Hugh Jackman shares tribute to US billionaire hotel magnate Elaine Wynn following her death aged 82
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Hugh Jackman has shared a heartwarming tribute to US billionaire hotel magnate Elaine Wynn following reports of her death on Wednesday.
The businesswoman, who is famed for masterminding some of the Las Vegas strip's most iconic tourist attractions with her ex-husband Steve Wynn, died at the age of 82.
Down Under star Hugh, 56, who is friends with Steve, 83, and lived in the US for many years, took to Instagram on Saturday to express his grief over her passing, saying she was the 'most generous' person he knew.
'On top of being a friend to me, Elaine Wynn was one of the classiest, warmest and most generous people I have ever known. I send my love to her whole family. Rest easy my friend,' he wrote on his Stories.
Hugh is a known friend of billionaire Steve Wynn, with the Hollywood actor, along with his then wife Deborra-Lee Furness, even attending the magnate's wedding to his British sweetheart Andrea Hissom in 2011.
Elaine and her former partner Steve operated an eponymous global collection of casinos and hotels synonymous with Sin City.
They ran in the same circles as Donald Trump, who also established a Nevada resort chain in the 1990s.
Further details on Elaine's cause of death, or where and when she died have yet to emerge.
The Wall Street Journal, who broke news of Elaine's death, said she was the largest individual shareholder in Wynn Resorts, with a stake worth $2 billion in 2018.
Elaine signed away her voting rights in the company when she divorced Steve for the second time in 2010, but in June 2018 she returned to the board and amid sexual harassment complaints against Steve by former employees.
Steve sold his 12 percent share in the company after some staffers claimed he paid them off to keep quiet about the alleged harassment.
Steve has consistently denied sexual misconduct allegations.
The casino power couple, who share two daughters called Kevyn and Gillian, originally married in 1963 after meeting on a blind date, and they divorced for the first time in 1986.
They tied the knot again in 1991 but divorced for the last time 19 years later.
They faced horrific trauma in 1993 when Kevyn was kidnapped. Stricken, Elaine paid a $1.45million ransom for the safe return of her daughter, with the blundering kidnappers caught when they tried to use the cash to buy a Ferrari.
Elaine was born to a middle-class family in New York and founded Vegas' iconic Mirage Resorts with Steve in 1976.
The couple went on to develop the famously glitzy Wynn resorts in 2000. Their combined efforts were credited with revitalising the Vegas Strip and helping the area shake off its seedy reputation.
Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano, and the Bellagio fountains.
Wynn Resorts issued a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Elaine's passing.
'We are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn, and send our condolences to her daughters, grandchildren, and her many close friends,' the company said.
'As co-founder and one of the largest shareholders of Wynn Resorts, she helped to create and grow the company to become the most esteemed luxury resort brand in the world.
'Her many talents and special touches are indelibly imprinted on the company and still evident throughout our resorts. Elaine cared deeply about the employees of our resorts.
'The current and former employees who worked alongside her to create Wynn and Encore Las Vegas cherish the many fond memories they have of her, especially of when they opened Wynn Las Vegas with her 20 years ago this month.
'She was a tireless advocate for Las Vegas, for children and their education, and for the arts. We're grateful that the enduring sense of philanthropy she instilled in our company continues to this day.'
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