Fascinating and deeply researched, this book pulls back the curtain on Steve Wynn’s rise and fall in the world of high-stakes casinos and unchecked power. It reads like a wild mix of true crime, business exposé, and social critique. At times, the content is gruesome and hard to stomach, but it’s all part of the disturbing reality behind the glitter. A compelling, cautionary tale that’s as jaw-dropping as it is thought-provoking.

Really enjoyed Citizen Wyn.
I always appreciate when we don’t spend too long on childhoods and not getting lost in the weeds of things and this book did that really well. Knowing when to delve into subjects and even interesting people that would cross Wyn’s path. Also doesn’t shy away from tough subjects or topics I’m sure Wyn would rather stay hidden.
All in all very engaging and enjoyable, great narrator

The godfather of modern vegas - what an incredible ride. The highs were epic - the opening of the Bellagio, and selling his casino empire to MGM to make MGM Resorts. And the lows as epically low - the numerous sexual harassment charges.
Both the good and bad are covered in detail, and it’s a fascinating read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this title. This reads more like a organized crime inspired novel than a biography. It is thoroughly engrossing, even though the main character is pretty unlikable. Following his trajectory from a penny ante bingo parlor paying off his dead father's gambling debts to the mastermind of modern Las Vegas is fascinating. His hubris and unquenchable appetites eventually knocked him from his Vegas perch, but he does not appear to be suffering too much in his waning years. A very readable nonfiction book!

3.5🌟 rounded up

Frenemy to Donald Trump and likewise an apparent total POS, billionaire Steve Wynn built a casino empire in Vegas. Citizen Wynn explores Steve Wynn’s powerful influence on the modern gambling industry, chronicling how he transformed Las Vegas into a playground of luxury and spectacle.

It was hard not to rate this based on my opinion of Wynn instead of the book itself, because wow-he really sucks. Not that I was expecting a casino mogul/billionaire to be a great guy, but still. He used his money and position of power to sexually harass multiple employees (gee, where have I heard that before?) but of course turned himself into the victim in those situations. The years-long feud between Wynn and Trump is pretty funny because they're really two peas in a pod. Normally I really enjoy true crime stories but this seemed to drag on a bit too much for me. It was hard to listen to this guy get away with being absolute garbage for decades on end. If someone poor had done half of the stuff he'd done, they'd be in prison.

Citizen Wynn is narrated by Bob Johnson. His narration is clear, even, and he manages to keep too much emotion out of the story. That's about all I can ask from a narrator for a story like this.

Recommended for anyone interested in true crime and gambling/casinos/Vegas.

Thank you NetGalley & HighBridge Audio for the ALC.