MGM Resorts International

CasinosFounded 1969- HQ today: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Founders

Who Founded MGM Resorts?

Kirk Kerkorian · Founded 1969 · HQ today: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Who founded MGM Resorts?

MGM Resorts was founded by Kirk Kerkorian in 1969. It is now led by Bill Hornbuckle.

Founders: Kirk Kerkorian
Founded: 1969
Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Number of founders: 1
Current CEO: Bill Hornbuckle (since 2020)

Where was MGM Resorts founded?: MGM Resorts was founded in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1969.
When was MGM Resorts founded?: MGM Resorts was founded in 1969.
Who started MGM Resorts?: MGM Resorts was founded by Kirk Kerkorian.
How old is MGM Resorts?: MGM Resorts is 57 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

Kirk Kerkorian, a former wartime transport pilot who built a charter airline, opened the International Hotel in Las Vegas in 1969, the same year he bought control of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio. He borrowed the studio's name for the original MGM Grand, which opened in 1973. MGM Grand Inc. was formed in 1986, opened the 5,005-room MGM Grand on Tropicana Avenue in 1993, and grew into today's company through the 2000 Mirage Resorts and 2005 Mandalay Resort Group acquisitions.

Kirk Kerkorian

Co-founder 1969

Background

Kirk Kerkorian (1917-2015) flew aircraft for the Royal Air Force Ferry Command during World War II, then built the charter carrier Trans International Airlines before moving into Las Vegas real estate.

Role at MGM Resorts International

Kirk Kerkorian was an American investor who opened the International Hotel in Las Vegas in 1969, took control of the MGM film studio the same year, and opened the original MGM Grand in 1973. He later formed MGM Grand Inc. in 1986, opened the 5,005-room MGM Grand in 1993, and through his holding company Tracinda remained MGM's controlling shareholder for decades. He died in 2015 at age 98.

Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917 and died on June 15, 2015. He ran his investments through Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company in Beverly Hills. Kirk Kerkorian was born in 1917.

MGM Resorts International: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Bill Hornbuckle

Chief Executive Officer and President

2020 – Present

Named acting CEO in March 2020 and permanent CEO later that year, Hornbuckle led MGM through the pandemic shutdown, the 2022 VICI sale-leaseback, the Cosmopolitan and LeoVegas acquisitions, the 2023 cyberattack, and the Osaka resort approval.

Paul Salem

Chairman of the Board

2020 – Present

As Chairman of the Board (and a former senior Providence Equity executive), he guided MGM through the catastrophic, multi-billion dollar revenue collapse during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns.

Jim Murren

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2008 – 2020

Serving as Chairman and CEO from 2008 to 2020, he aggressively modernized the Las Vegas Strip, shifting MGM's revenue away from purely gambling toward high-margin entertainment and luxury hospitality.

J. Terrence Lanni

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

1995 – 2008

He started the CityCenter project. Jim Murren succeeded him in 2008.

Keep researching MGM Resorts

Who Founded MGM Resorts? FAQ

Who was Kirk Kerkorian and how did he build his initial fortune before Las Vegas?

Kirk Kerkorian (1917 to 2015) was born to Armenian immigrant parents in Fresno, California. A former World War II RAF transport pilot and amateur boxer ('Rifle Right Kerkorian'), he founded Los Angeles Air Service (Trans International Airlines), selling it in the 1960s for over $100 million before turning his capital toward Las Vegas real estate.

What was the International Hotel opened by Kirk Kerkorian in 1969?

In 1969, Kerkorian opened the 1,500-room International Hotel (later the Las Vegas Hilton / Westgate), the largest hotel in the world at the time. Kerkorian famously booked Elvis Presley for a historic four-week, 57-show sold-out residency that revitalized Elvis's career and established Las Vegas celebrity residencies.

How did Kirk Kerkorian acquire Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film studios in 1969?

In 1969, Kerkorian launched a hostile takeover to acquire controlling interest in the well-known Hollywood movie studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He utilized the famous MGM roaring lion brand, movie themes, and cinematic intellectual property to brand his Las Vegas hotel and casino properties.

What was the tragic 1980 MGM Grand fire and how did it change building safety codes?

On November 21, 1980, a catastrophic electrical fire broke out at the original MGM Grand in Las Vegas, tragically claiming 85 lives. The disaster prompted Nevada and governments worldwide to mandate strict life-safety building codes, requiring automatic fire sprinklers, smoke evacuation systems, and fire doors in all high-rise hotels.

How did Kirk Kerkorian rebuild and open the new MGM Grand in 1993?

After selling the fire-damaged original hotel (which became Bally's / Horseshoe), Kerkorian incorporated MGM Grand, Inc. and opened the brand-new $1.0 billion MGM Grand at Tropicana Avenue in December 1993. With 5,005 rooms, the Wizard of Oz-themed mega-resort was the largest hotel in the world.

What was Kirk Kerkorian's philosophy of dealmaking and silent philanthropy?

Known as one of the most private billionaires in American history, Kerkorian rarely gave press interviews and never put his name on buildings. Through his Lincy Foundation, he quietly donated over $1.0 billion to charitable causes in Armenia, Nevada, and education before his death in 2015 at age 98.

Who were the key architects and visionaries who worked with Kerkorian?

Kerkorian partnered with hotel architect Martin Stern Jr., who pioneered the modern high-rise casino resort layout, placing the central casino, restaurants, and showrooms on the ground floor with high-capacity three-wing hotel towers rising above to maximize guest flow.

How did Kerkorian's investment firm Tracinda Corporation shape corporate history?

Through his private investment holding company Tracinda Corporation (named after his daughters Tracy and Linda), Kerkorian executed large corporate moves, launching takeover bids for Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors, and maintaining controlling ownership of MGM until the mid-2000s.

Who was Kirk Kerkorian and why is he called the "Father of the Megaresort"?

Kirk Kerkorian (1917-2015) was a legendary Armenian-American self-made billionaire, aviator, and investor. He set the world record for building the world's largest hotel not once, but three separate times in Las Vegas: the International Hotel in 1969 (now Westgate), the original MGM Grand in 1973 (now Horseshoe), and the modern MGM Grand in 1993.

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