Hollywood starts with an agent

Chapter 413 Sands Entertainment
Located on the eastern outskirts of Las Vegas, at the border of Arizona and Nevada, lies Lake Mead, a massive reservoir created by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River.
As the largest man-made reservoir in the United States, Lake Mead not only provides freshwater resources for Las Vegas, but also boasts beautiful surrounding scenery!
At a resort hotel by Lake Mead, Aaron and Sheldon Adelson sat together on the balcony, admiring the beautiful view of the lake.

"The Marina Bay Sands Hotel will be demolished in the second half of this year, so if you want to take photos, you'd better hurry!"

Sheldon Adelson had no objection to Dawn wanting to use the hotel to film a movie, at least it would be good publicity for the new entertainment complex.

Aaron nodded, then changed the subject, "I heard that Mr. Adelson's Venetian Casino project is still in the fundraising stage?"

Sheldon Adelson smiled. "Aaron, are you interested?"

"My Venetian Resort Hotel is a large-scale integrated entertainment complex combining gambling, hotels, entertainment, and dining."

"High investment generally means high future returns."

"Two hundred million US dollars, and I can give you 10% of the Venetian Hotel!"

Aaron took a sip of whiskey and glanced at Sheldon Adelson across from him. It seemed that the money Soft Drinks had spent on acquiring the Las Vegas Computer Expo and the Sands Convention Center wasn't enough.

"Let me think about it."

Sheldon Adelson nodded. "Then let's have a good few days in Las Vegas and experience the charm of the City of Desire!"

After Sheldon Adelson left, Aaron leaned back on the sofa and poured himself a glass of wine.

It turns out they wanted to raise funds from themselves. The Venetian Resort is indeed magnificent; $2 million for a 10% stake!
The construction cost of The Venetian Macao is estimated at around US$15 billion, and the completion time is approximately three years.
Investing $2 million in exchange for a 10% stake in The Venetian Macao is actually not bad.

After all, the Sands Entertainment Group will certainly have more than just one Venetian hotel in the future, right?

Two days later, Aaron and Sheldon Adelson reached an agreement in Las Vegas to invest $2 million in Las Vegas Sands Entertainment Group, acquiring a 10% stake.

"Aaron, this investment is absolutely worthwhile!"

Sheldon Adelson was very excited after signing the contract.

Aaron nodded. Sheldon Adelson hadn't been in the gaming industry for long; after all, he had only acquired the Sands Hotel in 1989.

Compared to Kirk Kocorian of MGM Grand and Stephen Wynn, who manages Dream Casino and Treasure Island, Sheldon Adelson seems like a newcomer.

"Wynn Resorts is building the Bellagio Resort Casino Hotel, which should open earlier than the Venetian!"

Aaron spoke up.

Sheldon Adelson was very confident. "Don't worry, Aaron, how can the Bellagio Resort compare to my Venetian?"

"Everyone will be amazed when the Venetian opens!"

Aaron looked at Sheldon Adelson and simply nodded.

The people who run casino hotels are all extraordinary individuals; they have connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles.
Sheldon Adelson also came from the Jewish mafia in Boston. The Italian mafia, Jewish gangs, and Chicago gangs in Las Vegas are all intertwined!

Last year, Universal's "Casino" was just the tip of the iceberg.

Aaron wants returns. A $2 million cash investment is no small sum. If Sheldon Adelson can't deliver the returns he deserves, Aaron will make sure he loses the Venetian!

At night, in the VIP room of the Treasure Island Hotel, Aaron sat at the gambling table playing Texas Hold'em. His initial $15 in chips had dwindled to just over $2.

"Aaron, you lost again?" Catherine Zeta-Jones walked over at some point, kissed Aaron on the cheek, and sat down.

Aaron simply smiled. "No wonder those gamblers are willing to ruin their families and even die for gambling."

"This feeling is indeed addictive!"

Then, Aaron snapped his fingers, signaling the waiter to bring two glasses of champagne, and casually tossed over a $500 chip.

Catherine Zeta-Jones smiled without saying a word, picked up her champagne and took a sip!
"The slot machines in the lobby outside are actually quite fun to play."

"Slot machines!" Las Vegas does indeed have a lot of slot machines; every casino is filled with all kinds of slot machines.

Americans do indeed enjoy playing slot machines.

“Let’s go, this is pretty boring,” Aaron said, standing up and tossing the remaining $5000 chip to the dealer.

"It's yours."

The dealer took the chips. "Ah, thank you, sir!"

In the penthouse suite of the Treasure Island Hotel, Aaron, leaning on Catherine Zeta-Jones' back, asked breathlessly, "Are you going to the Cannes Film Festival next month?"

“Yes, that’s right!” Catherine Zeta-Jones leaned against the glass, admiring the Las Vegas night view.

"Are you going too?"

"No, next, I'm going to New York!"

As Aaron spoke, he kissed the woman's lips and held her soft flesh...

With Aaron suddenly investing $2 million in cash into Sands Entertainment Group, the cash that Dawn had obtained from its IPO was completely depleted.

Back in New York, just as the Dawn Center in Times Square was being topped out, Universal Pictures' headquarters were able to move out of Rockefeller Center by the end of the year!
The 95–96 NBA regular season has also ended. The Houston Rockets are fourth in the Western Conference, behind the Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz.

Following them are the Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings.

"They'll face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round!"

In Dawn's office in Lower Manhattan's West Side, Aaron leaned back in his chair, looking nonchalant.

Jack Wells, meanwhile, was sitting on the sofa opposite, drinking whiskey!
The Houston Rockets should have no problem beating the Los Angeles Lakers.

"The Chicago Bulls are very strong this year. They won 67 games in the regular season, the best in the league. The Seattle SuperSonics, who are first in the Western Conference, have 64 wins!"

Knowing his own situation, Jack Wells understood that the Houston Rockets would need even better luck if they wanted to win the championship this year.

“67 wins,” Aaron nodded. It would be better if it wasn’t 72 wins. Without Dennis Rodman, the Bulls still have weaknesses.

"Hakeem Olajuwon's contract expires next year, and this renewal will be expensive!"

Jack Wells reminded him that he knew Aaron was not satisfied with the Rockets' aging roster, but Hakeem Olajuwon had just helped the Rockets win two championships.
Hakeem Olajuwon still has immense dominance in the paint; we can't just trade him away, can we?
"Let's think about it after the playoffs are over!"

(End of this chapter)