Sheldon Adelson Dies at 87

Gambling mogul Sheldon Adelson has died at age 87 after suffering complications related to Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adelson is known for founding the Las Vegas Sands land casino empire, which expanded to the likes of Macau and raked in billions of dollars in revenues. Financial publication Forbes recently estimated Adelson's net worth at $33 billion.

In a statement Adelson's wife Miriam acknowledged her husband's death, noting: "It is with unbearable pain that I announce the death of my husband, Sheldon G. Adelson, of complications from a long illness. To me - as to his children, grandchildren, and his legions of friends and admirers, employees and colleagues - he is utterly irreplaceable."

Adelson was raised in Boston and served in the Korean War. After his service, he served in many ventures before catching on in organizing trade shows in the late 1970's. He eventually bought the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and transformed the property into a billion-dollar venture. Adelson was a GOP mega-donor, spending millions of dollars to influence politicians.

One of his big causes was fighting online gambling, which he poured large sums of cash into before eventually seeing states en masse offering sportsbetting and online games of chance.

We wish Adelson's family well as they grieve his loss.