- University of Pittsburgh
- Temple University School of Law
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Goldstein was integral to creating The Venetian and supporting the gaming business with retail and hospitality ventures, which has since been described as one of the biggest influences on modern-day Las Vegas. Soon after he was appointed as CEO, Goldstein would sell The Venetian Resort for $6.25bn.
Goldstein serves on the Board of Directors of Opportunity Village, a non-profit organisation in Las Vegas that supports people with cognitive disabilites; The Adelson Drug Rehabilitation Clinic; and the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, a charity that mentors young children to reach their full potential.
Goldstein was also the driving force behind the Young Women's Leadership Academy of Las Vegas, a charter school offering a high-quality, all-girls' education for Las Vegas-area families.
EMPLOYMENT
Goldstein began his professional journey at the University of Pittsburgh. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he then moved on to the Temple University School of Law where he attained his graduate degree in law.
Post-education, Goldstein entered the world of business. Over the course of his career, Goldstein has worked across various industries, including 14 years at UBS Investment Bank.
Goldstein first joined Las Vegas Sands in 1995, during the early planning stages of The Venetian. The property would be the first integrated resort from LVS and Goldstein was responsible for building the gaming business, as well as the retail and hospitality area. He welcomed a range of high-end restaurants to the property, which was still a relatively new concept at the time.
Despite many people, both in and outside of the industry, speculating that The Venetian would fail, it went on to become one of the most iconic properties in Las Vegas.
Between 1999 and 2010, Goldstein was the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Venetian and The Palazzo. During this time, The Venetian opened the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and several Broadway shows, including the Phantom of the Opera.
In 2004, Goldstein led the team at LVS to sell the retail offerings at The Venetian and the not-yet-opened Palazzo for $1.5bn in what became known as one of the turning points for the Las Vegas Strip as a whole. After this sale, many more investors flocked to Las Vegas and turned it into what it is today. Later that year, LVS would launch on the NYSE and become the most valuable company in its industry based on market capitalisation.
Goldstein would then focus on the construction and development of Sands Bethlehem in Eastern Pennsylvania. The property would open in 2009 and be sold in 2019 for $1.3bn.
In 2014, after serving as the President of Global Gaming Operations for many years, Goldstein would be appointed as Sands’ President and Chief Operating Officer.
In 2021, Goldstein was named as Chair and Chief Executive Officer. In 2022, Las Vegas Sands sold The Venetian property for $6.25bn to Apollo Global Management and VICI Properties and would focus on its properties across Asia.
"In the beginning, we were counted out more times than I can count. All these years later it is clear the opening of The Venetian was a turning point in the history of the Las Vegas Strip. Sheldon was widely criticised at the time, but his vision and the work we started together 30 years ago has more than stood the test of time." Robert Goldstein
