Phil Ruffin

Phillip Ruffin
Born	Potter County, Texas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Known for	Owner of Treasure Island Hotel and Casino and Circus Circus Hotel & Casino

Phillip Ruffin is a prominent American entrepreneur known for owning the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino and Circus Circus Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His business portfolio extends across various sectors, including hotels, casinos, greyhound racing, oil production, convenience retail, real estate, and the largest global manufacturer of hand trucks. According to the Forbes 2019 billionaire rankings, he was placed at No. 838 with an estimated net worth of US$3.1 billion.

Early life and education

Born in Potter County, near Amarillo, Texas, Ruffin is of Lebanese heritage (original family name "Rufan"; ). He grew up in Wichita, Kansas, where his father operated a grocery store. He has four siblings: Elaine Ruffin Nemer, Roy Ruffin Jr., Pat Ruffin, and Pam Ruffin. Ruffin completed his high school education at Wichita North High School in 1953, earning recognition as a wrestling champion. He later attended both Washburn University and Wichita State University but did not graduate.

Career

In 1972, Ruffin introduced the concept of self-service gasoline stations in Kansas and expanded this idea into a network of 60 convenience stores throughout the Midwest. By 1987, he reinvested earnings from these outlets to establish his first hotel—a Marriott located in Wichita. His business interests also encompassed oil distribution and one of the nation’s leading hand truck manufacturing companies.

In 1994, he leased his convenience store chain to Total and utilized the capital gained to further invest in hotel properties. The following year, he acquired the Crystal Palace casino resort in Nassau, which he subsequently mortgaged to finance the purchase of the New Frontier Hotel and Casino.

New Frontier Hotel and Casino

Ruffin is notably recognized for purchasing the New Frontier Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip in 1998. The establishment had been embroiled in the longest strike ever recorded in U.S. history, led by the influential Culinary Workers Union. Upon acquisition, Ruffin swiftly resolved the labor dispute and reintroduced the venue under its original name. In 2005, he revealed intentions to replace it with a new development known as The Montreaux, although this plan was never realized. In 2007, he sold the 36-acre site to El Ad Properties for $1.2 billion, achieving a record-breaking price per acre on The Strip.

Treasure Island

In March 2009, Ruffin purchased the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino (TI) from MGM Mirage for $600 million in cash along with $175 million in secured notes. He estimated that constructing a comparable casino from ground up would require an investment of $2.7 billion. In 2008, Treasure Island reported revenues of $376 million and an EBITDA of $101 million. Ruffin emphasized that TI’s relatively low debt load made it an appealing acquisition despite challenging market conditions. He assumed full ownership on March 20, 2009. Nearly a decade later, in February 2018, he turned down a substantial offer from a Chinese company for TI, underscoring that properties on the Strip are "irreplaceable" and hold value beyond monetary terms.

Trump International Tower

Ruffin partnered with longtime associate Donald Trump on a project involving part of the New Frontier property. The Trump International Hotel and Tower, situated next to the Fashion Show Mall, commenced construction in July 2005 and officially opened its doors in March 2008. Plans were announced for a second identical tower at that time. Ruffin retains a 50% interest in this venture by contributing the land as his stake in the development.

Circus Circus

In December 2019, Ruffin acquired Circus Circus Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International for $825 million. This purchase also encompassed the neighboring Slots-A-Fun Casino, the Adventuredome theme park, and adjacent open land. Ruffin intends to upgrade the site by adding a swimming pool area that will include a wave pool, sandy beaches, and a lazy river attraction.

By January 2025, Ruffin declared his plan to divest Circus Circus.

Wichita Greyhound Park

Wichita Greyhound Park is owned by Ruffin’s enterprise. In August 2007, following a narrowly defeated referendum that sought approval for slot machines or casino gambling at the track, Ruffin announced its closure. The referendum encountered resistance from Kansas state Senate President Susan Wagle, who had vested interests in bingo establishments.

Convenience stores

Ruffin Companies holds ownership of 61 convenience stores leased to Total and managed by Diamond Shamrock across three different states.

Lodging

Ruffin’s Hotel Group operates 13 hotels affiliated with the Marriott Hotels, Fairfield Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott brands, located throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, California, Texas, and Alabama.

Manufacturing

Among Ruffin’s manufacturing assets are Harper Trucks, recognized as the world’s largest producer of hand trucks, and Angelus Manufacturing, which focuses on steel hand trucks. In December 2013, he expanded his portfolio by acquiring WelCom Products in Torrance, California, known for producing Magna Cart folding hand trucks distributed across the United States and more than 25 other countries.

Casino Miami

Ruffin completed the purchase of Casino Miami in Miami, Florida, during December 2018. Situated at 3500 NW 37th Avenue, the property is currently subject to significant expansion initiatives.

Relationship with Donald Trump

Ruffin has maintained a longstanding personal and professional relationship with Donald Trump, who served as best man at Ruffin’s wedding in 2008. Their acquaintance began in the early 2000s at Trump Tower amid talks about incorporating a Trump-branded hotel into Ruffin’s Treasure Island casino—a venture that ultimately did not proceed. Subsequently, Ruffin introduced Trump to a Las Vegas site that facilitated Trump’s development projects there. Their families continue to share close ties, with Ruffin complimenting Trump’s handshake as “better than any contract.” In June 2018, during a visit to Las Vegas, Trump provided Ruffin with a tour of Air Force One.

2013 Trump visit to Moscow

Ruffin may have played a significant role as a witness in the Trump-Russia Investigation and associated allegations outlined in the Steele dossier. In 2013, Trump traveled on Ruffin’s private jet to Moscow for the Trump-owned Miss Universe Pageant. At that time, Ruffin was married to Oleksandra Nikolayenko, a former Miss Universe and Ukrainian supermodel. Allegations have surfaced accusing Trump of engaging in compromising behavior during this trip, purportedly recorded by Russian operatives for blackmail purposes (kompromat). These assertions stem from reports by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele but remain unproven. Despite flight logs indicating Ruffin’s aircraft arrived Friday morning and departed Sunday, Trump denied spending the night in Moscow.

Additionally, Ruffin might have been present at a meeting involving Trump, bodyguard Keith Schiller, and Russian officials concerning the development of Trump Tower Moscow, another key element scrutinized during the investigation.

Trump Campaign

In 2015, Trump referenced Ruffin as a possible ambassador to China if he won the presidency, though Ruffin later clarified this was intended humorously. In August 2016, Ruffin provided Trump with the use of his 737 BBJ aircraft for a trip to Mexico City to meet President Enrique Peña Nieto.

That same year, Ruffin contributed $1 million to the Make America Great Again PAC backing Trump's presidential bid, representing more than half of the PAC’s total fundraising amount of $1.74 million. Following media attention, the PAC was dissolved and Ruffin’s contribution was returned. In January 2016, Trump publicly acknowledged Ruffin’s $1 million donations directed toward veterans' organizations.

By April 2017, Ruffin revealed that he maintained communication with Trump approximately every two weeks, engaging only on significant issues. He condemned press coverage as a "vendetta" against the president and commended Trump's tax reform initiatives in 2018.

Together with his wife, Ruffin donated $1.5 million to support Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. In 2023, he gave $2 million to the Make America Great Again super PAC operated by MAGA Inc.

Trump University settlement payment

In February 2019, Congresswoman Jackie Speier mentioned that a "Kansan," later identified as Ruffin, had contributed $25 million toward settling Trump’s liabilities related to Trump University. Ruffin confirmed a payment of $28 million in 2018 to Trump but stated these funds were for outstanding fees associated with Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, not connected to Trump University.

Personal life

Ruffin has been married three times. He has three children from his second marriage to Lynne: their daughter Michelle oversees operations at the Wichita Marriott; son Chris manages the Wichita Hyatt; and son Phil Jr. serves as president of Harper Trucks Inc., a manufacturer specializing in hand trucks. On January 6, 2008, Ruffin wed supermodel and Miss Ukraine 2004 Oleksandra Nikolayenko. The couple has two children: Rizzard William (born April 2010) and Malena (born 2013). Ruffin supported an organic food and educational program at the Alexander Dawson School, where his youngest children are enrolled.

Ruffin also appeared on season seven of GSN's High Stakes Poker.

External links

• Harper Trucks official website