wynn

He helped Las Vegas shed its image as a sleazy gambling capital and make inroads as a family holiday destination, and his top-notch hotel restaurants have put Sin City on the culinary map.

Now tycoon Steve Wynn has his sights firmly trained on expanding his business in the former Portuguese colony of Macau as he looks to scale the next high point of what has been an already heady career.

The 65-year-old's reputation was burnished further last week when the prestigious Michelin Guide announced its first Las Vegas edition, showering honors on Wynn's restaurants across the city.

Stephen Wynn, casino magnate, is on a roll — again. Wynn, who resembles Dustin Hoffman in one of his pushier roles, is largely responsible for transforming Las Vegas from a seedy playground to a glitzy attraction. These days he's focused on Macau, China's up-and-coming waterfront haven for gamblers. Strong gains both there and at his Las Vegas properties have sent shares in Wynn Resorts soaring, with $4 billion added to the company's market value this year alone. Revenue in the first half of the year more than doubled from the prior year, and earnings are also on a roll.

When the Macau government opened its gambling market to foreign investment a few years ago, it sought companies that could help transform the Chinese seaport from a seedy outpost into a top luxury resort destination where gambling is but one of many popular attractions.

The former Portuguese colony wanted to accomplish what it had taken about 40 years to achieve in Las Vegas, where at least half of the Strip's revenue is generated beyond the casino floor.