Miriam Adelson traded a stethoscope for a seat at the table of American political power. The Israeli-American physician who specialized in addiction medicine has become one of the most consequential donors in U.S. elections, with a singular focus on supporting Donald Trump.

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Full name: Miriam Adelson (née Farbstein) ·
Born: October 10, 1945 ·
Occupation: Physician, businesswoman, philanthropist ·
Spouse: Sheldon Adelson (deceased 2021) ·
Notable political donation (2024): $106 million to Preserve America PAC

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth varies by source — Forbes estimates $32B, Bloomberg $37.8B
  • Day-to-day involvement in Las Vegas Sands operations after Sheldon’s death
3Timeline signal
  • 2024: $106M in donations to pro-Trump super PAC (The Forward)
  • 2021: Sheldon Adelson dies; Miriam inherits controlling stake (The Forward)
4What’s next
  • Continued influence in 2026 midterm elections
  • Ongoing role in Las Vegas Sands and Israeli media investments

The table below summarizes six biographical facts about Miriam Adelson, from her birth to her net worth.

Six key facts about Miriam Adelson, from birth to net worth.
Label Value
Born October 10, 1945 (Tel Aviv, British Mandate for Palestine)
Education Hebrew University of Jerusalem (MD)
Occupation Physician, businesswoman, philanthropist
Spouse Sheldon Adelson (m. 1991; died 2021)
Children 5
Net worth $32 billion (Forbes, 2025)

What is Miriam Adelson’s net worth?

Forbes estimate

Forbes estimated Miriam Adelson’s net worth at $32 billion as of 2025, ranking her among the wealthiest women in the world (Forbes). Other outlets offer different figures: Bloomberg News reported $37.8 billion in early 2025 (The Forward), while JTA cited $35 billion in October 2024 (JTA). The discrepancy reflects the challenge of valuing privately held casino assets and real estate holdings.

Sources of wealth

Her fortune comes primarily from a controlling interest in Las Vegas Sands Corp., the global casino and resort operator founded by her late husband, Sheldon Adelson. The company owns iconic properties including The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. After Sheldon’s death in 2021, Miriam inherited his stake, making her the largest individual shareholder (The Hill). She also holds investments in Israeli media and real estate.

The upshot

The gap between Forbes’s $32 billion and Bloomberg’s $37.8 billion isn’t trivial — it underscores real uncertainty about how much of Las Vegas Sands’ value is liquid versus tied up in properties that can’t be easily sold. For political strategists, the key number isn’t her net worth but her cash available for donations.

Bottom line: Miriam Adelson’s net worth is disputed by hundreds of millions across major financial outlets, but all sources agree the fortune derives from Las Vegas Sands, making her one of the world’s wealthiest women.

How many children does Miriam Adelson have?

Names and backgrounds of children

Miriam Adelson has five children with Sheldon Adelson. One daughter, Sivan Ochshorn, followed her mother into medicine and is a practicing physician. Another daughter, Yasmin Adelson, is involved in the family’s business operations. The other children maintain lower public profiles, consistent with the family’s preference for privacy outside of political and philanthropic activities (Forbes). The implication: for observers of dynastic wealth, the question is whether any of them will take a more public role in the family’s political giving.

Bottom line: Miriam Adelson raised five children while building a medical career and later managing a multibillion-dollar empire.

What is Miriam Adelson’s relationship with Donald Trump?

Political donations

Miriam Adelson has been one of Donald Trump’s most reliable financial backers. In the 2024 election cycle, she contributed $106 million to Preserve America, a pro-Trump super PAC (The Forward). The donations came in installments: $25 million each in July, August, and September 2024, plus an additional $20 million at the end of September (JTA). The Adelson family backed Trump in each of the last three general elections (JTA).

Public endorsements

Trump publicly praised Adelson during a speech at the Knesset in 2025, lauding her support and donations. The Forward reported that she remained Trump’s largest Jewish donor and the third largest donor to his 2024 campaign, after Elon Musk and Timothy Mellon (The Forward).

Why this matters

For the GOP, Adelson’s $106 million in 2024 represents a single-donor dependency that carries risk. If she scales back — as she did in 2022 with only two reported contributions (The Hill) — the party loses its second-largest financial engine overnight. The pattern: Adelson’s giving is both immense and inconsistent.

Bottom line: Miriam Adelson’s $106 million in 2024 made her indispensable to Trump’s campaign, but her 2022 pullback showed she can turn the tap off.

Who was Miriam Adelson’s husband?

Sheldon Adelson biography

Sheldon Adelson was the founder and former chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the casino and resort giant. Born in 1933 to Jewish immigrants in Boston, he built his fortune through trade shows, computer expos, and eventually casino development. He died on January 11, 2021 at age 87 (The Hill).

Marriage and partnership

Miriam and Sheldon Adelson married in 1991 (UNLV Special Collections). Their partnership blended medicine, business, and politics. Sheldon was a major Republican donor during his lifetime, and Miriam continued and expanded that role after his death. Together, they also funded the Adelson Family Foundation, which supports Jewish and Israeli causes. The catch: Sheldon’s death transferred not just wealth but also political clout to Miriam, reshaping GOP fundraising dynamics.

Bottom line: Miriam Adelson married Sheldon Adelson in 1991, and their partnership produced a multibillion-dollar casino empire and a political dynasty that continues after his death.

What businesses does Miriam Adelson own?

Las Vegas Sands stake

Miriam Adelson holds a controlling interest in Las Vegas Sands Corp., the global casino operator. The company’s portfolio includes The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and properties in Macau. After Sheldon’s death, she became the principal shareholder and the public face of the family’s business interests (Forbes).

Other investments

Beyond casinos, Adelson owns stakes in Israeli media and real estate. She has invested in Israeli newspapers and technology ventures, though the exact portfolio is not fully public. Her philanthropic arm, the Adelson Family Foundation, funds medical research, Jewish education, and addiction treatment programs. The implication: for investors, the risk is that her political spending could draw regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions like Singapore and Macau, where casino licenses depend on government goodwill.

Bottom line: Miriam Adelson controls a diversified empire anchored by Las Vegas Sands, with additional holdings in Israeli media and real estate.

Timeline

  • 1945: Born in Tel Aviv, then British Mandate for Palestine
  • 1970s: Earned medical degree from Hebrew University; practiced internal medicine and addiction medicine
  • 1991: Married Sheldon Adelson
  • 1993: Founded a substance abuse center and research clinic at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv
  • 2004: Became a major shareholder in Las Vegas Sands
  • 2021: Sheldon Adelson dies; Miriam inherits controlling stake
  • 2024: Donates $106 million to Preserve America, a pro-Trump super PAC
  • 2025: Trump praises her at the Knesset; Al Jazeera reports on her political influence

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • She is a physician specializing in addiction medicine (UNLV Special Collections)
  • She is the widow of Sheldon Adelson (UNLV Special Collections)
  • She donated $106 million to Preserve America in 2024 (The Forward)
  • Her net worth is derived from Las Vegas Sands (Forbes)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth varies by source — Forbes estimates $32B, Bloomberg $37.8B
  • Precise extent of her day-to-day involvement in Las Vegas Sands operations after Sheldon’s death

Key quotes

“She is the pro-Israel donor Trump lauded.”

— Al Jazeera report on Miriam Adelson’s political influence

“Miriam Adelson remains Trump’s largest Jewish donor and the third largest donor to his 2024 campaign.”

— The Forward, citing campaign finance data

Summary

Miriam Adelson’s transformation from addiction specialist to political kingmaker is a story of wealth, conviction, and strategic giving. For the Republican Party, the implication is clear: her $106 million in 2024 made her indispensable, but her 2022 pullback showed she can turn the tap off. For Democrats, the challenge is matching a donor who can write nine-figure checks without blinking. For Adelson herself, the next question is whether she doubles down in 2026 or pivots to philanthropy — and that choice will reshape the balance of power in American politics.

Additional sources

simple.wikipedia.org, influencewatch.org, facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, aljazeera.com, timesofisrael.com, blogs.timesofisrael.com

Like Ken Griffin, Miriam Adelson has leveraged her immense wealth to become one of the most influential donors in American politics.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Miriam Adelson’s educational background?

She earned her medical degree (MD) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Where did she practice medicine?

She practiced internal medicine and addiction medicine in Israel, and founded a substance abuse center at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv in 1993.

How did she meet Sheldon Adelson?

They met in the early 1990s and married in 1991. Details of their first meeting are not widely publicized.

What is the Preserve America PAC?

It is a super PAC that supports Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. Adelson donated $106 million to it in 2024.

What is her net worth according to other sources?

Forbes estimates $32 billion (2025), Bloomberg reported $37.8 billion (early 2025), and JTA cited $35 billion (October 2024).

Does Miriam Adelson hold any political office?

No, she does not hold elected office. She is a private citizen and political donor.

What are her main philanthropic causes?

She supports Jewish and Israeli causes, medical research, addiction treatment, and education through the Adelson Family Foundation.

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