Kirk Kerkorian
Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, an eighth-grade dropout who built Las Vegas' biggest hotels, tried to take over Chrysler and bought and sold MGM at a profit three times, has died,...
American Financier, Investor, Industrialist and Philantropist. Kerkorian was a high-school dropout and onetime welterweight boxer who rose from working as a civilian transport pilot in World War II, to building a financial empire that included investments in the casinos, hotels, as well as Chrysler, Ford Motor Co.
Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, an eighth-grade dropout who built Las Vegas' biggest hotels, tried to take over Chrysler and bought and sold MGM at a profit three times, has died, he was 98. Courtesy: Fox News
Kirk Kerkorian (1917-2015) was a financier and investor who built the world's biggest casino hotel three times, and who was the primary owner of one of the world's largest gaming companies. Kerkorian started in the gaming industry as landlord of Caesars Palace-he owned the land on which Jay Sarno built his groundbreaking casino in 1966. Kirk Kerkorian, Producer: The Promise. Kirk Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917 in Fresno, California, USA as Kerkor Kerkorian. He was a producer, known for The Promise (2016) and Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story (2008). He was married to Lisa Bonder, Jean Maree Hardy, Hilda Schmidt and Una Davis. He died on June 15, 2015 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Kirk Kerkorian is seen with his wife Jean Maree Hardy during the grand opening of Caesars Palace in 1966. They divorced in 1984 Bonder finally convinced Kerkorian to marry her to legitimize their.
Kira Kerkorian Bing, pictured in 2009. Picture: Facebook @Kira KerkorianSource:Facebook
Kira Kerkorian Bing is only 20 years old — but she has already been all but disowned by two fathers in her short life.
The US university student’s mother, former tennis pro Lisa Bonder, was married to US media mogul Kirk Kerkorian, who was 48 years her senior, for just 28 days in 1999.
When she fell pregnant, she insisted Mr Kerkorian was the father, and after they divorced, he paid a whopping US100,000 a month in child support.
As part of the former couple’s divorce settlement, Mr Kerkorian was also forced to establish a $US7 million trust for his daughter.
But Mr Kerkorian suspected Kira wasn’t actually his child — and in the noughties his private detective, Anthony Pellicano, famously swiped a piece of dental floss used by New York businessman Steven Bing, a former boyfriend of Ms Bonder.
Steve Bing (left) and Kirk Kerkorian. Picture: AP/SuppliedSource:Supplied
Kirk Kerkorian Grandchildren
Following DNA testing, that tiny strand proved that Mr Bing was in fact Kira’s father — and despite Mr Kerkorian’s estimated $US4.2 billion fortune, she was left with $US8.5 million when he died in 2015 at the age of 98.
Even that sum was hard won, with Ms Kerkorian Bing increasing her original $US7 million share of the immense wealth by $US1.5 million after contesting the billionaire’s will.
But the saga doesn’t stop there.
Even in the face of that clear evidence, Ms Kerkorian Bing has also been rejected by her own biological father and his family.
Lisa Bonder (left) and her daughter Kira Kerkorian Bing are both keen sportswomen. Picture: Facebook/SuppliedSource:Supplied
Mr Bing’s own fortune comes largely from his real estate developer grandfather, Leo S Bing, who struck it rich in New York in the 1920s.
At just 18 years of age, Steve Bing inherited approximately $US600 million from his grandfather.
But his father, Dr Peter Bing, is now fighting to stop his illegitimate grandchildren from getting their hands on the family trust.
Kira, pictured in 2009, with her dog Tucker. Picture: Facebook @Kira KerkorianSource:Facebook
Kirk Kerkorian Wife
Those children include Ms Kerkorian Bing and her 16-year-old half-brother Damian Hurley, whose mother, UK actress Liz Hurley, fell pregnant after a brief fling with Mr Bing.
The latest battle over the family fortune kicked off after Ms Kerkorian Bing allegedly claimed she was a beneficiary of the Bing trust and demanded information on it.
In response, Dr Bing filed court papers in Los Angeles County which asked for a judge to deem Ms Kerkorian Bing ineligible.
Kira Kerkorian Bing (centre) has followed in her mother’s sporty footsteps. Picture: Facebook @Kira KerkorianSource:Facebook
That’s because the trust, which was established in 1980, “would not benefit any person bought out of wedlock unless that person had lived for a substantial period of time as a regular member of the household”, according to court documents, The Mirror reports.
According to The Mirror, Dr Bing’s affidavit claims he has never met Damian or Kira and that neither child was “raised by Stephen as part of his family”.
Lisa Bonder and her daughter Kira Kerkorian Bing. Picture: FacebookSource:Facebook
“l know that neither of them has lived with Stephen while a minor as a regular member of his household,” the affidavit states.
“To the best of my knowledge, Stephen has never met Damian, and Stephen only met Kira after she became an adult.
“Regardless of whether, when and if Stephen met with or had any relationship with Damian or Kira while they are or were minor, because neither was raised by him during their formative years, l do not consider them my grandchildren.”
Liz Hurley's son Damian is Ms Kerkorian Bing’s half-brother. Picture: InstagramSource:Supplied
Despite her scandalous family life, Ms Kerkorian Bing, a keen equestrian, has largely managed to stay out of the spotlight over the years and little is known about her private life.
Continue the conversation @carey_alexis alexis.carey@news.com.au
Damian Hurley, son of Liz Hurley and Stephen Bing stands to inherit a portion of the Bing family fortune but may not if Dr Peter Bing has his way....
Damian Hurley, son of Liz Hurley and Stephen Bing stands to inherit a portion of the Bing family fortune but may not if Dr Peter Bing has his way.
1991 Inductee
Kirk Kerkorian
Industry Leader
Kirk Kerkorian (1917-2015) was a financier and investor who built the world's biggest casino hotel three times, and who was the primary owner of one of the world's largest gaming companies.
Kerkorianstarted in the gaming industry as landlord of Caesars Palace--he owned the land on which Jay Sarno built his groundbreaking casino in 1966. He decided that he wanted to build his own casino, and in the next year began building the International on Paradise Road, next to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
To train the staff needed to run what promised to be a huge resort, Kerkorian bought the Flamingo. When the International opened in July 1969, he brought over much of the Flamingo's management team with him.
The International, with over 1500 rooms, was the world's biggest hotels, and it immediately became one of the top casinos in the world. Elvis Presley provided an unbeatable star attraction, even after Kirkorian sold the hotel to Hilton hotels in 1971; it then became the Las Vegas Hilton.
In 1973, Kerkorian returned to the gaming industry with the MGM Grand. With 2100 rooms it was, again, the world's biggest hotel. Kerkorian sold it, and the MGM Grand Reno, to Bally in 1986. But he remained active in the industry, buying the Sands, Desert Inn, and Marina casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
By 1993, Kerkorian had sold the Sands and Desert Inn to focus his efforts on his latest project, a new MGM Grand, which incorporated the existing Marina. This casino giant, with 5,005 rooms at its 1993 opening, was again the largest hotel in the world.
Kerkorian then started a buying spree which culminated in the acquisitions of Mirage Resorts (2000) and the Mandalay Resort Group (2005). The resulting company, MGM Mirage (later renamed MGM Resorts International), was by some measures the world's biggest gaming operator.
MGM Resorts continued to push the envelope with its development of CityCenter, one of the largest and most ambitious casino developments ever undertaken. In 2011, Kerkorian stepped back from full-time involvement with MGM, serving as Director Emeritus, though he continued to advise the company's leaders.
Kirk Kerkorian passed away on June 15, 2015 at the age of 98. Current MGM Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said the following:
MGM Resorts and our family of 62,000 employees are honoring the memory of a great man, a great business leader, a great community leader, an innovator, and one of our country’s greatest generation. Mr. Kerkorian combined brilliant business insight with steadfast integrity to become one of the most reputable and influential financiers of our time. Personally, he was a friend and coach, who taught me the importance in looking forward, and to look back only to understand how things could be done better.'