Miriam Adelson & family

Miriam Adelson born on October 10, 1945, is an Israeli-American physician, businesswoman, and political donor. She gained prominence through her philanthropy, alongside her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, with the Adelson Foundation, donating hundreds of millions of dollars to Jewish and Israeli causes. She is also a significant supporter of Donald Trump and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018. After her husband's death in 2021, Miriam inherited the Las Vegas Sands and became the publisher of Israel Hayom. She is the majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. As of 2024, her net worth is estimated at $32 billion, ranking her as the 53rd richest person globally and the wealthiest Israeli.

Early Life and Medical Career

Miriam Adelson, born Miriam Farbstein in 1945 in Tel Aviv, then part of Mandatory Palestine, grew up in a family that had fled Poland before the Holocaust. Her father was a notable figure in the Mapam political party and later relocated the family to Haifa during the 1950s, where he operated a chain of movie theaters.

Adelson studied for 12 years at the Hebrew Reali School before serving as a medical officer in the Israeli Defense Forces at Ness Ziona. She later pursued higher education, earning a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Continuing her academic journey, she obtained a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Born
Miriam Farbstein

10 October 1945 (age 79)
Tel Aviv, Mandatory Palestine

Nationality American , Israeli
EducationHebrew University of Jerusalem (BS)
Tel Aviv University (MD)
Spouse
Ariel Ochshorn
​

(div. 1980)​

Sheldon Adelson
​
​(m. 1991; died 2021)
Children5

Miriam Adelson began her medical career as a physician and went on to become the chief internist in the emergency department at Tel Aviv’s Rokach (Hadassah) Hospital. Following her divorce from her first husband, she moved to the United States in 1986, joining Rockefeller University as an associate physician specializing in drug addiction research. There, she worked closely for nearly two decades with Dr. Mary Jeanne Kreek, a pioneer in methadone treatment for heroin dependence.

In 1993, Adelson established a substance abuse treatment and research center, marking a major step in her commitment to addiction medicine. Later, in 2000, she and her husband Sheldon Adelson launched the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Research Clinic in Las Vegas, which focuses on addiction treatment and scientific research. Over the years, she has authored numerous scholarly papers on addiction and continued her role as a guest investigator at Rockefeller University, contributing extensively to the field of addiction medicine.

Philanthropy

Miriam Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, became prominent figures in global philanthropy, primarily through the Adelson Foundation. Their charitable efforts have supported medical research, Jewish heritage, education, and humanitarian causes. In 2008, the couple received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, recognizing their contributions to society.

In July 2024, Miriam Adelson donated $3 million to United Hatzalah, Israel’s volunteer emergency medical service. The donation funded the purchase of 76 ambulances, motorcycles, and two emergency vehicles, significantly strengthening the organization’s emergency response capabilities.

Adelson’s philanthropic recognition includes being named an honorary citizen of Jerusalem in 2013. She also served as one of the finance vice-chairs for Donald Trump’s 2017 presidential inauguration and was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 by Trump for her philanthropic and civic contributions. During a 2024 event, Trump humorously praised her, saying, “She gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman—and they’re rated equal,” comparing her honor to the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Business Ventures

In 2018, Miriam Adelson became the publisher of Israel Hayom, Israel’s most-read newspaper, a position she continues to hold. She also serves as a voting member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Southern California (USC).

After Sheldon Adelson’s death in 2021, Miriam inherited and took over as the majority owner of Las Vegas Sands Corp., one of the world’s largest casino and resort companies. Under her leadership, the company continues to expand its global operations.

On December 27, 2023, the NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the Dallas Mavericks to the Adelson-Dumont family, granting them a 69% controlling interest in the team. Mark Cuban, the former majority owner, retained 27%.

Political Views and Activity

Miriam Adelson is one of the most influential Republican political donors in the United States. In the 2012 election cycle, she was the largest female political donor, contributing approximately $46 million, surpassing the combined total of the next fifteen women donors.

Following her investment in the Dallas Mavericks, Adelson began advocating for the legalization of casino gambling in Texas, viewing it as a key step toward expanding Las Vegas Sands’ business operations in the state. Her political and financial influence continues to shape both American conservative politics and Israel’s media and philanthropic landscape.

Support for Israel

Miriam Adelson has long demonstrated unwavering devotion to Israel, which she views as central to her identity and life’s mission. Though she has lived in the United States since marrying Sheldon Adelson, her emotional and philanthropic ties to Israel remain profound. She has frequently stated that ensuring the survival and strength of the Jewish people is among her highest priorities.

Adelson is widely credited with shaping her husband’s staunchly pro-Israel stance, and together they launched numerous philanthropic and public initiatives supporting the nation. Her charitable work extends to prominent institutions such as the Zionist Organization of America, Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, and multiple U.S.-based organizations that raise funds for the Israeli Defense Forces.

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel, Adelson published a powerful op-ed in Forbes Israel condemning pro-Palestinian demonstrations around the world. In it, she described protestors as “enablers of those who wish to destroy Israel”, reaffirming her firm stance against antisemitism and hostility toward the Jewish state.

Support for Donald Trump

Adelson has been a longtime and passionate supporter of Donald Trump, particularly following his 2016 presidential victory. Alongside her late husband, she emerged as one of Trump’s largest and most influential donors, contributing heavily to his campaigns, inauguration, legal defense during the Mueller investigation, and his 2020 re-election bid.

Her admiration for Trump stems primarily from his pro-Israel policies, including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving the U.S. Embassy there. Adelson has publicly stated that Trump’s actions warranted biblical recognition, suggesting that he deserved a “Book of Trump” for his contributions to Israel’s security and sovereignty.

In addition, she lobbied for the pardon of Aviem Sella, an Israeli air force officer involved in a 1980s espionage case, reflecting her continued commitment to strengthening U.S.-Israel relations.

During the 2024 presidential race, Adelson reaffirmed her loyalty to Trump, pledging $90 million to a Super PAC supporting his campaign. Reports also indicate she sought Trump’s backing for Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, linking potential U.S. recognition of the move with major financial contributions to his campaign efforts.

Personal Life

Miriam Adelson was first married to Ariel Ochshorn, a physician, with whom she had two daughters. The couple divorced in 1986. In 1989, while working at Rockefeller University, she met Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate. They married in 1991 and had two sons, Adam and Matan.

Her son Matan Adelson became the owner of Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Club in 2023, further extending the family’s involvement in Israeli public life.

After Sheldon Adelson’s death in 2021, Miriam inherited the majority of his business empire, becoming one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. According to Forbes (2024), her net worth stands at approximately $32 billion, while the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated it at $37.5 billion in July 2024. She remains the richest Israeli and ranks among the ten wealthiest women in the United States.

Awards and Recognition

Presidential Medal of Freedom (2018): Awarded by President Donald Trump, recognizing her exceptional contributions to U.S.-Israel relations and her decades of philanthropic leadership.

Doctor Honoris Causa, Tel Aviv University (2007): Bestowed in honor of her pioneering work in medical research and addiction treatment.

Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship (2008): Presented by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, this accolade acknowledged the Adelson family’s significant philanthropic and business achievements.

These honors underscore Miriam Adelson’s profound influence across medicine, philanthropy, politics, and global Jewish affairs, cementing her status as a key figure in strengthening the bond between Israel and the United States.

 

 

References

  • Gardner, S. (2023) Who is Miriam Adelson, the prospective new owner of the Dallas mavericks?, USA Today. Available at: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/mavericks/2023/11/29/miriam-adelson-las-vegas-sands-corporation-dallas-mavericks/71739131007/ (Accessed: 10 January 2025).
  • Goodreturn (no date) Miriam Adelson & Family: Miriam Adelson & family net worth, biography, age, spouse, children & more, Goodreturn. Available at: https://www.goodreturns.in/miriam-adelson-family-net-worth-and-biography-blnr52.html (Accessed: 10 January 2025).
  • Lakritz, T. (no date) Meet Miriam Adelson, the billionaire GOP donor who’s given $100 million to support Donald Trump’s campaign, Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/miriam-adelson-sheldon-adelson-net-worth-donald-trump-2024-10 (Accessed: 10 January 2025).
  • Sadeh, S. (2022) Sheldon who? how Miriam Adelson took over her late husband’s empire, Haaretz.com. Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-04-06/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/sheldon-who-how-miriam-adelson-took-over-her-late-husbands-empire/00000180-5ba9-d97e-a7fb-7bff27500000 (Accessed: 10 January 2025).

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