Physician, billionaire, and philanthropist Miriam Adelson is not just in The Jerusalem Post’s Top 50 most influential Jews but also in the top 50 richest people in the world. Born in Tel Aviv in 1945, Adelson has lived a storied life, beginning as a medic in the IDF before becoming a physician specializing in drug addiction.
She met her husband, Sheldon Adelson, the founder of the Las Vegas Sands casino company, in 1989. Following his death in 2021, she became the owner of the company and is also the current publisher of Israel Hayom.
A proud supporter of Israel
Outside of business ventures, Adelson is one of the biggest donors to pro-Israel and Jewish causes. She and her husband were the largest donors to Birthright Israel, giving a quarter of a billion to the initiative by 2015. She was also the third largest donor towards President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, donating over $100 million.
Adelson has been vocal in her support for the Jewish state. After the October 7 Hamas massacre, she penned an op-ed in The Jewish Journal in which she wrote "If you fail to recognize that Israel could end the threats to its existence by bringing its power fully to bear and eliminating Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian regime but does not do so due to its concern for civilian suffering, you’re dead to us."
She also supports Israel's annexation of the West Bank. Adelson and her husband have two sons, Adam and Matan. Matan is the majority owner of Hapoel Jerusalem B.C., having bought a 90% stake in 2023. Adam is a Wright Motorsports driver.