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Kirk Kerkorian

Kirk Kerkorian
Kirk-kerkorian.jpg
Born Kerkor Kerkorian
(1917-06-06)June 6, 1917
Fresno, California, U.S.
Died June 15, 2015(2015-06-15) (aged 98)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Residence Beverly Hills, California
Citizenship United States, Armenia
Net worth Steady$4.0 billion (June 2015)
Spouse(s) Hilda Schmidt (1942–1951)
Jean Maree Harbour-Hardy (1954–1984)
Lisa Bonder (1999-1999)
Children Tracy
Linda
Parent(s) Aharon and Lilia Kerkorians
Awards National Hero of Armenia (2004)

Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian (June 6, 1917 – June 15, 2015) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was the president and CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known for having been one of the important figures in the shaping of Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr. described as the "father of the mega-resort". He built the world's largest hotel in Las Vegas three times: the International Hotel (opened in 1969), the MGM Grand Hotel (1973) and the MGM Grand (1993). He purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in 1969.

Of Armenian American origin, Kerkorian provided over $1 billion for charity in Armenia through his Lincy Foundation. It was established in 1989 and was particularly focused on helping to rebuild northern Armenia after the 1988 earthquake. In 2000 Time magazine named him the 10th largest donor in the US. Kerkorian was declared an honorary citizen of Armenia by President Robert Kocharyan in September 1998. He was bestowed the title of National Hero of Armenia, the highest state award, by Kocharyan in May 2004.

Kerkor Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917 in Fresno, California, to immigrant parents of Armenian origin. Armenian was his first language and he "didn't learn the English language until we hit the streets." His family moved to Los Angeles following the depression of 1920–21. Dropping out of school in eighth grade, Kerkorian became a fairly skilled amateur boxer under the tutelage of his older brother Nish Kerkorian, fighting under the name "Rifle Right Kerkorian" to win the Pacific amateur welterweight championship. Kirk Kerkorian also had a younger sister, Rose Kerkorian.


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