Passionate 🔥 Leaders Don’t Just Build Companies — They Attract Great People

The most attractive companies are often those owned or led by visionary entrepreneurs. I joined the Golden Nugget for exactly that reason — the passion and clarity of its owner and CEO made it a place people wanted to be.

When Steve Wynn bought the Golden Nugget in the early 1970s, he entered a landscape filled with larger‑than‑life casino owners and operators who shaped Las Vegas during a pivotal era. Among them were:

·       Harvey Gross at Harvey’s Club

·       Billy Weinberger at Caesars

·       Bill Harrah at Harrah’s

·       Sam Boyd at Sam’s Club

·       Jackie Gaughan at the El Cortez

·       Frank Fertitta at Palace Station

·       Margaret Elardi at the Frontier

·       Benny Binion at the Horseshoe

·       Claudine Williams at the Holiday Inn

·       Kell Houssels at the Showboat

·       Barron Hilton and Henry Lewin at the Las Vegas Hilton

·       Wilbur Clark at the Desert Inn

·       Del Webb at The Mint

·       The Petersens – Dean, Faye, and Murray - at the Westward Ho

These were self‑made professionals — tough, compassionate, business‑smart, and people‑smart. They were the successors to the mob‑era operators, but they brought something different: a deep personal investment in their businesses and the people who worked for them. They resembled Sam Walton, who embodied the core tenets of his leadership philosophy:

·       Servant Leadership: Understanding that their job was to support employees so employees could take care of customers.

·       Humility and Accessibility: Staying close to the front lines, listening, learning, and staying grounded.

·       Relentless Focus on Value: Prioritizing long‑term value over short‑term gain, always keeping the customer at the center.

These leaders, Wynn included, created workplaces where passion wasn’t a slogan — it was a lived experience. Their energy attracted talent. Their vision inspired loyalty. Their presence set the tone for excellence.

People want to work for leaders who believe in something. Leaders who care. Leaders who show up. Leaders who make the work feel meaningful.

Those are the leaders who ignite passion in their teams. Those are the leaders people follow. Those are the leaders we should all strive to emulate today.

Robert Toru Kiyosaki (born 1947): American businessman, entrepreneur, and author, known for the Rich Dad Poor Dad series of personal finance books.