Phil Ruffin facts for kids

Phillip Gene Ruffin (born March 14, 1935) is a successful American businessman. He owns famous places like the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino and Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. He also owns many other businesses. These include hotels, casinos, and even a company that makes hand trucks. In 2019, he was listed as one of the world's billionaires by Forbes magazine.

Early Life and Education

Phil Ruffin was born in Potter County, Texas in 1935. His family's original name was "Rufan," and they are of Lebanese descent. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where his father owned a grocery store.

He graduated from Wichita North High School in 1953. He was a wrestling champion there. Phil went to Washburn University and Wichita State University. However, he did not finish his degree.

Phil Ruffin's Business Career

Phil Ruffin started his business journey in 1972. He was one of the first to offer self-serve gasoline in Kansas. He built a chain of 60 convenience stores. In 1987, he used the money from these stores to build his first hotel in Wichita. His businesses also included oil distribution and making hand trucks.

In 1994, Ruffin leased his convenience stores to Total. He used that money to buy even more hotels. A year later, in 1995, he bought the Crystal Palace casino resort in Nassau, Bahamas. He then used that casino as a loan to buy the New Frontier Hotel and Casino.

New Frontier Hotel and Casino

Ruffin is well-known for buying the New Frontier Hotel and Casino. This was a very old and famous property on the Las Vegas Strip. When he bought it in 1998, there was a very long strike with the workers. It was the longest strike in American history. Ruffin quickly settled the strike after he bought the place.

In 2005, Ruffin planned to tear down the New Frontier. He wanted to build a new resort called The Montreaux. But this plan never happened. In 2007, Ruffin sold the New Frontier for $1.2 billion. This was a record price for land on the Las Vegas Strip.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

MGM Mirage sold the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino (TI) to Ruffin in March 2009. He bought it for $600 million in cash and $175 million in notes. Ruffin believed that building a casino like Treasure Island from scratch would cost much more.

He took full ownership of Treasure Island on March 20, 2009. In 2018, he said he turned down a "huge" offer for TI from a Chinese company. He explained that properties on the Strip are "irreplaceable." He said, "Money is not that valuable. Assets are valuable, especially when they are irreplaceable."

Trump International Tower

Ruffin partnered with his friend Donald Trump on a project. They built the Trump International Hotel and Tower. It is right next to the Fashion Show Mall. Construction started in July 2005.

The tower opened in March 2008. There were plans for a second, identical tower. Ruffin owns half of this development. He provided the land for his share of the deal.

Circus Circus Las Vegas

MGM Resorts International sold Circus Circus Las Vegas to Ruffin in December 2019. He bought it for $825 million. This purchase included the Slots-A-Fun Casino, the Adventuredome amusement park, and other nearby land.

Ruffin plans to add new features to Circus Circus. These include a swimming pool complex with a wave machine, sand beaches, and a lazy river ride. In January 2025, Ruffin said he plans to sell the property.

Wichita Greyhound Park

Ruffin's company owns the Wichita Greyhound Park. In 2007, Ruffin announced he would close the track. This happened after a public vote to allow slot machines or casino gambling at the track failed.

Convenience Stores

Ruffin Companies owns 61 convenience stores. These stores are leased to Total and operated by Diamond Shamrock. They are located in three different states.

Hotels and Lodging

Ruffin's Hotel Group owns and runs 13 hotels. These hotels are under well-known brands like Marriott Hotels, Fairfield Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott. They are located in Oklahoma, Kansas, California, Texas, and Alabama.

Manufacturing Businesses

Ruffin owns and operates Harper Trucks. This company is the world's largest maker of hand trucks. He also owns Angelus Manufacturing, which makes steel hand trucks. In 2013, Ruffin bought WelCom Products. This company makes the Magna Cart line of folding hand trucks.

Casino Miami

Ruffin bought Casino Miami in Miami, Florida on December 3, 2018. It is located at 3500 NW 37th Avenue. He has big plans to expand this casino.

Relationship with Donald Trump

Phil Ruffin is a long-time friend and business partner of Donald Trump. Trump was the best man at Ruffin's third wedding in 2008. They met in the early 2000s. Ruffin has said that a handshake from Trump is "better than any contract." In June 2018, Trump gave the Ruffins a tour of Air Force One.

2013 Visit to Moscow

Ruffin traveled with Donald Trump to Moscow in 2013. They went for the Miss Universe Pageant, which Trump owned at the time. Ruffin's wife, Oleksandra Nikolayenko, was a former Miss Universe from Ukraine. During this trip, Ruffin may have attended a meeting with Trump and Russian officials. They discussed building a Trump Tower Moscow.

Support for Trump's Campaigns

In 2015, Trump joked that he would send Ruffin as an envoy to China if he became president. Ruffin also loaned Trump his private jet for a trip to Mexico City in 2016.

Ruffin gave $1 million to a group supporting Trump's campaign for president in 2015. This group later closed and returned Ruffin's money. In 2016, Trump praised Ruffin for donating $1 million to groups helping veterans.

In 2017, Ruffin said he talks with Trump often. He also said he felt the news media was unfair to Trump. Ruffin was very happy with Trump's tax cuts. In 2020, Ruffin and his wife gave $1.5 million to Trump's 2020 presidential campaign. In 2023, Ruffin gave another $2 million to a group supporting Trump.

Trump International Hotel Las Vegas Payment

In 2019, it was mentioned that Phil Ruffin had paid a large sum of money related to Donald Trump. Ruffin said he paid Trump $28 million in 2018. He stated this payment was for "back-fees" connected to the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas.

Personal Life

Phil Ruffin has been married three times. He has three children with his second wife, Lynne. His daughter, Michelle Ruffin-Stein, runs the Wichita Marriott hotel he owns. His son, Chris Ruffin, runs the Wichita Hyatt hotel he owns. His son, Phil Ruffin Jr., runs Harper Trucks Inc.

On January 6, 2008, Ruffin married Oleksandra Nikolayenko. She was a supermodel and Miss Ukraine 2004. At the time, he was 72 and she was 26. They have two children together: Richard William Ruffin (born 2010) and Malena (born 2013). Ruffin has supported a food and learning program at the school his two youngest children attend.

Ruffin also appeared on the TV show High Stakes Poker.