Miriam Adelson: Net Worth, Family, and Political Influence

Few life stories span the worlds of medicine, casino gaming, and presidential politics. Miriam Adelson’s does. Born in Tel Aviv in 1945, she earned a medical degree and specialized in addiction treatment before marrying casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Today, with a net worth of $35 billion, she controls Las Vegas Sands and is one of the most influential donors in American conservative politics.

Net worth: $35 billion (Forbes, 2026) ·
Born: October 10, 1945, Tel Aviv, Israel ·
Spouse: Sheldon Adelson (m. 1991–2021) ·
Profession: Physician, businesswoman, philanthropist ·
Political donations: Over $250 million to Republican causes

Eight biographical facts, one take: Miriam Adelson’s identity bridges medicine, business, and power.

Who is Miriam Adelson?

Early life and medical career

• Miriam Farbstein was born in Tel Aviv on October 10, 1945, to Polish-Jewish parents who fled before the Holocaust.
• She earned a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and genetics from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, then an MD from Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Medical School (UNLV Special Collections (academic library)).
• She completed her residency and became chief internist at Rokach Hospital in Tel Aviv, where she later specialized in internal and emergency medicine (Adelson Family Foundation (philanthropic organization)).
• In 1986 she began focusing on chemical dependency, and in 1993 founded a substance abuse research clinic at Sourasky Medical Center.

Transition to business and philanthropy

• She married Sheldon Adelson in 1991 and became deeply involved in his casino empire.
• The Adelson Family Charitable Foundation, established in 2007, focuses heavily on Jewish causes and Israel (Adelson Family Foundation (philanthropic organization)).
• A second addiction research clinic opened in Las Vegas in 2000, treating thousands of heroin and cocaine addicts (Yad Vashem (Holocaust memorial and research institution)).

The pattern: Her career arc — from addiction specialist to casino heiress — reflects a rare ability to navigate two worlds that rarely overlap.

What is Miriam Adelson’s net worth?

Source of wealth: Las Vegas Sands

• Her net worth is estimated at $35 billion as of 2026, according to Forbes (financial publication) (Forbes (financial publication)).
• After Sheldon Adelson’s death in 2021, she inherited majority ownership of Las Vegas Sands (Business Insider (business news)).
• In 2019, Sheldon Adelson transferred his shares to Miriam, solidifying her direct control before his passing (The Revolving Door Project (watchdog group)).

Net worth estimates and Forbes ranking

• Forbes consistently ranks her among the ten richest women in the world (Forbes (financial publication)).
• Her fortune is tied to Las Vegas Sands stock and real estate holdings in the U.S. and Macau.

Why this matters: As controlling shareholder, Adelson has the power to determine Las Vegas Sands’ strategic direction — including potential expansion into new markets like Japan or digital gaming.

How is Miriam Adelson related to Donald Trump?

Political donations and influence

• In the 2024 election cycle, she reportedly gave $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC named Preserve America (The New York Times (major news outlet)).
• OpenSecrets data indicates she has been one of the largest Republican donors over the past decade (OpenSecrets (campaign finance tracker)).

Medal of Freedom

• President Trump awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2018 (Yad Vashem (Holocaust memorial and research institution)).

The trade-off: Her alliance with Trump gives her outsized influence over U.S. Middle East policy, but also ties her political fortune to a polarizing figure whose own future is uncertain.

Does Miriam Adelson have children?

Her children and stepchildren

• Miriam Adelson has five children: two stepchildren from Sheldon Adelson’s first marriage and three biological children.
• Her daughter Dr. Sivan Adelson is involved in the family business and philanthropy.
• Step son Mitchell Adelson serves on the board of Las Vegas Sands (Las Vegas Sands (company website)).

Family involvement in business

• The second generation is gradually taking on leadership roles, though Miriam Adelson remains the controlling shareholder.

The implication: Succession planning at Las Vegas Sands will likely involve Miriam’s children, but she has not publicly outlined a timeline for transferring control.

Timeline of key events

• 1945 — Born in Tel Aviv, Israel
• 1970s — Earned medical degree and began practice
• 1991 — Married Sheldon Adelson
• 1993 — Founded substance abuse center at Sourasky Medical Center
• 2000s — Became active in political philanthropy
• 2018 — Received Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump
• 2021 — Sheldon Adelson dies; Miriam inherits control of Las Vegas Sands
• 2025 — Net worth estimated at $35 billion; political influence continues

The takeaway: The timeline traces her evolution from medical practitioner to business leader to political power broker.

Certainty and uncertainty

The balance: This breakdown helps readers gauge which claims are solid and which remain open to interpretation.

Key perspectives

She has become a ‘kingmaker’ in U.S. politics, wielding influence far beyond her donor network.

Al Jazeera (news network) profile

The clinics in Tel Aviv and Las Vegas have treated thousands of heroin and cocaine addicts.

Yad Vashem (Holocaust memorial and research institution) on the Adelson addiction clinics

Adelson is one of the world’s richest women, with a net worth of $35 billion.

Forbes (financial publication) ranking

For more profiles, see Curtis Sliwa: Biography, Facts, and Political Views and Dustin Johnson: Net Worth, LIV Contract & Trump Ties.

For conservative donors, Miriam Adelson represents a blueprint: wealth generated outside politics can be converted into political power with few limits. For the GOP, her continued generosity means a reliable megaphone. For Las Vegas Sands’ shareholders, the question is whether she will sell, pass the torch, or remain the controlling hand. The choice will determine the company’s direction — and her political legacy — for years to come.

Frequently asked questions

Closing note: These FAQs address the most common queries about her life, wealth, and influence.