Kirk Kerkorian

"Kerkorian" redirects here. For the surname, see Kerkorian (surname).

National Hero of Armenia
Kirk Kerkorian
Քըրք Քըրքորյան
Kerkorian on a 2017 postage stamp of Armenia
Born
Kerkor Kerkorian

(1917-06-06)June 6, 1917
Fresno, California, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 2015(2015-06-15) (aged 98)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
Citizenship
  • United States
  • Armenia (honorary)
Years active1940–2015
Spouses
Hilda Schmidt
​
​
(m. 1942; div. 1951)​
Jean Maree Harbour-Hardy
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1984)​
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 1999)​
Una Davis
​
​
(m. 2014; sep. 2014)​
Children2
AwardsNational Hero of Armenia (2004)[1]

Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian (Armenian: Քըրք Քըրքորյան; June 6, 1917 – June 15, 2015) was an Armenian-American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was the president and CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian was one of the important figures in the shaping of Las Vegas and, with architect Martin Stern Jr.,[2] is described as the "father of the mega-resort".[3] He built the world's largest hotel in Las Vegas three times:[4] the International Hotel (opened in 1969), the original MGM Grand Hotel (1973) and the current MGM Grand (1993).[5] He purchased the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studio in 1969.

Of Armenian descent, Kerkorian provided over $1 billion for charity in Armenia through his Lincy Foundation, which was established in 1989 and particularly focused on helping to rebuild northern Armenia after the 1988 earthquake.[6] Kerkorian also provided money to ensure that a film based on the history of the Armenian genocide would be made. The resulting film, called The Promise,[3] premiered in April 2017 in the United States. In 2000 Time magazine named him the 10th largest donor in the US.[7] Kerkorian was declared an honorary citizen of Armenia.[8] He was bestowed the title of National Hero of Armenia, the highest state award.[1]

  1. ^ a b "'National Heroes' Aznavour and Kerkorian". Asbarez. May 27, 2004.
  2. ^ "The Hidden History of the Xanadu". University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Simich, Jerry L.; Wright, Thomas C. (2010). More peoples of Las Vegas: one city, many faces. University of Nevada Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-87417-817-3.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference reviewjournal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Palermo 1997, p. 159.
  6. ^ Helmut K Anheier; David C. Hammack (2010). American foundations: roles and contributions. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-8157-0339-6.
  7. ^ "Time Magazine Lists Kerkorian in Top 12 List of Donors". Asbarez. July 20, 2000.
  8. ^ "President Kocharian, His Holiness Karekin I, His Holiness Aram I, Unite; $1 Million Raised for Humanitarian Aid to Armenia". Hye Sharzhoom. California State University, Fresno. September 26, 1998. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.