34 Facts About Bob Stupak

Robert Edward Stupak was an entrepreneur who became a Las Vegas casino developer and owner.

Bob Stupak was a poker player, winning titles at the World Series of Poker and the Super Bowl of Poker.

Bob Stupak competed on the World Poker Tour, and various other tournaments, as well as cash games, including High Stakes Poker on GSN.

Bob Stupak once played a computer for half a million dollars and won.

Bob Stupak was the son of Chester and Florence Stupak.

Chester Bob Stupak ran a dice game called the Lotus Club in Pittsburgh for over 50 years.

Bob Stupak moved back to Las Vegas in 1971, where he purchased the Chateau Vegas restaurant near the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Bob Stupak bought a 1.5 acres parcel north of Sahara Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Bob Stupak bought the Vault casino at 22 Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas and changed its name to Glitter Gulch, which opened in October 1980.

Bob Stupak donated $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund in exchange for a chance to play with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Bob Stupak got his wish, and his appearance on the court in a Globetrotters uniform during one of their games shooting hoops made international news.

Bob Stupak was wildly successful with his direct-mail marketing called the "Vegas Vacation Club" that enticed vacationers to Vegas World with what was almost a cost-free vacation package including room, meals, and vouchers for casino play.

In 1987, Bob Stupak was considering the purchase of a local television station, as well as starting a weekly newspaper.

In 1988, Bob Stupak was the chairman of the newly formed Committee for Olympics in Nevada, and advocated for the Summer Olympic Games to be held in Las Vegas in 1996 or in 2000.

In 1989, Bob Stupak won a widely publicized million-dollar wager on Super Bowl XXIII.

One of Bob Stupak's most talked about promotions came when he paid a daredevil one million dollars to jump off the top of Vegas World, then charged him a $990,000 landing fee.

In 1990, Bob Stupak approached the mayor and city council with a plan to build the largest free-standing sign in the world.

Bob Stupak's plan was for an 1,800-foot-tall neon sign that would tower over Las Vegas.

Bob Stupak told Miller that to not share such a beautiful sight would be a sin, and he immediately went to work revising his plans to include a restaurant and amusement rides at the top of what was then to be called the "Bob Stupak Tower".

Bob Stupak held a press conference and announced his plan with the caveat that his tower would be the icon of Las Vegas, and Steve Wynn's Mirage would be two miles from him, not the other way around.

On March 31,1995, Bob Stupak suffered a motorcycle accident, breaking every bone in his face and going into a coma.

At the time of his motorcycle crash, Bob Stupak was developing what had become known as Stratosphere Las Vegas, the largest structure west of the Mississippi and a top 10 tallest structure in the world.

The accident was only three weeks after Bob Stupak agreed to bring in fellow poker player buddy Lyle Berman and his company Grand Casinos in as investors in the project, in large part due to the $550 million in capital they agreed to invest.

Bob Stupak called this the most difficult decision of his life as he had never had a partner and was always sole owner.

Bob Stupak continued to plan Vegas projects, including a purchase of the Moulin Rouge Hotel and a huge hotel shaped like the RMS Titanic, but these endeavors never bore fruit.

Bob Stupak appeared in the first season of the GSN series High Stakes Poker.

Bob Stupak appeared at a final table during the first season of the World Poker Tour.

Bob Stupak starred in an episode of Crime Story in 1987, and made numerous film and television series appearances.

In 1983, Stupak ran against then-current mayor William H Briare, as well as six other candidates.

Bob Stupak came in second place, with 33.1 percent of the vote, losing to Briare, who attained 62.5 percent and won re-election.

Bob Stupak ran for mayor again in 1987, and clashed often with the media.

In 2006, Bob Stupak unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.

From 1971 to 1985, Bob Stupak was married to Sandra Joyce Wilkinson, and had two more children, Nevada and Summer.

Bob Stupak died of leukemia on September 25,2009, at 67.