I have heard of Kirk Kerkorian name several times in the past. I am also familiar with his investment holding company named after his two daughters, Tracinda Corporation.
What I did not know is the history of this reclusive individual. Through the book “The Gambler” by William C. Rempel you will be taken through the life of Kerkorian, where he grew up, his parent’s plight and battle with fleeing a war torn country, dealing with poverty, and taking risks themselves.
Since Kevorkian was not a fan of the limelight, there was little known about him during his lifetime. Only those close to him knew of his generosity and of his willingness to go all in on something he wanted. This is apparent with his purchase of MGM studios and his potential takeover of Chrysler.
There were many stories told in the book about Kevorkian’s good will and generosity. One of my favorites is asking the President of Armenia what Armenia needed. A slow response by the President provided an answer of a interstate highway from north to south. Kevorkian responded with “will 100 Million do?” Not even hesitating he was willing to offer the full amount of what was needed to complete the project.
One of Kevorkian’s favorite lines were, if money can solve the problem then there are no problems. Sometimes easy to say when you have money, but reading about the life of Kevorkian it is clear that he lived with and without it.
If you want to read about one of the great investment and real estate minds of our times, I highly recommend picking up the book “The Gambler.”
If you want a shorter read and a water downed version, this article in Variety is good synopsis
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/kirk-kerkorian-dead-1201520673/