Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson lost US$4 billion of his personal fortune last month due to the slumping national economy, even before the latest stock market woes, as Forbes reported.
According to the same report, Adelson was traveling last Friday and unavailable for comment, said Ron Reese, the spokesman for Las Vegas Sands Corp, the company in which Adelson is the chairman and major shareholder.
Meanwhile, the value of Adelson's holdings in the casino company slid again, falling 65 cents or 4.69 percent to US$13.20 on last Friday's trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Forbes reported.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that between August 29 and October 1, Adelson suffered "the steepest drop" among those who lost $1 billion or more during the current credit crisis.
He was once considered the third richest man on the Forbes Magazine 400 list of richest Americans. He fell to 15th richest American on the Forbes list, with a $15 billion fortune, the Forbes report continued.
Last week, Adelson and his wife, Miriam Adelson, loaned Las Vegas Sands $475 million through a 6.5 percent convertible note due in 2013.
The cash investment helped the company meet its liquidity requirements and avoid triggering a $5 billion loan covenant.
"While the credit markets are experiencing turbulence ... this investment will strengthen our capitalization and liquidity position as we continue to execute our plans," Adelson said in a statement.
Adelson, 75, built his fortune on a computer show and afterwards on gambling.
Las Vegas Sands is the corporate owner of The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas and The  Venetian Macau.
Adelson controls almost 70 percent of the company personally and through family trusts. Company shares have lost more than 90 percent of their value since hitting a 52-week high of $148.76 last October 29.