the return of Israeli hostages from Hamas a priority because she used her financial backing and close ties with the president to push for their freedom. The Knesset gallery attendance during Trump’s victory speech confirmed her reported role in achieving the diplomatic success that led to hostage liberation. She attended a September campaign gathering to tell Jewish voters about their religious obligation to back Trump while thanking him for his current actions and expressing faith in his upcoming Middle Eastern policies.
The political landscape of Republican politics and U.S.-Israel relations will continue to benefit from her influence during Trump’s second term as president. The Knesset honored her with an unprecedented public tribute because she evolved from a medical specialist into a leading American political donor who leveraged her casino wealth to influence Middle Eastern foreign policy while expanding her business interests across various sectors.