American gambling czar, the founder of Harrah’s Casinos in Reno and Lake Tahoe, NV, the world’s second largest gambling operation. Harrah’s is the only casino listed on the New York Stock Exchange; he himself kept 83% of the stock and exercised total control of his operations.
Harrah always aimed for the biggest and best though he was actually a shy perfectionist, soft spoken, who hated to waste time on trivial formalities. An antique car collector, he loved fast driving. In 1932, he bought out his dad’s failing bingo room for $500. He moved the club to Reno in 1937 and began his growth expansion, leading up finally to his largest operation, in Las Vegas.
In late 1942, Harrah had a drunken driving accident in which he broke his neck. After spending nine weeks in the hospital, he limited himself to light social drinking.
Harrah married in 1953; his wife was 15 years younger. Childless after 12 years, they adopted two sons in 1965 and 1967. They divorced in 1969 and he made a second marriage to singer Bobbie Gentry in December 1969. The marriage lasted five months. His third marriage was from August 1970 to October 1971, and the fourth, from October 1972 to November 1973. With a fifth marriage in June 1974, Harrah adopted his wife’s son.
Harrah died on 6/30/1978, Rochester, NY after heart surgery for an aortal aneurysm. He left an estate worth an estimated $137 million.
Link to Wikipedia biography