Both Vegas magazine and its annual Vegas Dozen charity event turn nine years old this year, bringing together an impressive only-in- Vegas group of men from fields of magic, boxing, reality TV, sports, fine dining, and more. The prestigious annual event with Saks Fifth Avenue has raised more than $275,000 for UC San Diego Nevada Cancer Institute since its inception as a modest 100-person soirée in 2004, growing into the VIP blowout that it is today. Past honorees include Oscar Goodman, Jerry Tarkanian, George Maloof, Andre Agassi, Kerry Simon, Carlos Santana, Larry Ruvo, Dana White, Siegfried & Roy, Wolfgang Puck, and Bob Arum, all chosen because of their extensive involvement in the community and various philanthropic causes. “I get a lot of joy out of being able to give back,” says Richard Worthington, president and COO of Paradise Development Company and The Molasky Group of Companies, and one of this year’s honorees. “Whether it’s JDRF, the children’s museum, Nathan Adelson Hospice, or any of the different ones I’m involved with, it feels good to be able to make a difference.”
1. Chuck Bowling
President and COO, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Nevada Cancer Institute, Three Square
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? As much creative out-of-box thinking and as many great ideas as there are, nothing replaces a great work ethic.
What is your personal motto? Work hard, play hard. I do that pretty well.
Suit by Corneliani, dress shirt by Hugo Boss, neckwear by Ike Behar
2. Dave Rice
Head coach, UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Dave Rice Foundation
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your career? Perseverance, working hard, and knowing that in the end good things happen to people who are willing to be patient. At the end of the game, season, career… we can all look back and say that we gave it everything we had, and we did it together.
Sport coat and shirt by Armani Collezioni, trousers by Zanella, neckwear by Ike Behar
3. Richard Worthington
President and COO, Paradise Development Company and The Molasky Group of Companies
Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, teachforamerica.org
What is your prediction for the future of real estate? Everybody has a need for places to live, work, and recreate. From that perspective, it’s an industry that will go on forever. So I’m very optimistic about it.
Suit by Armani Collezioni, dress shirt by Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection, neckwear by Ike Behar
4. Jeffrey Cummings
MD, ScD, director, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Keep Memory Alive, Alzheimer’s Association
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Never do research with anyone you wouldn’t want to have dinner with.” And that has proven very valuable. You are going to be working with people a long time, so find a collaborator you like and who inspires you.
Suit by Corneliani, dress shirt by Canali, neckwear by Brioni
5. Penn Jillette
Entertainer, Penn & Teller
AFAN (AID for AIDS of Nevada) and Opportunity Village
How do you celebrate your success? I have watched people buy a car or throw a lavish party. I have seen poker players go out and spend $40,000 at a gentlemen’s club. Teller and I have been working together 38 years. We used to, if we signed a big deal and felt really successful, go have a doughnut and a cup of coffee.
Special-order suit by Jack Victor for Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection, pocket square by Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection
6. John F. O’Reilly
Chairman and CEO, O’Reilly Law Group
United Way of Southern Nevada, Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My mom and dad told me to be honest. What’s your personal motto? Live, laugh, and love. How do you celebrate your success? By living, laughing, and loving. It all ties together!
Suit by Hugo Boss, dress shirt by Robert Graham, layering T-shirt by American Essentials, pocket square by Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection
7. Todd DuBoef
President, Top Rank Boxing
Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health; The Aspen Institute
How do you define success? For me, it is watching the people around me who are either buying our events on Pay-Per-View or buying a ticket to the event. I like seeing them pleased and enthused with the results; that to me is success. I love having the ability to move people’s sensations of being touched by where they were at an event.
Sport coat, trousers, sweater, and dress shirt by Emporio Armani
8. Rick Harrison
Co-owner, Gold and Silver Pawnshop, Bravo’s Pawn Stars
Noah’s Animal House, American Heart Association
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? This is from my father: “The day you think you know everything is the day you stop learning.” Hard work pays off in the end; it really does. I tell people to quit whining and just work. That’s what I did. I’m a guy with a ninth-grade education, and I do pretty well. But I’m still the same guy.
Sport coat and denim by Robert Graham, sports shirt by Jhane Barnes
9. Seth Schorr
CEO, Fifth Street Gaming
Planned Parenthood, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, The Shade Tree
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Learn how to work on my business, not in my business. What is the sweetest part of professional success? Freedom and ability to make my own decisions and see my ideas come to fruition whether they are good or bad.
Suit, shirt, and neckwear by Emporio Armani
10. Jason Feinberg
Anchor, FOX5 News
The Shade Tree, Ronald McDonald House, Best Buddies
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from your career? When you take what you do for granted, it bites you really fast. In the very beginning, someone came up to me and said she recognized me, so I immediately thought it was from television. Then I learned that she had babysat me. I try to stay as grounded as possible.
Sport coat, shirt, pullover, and pants by Emporio Armani
11. Barry Dakake
Executive chef, N9NE Steakhouse
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Jean-Louis Palladin Foundation
How do you celebrate your success? By rewarding my staff at work. They get a great rise out of me showing an appreciation for them, and we all celebrate together. In fact, as I was leaving last night, someone said, “Hey, chef, when you get back, can we all go bowling?”
Suit by Armani Collezioni, dress shirt by Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection, neckwear by Brioni
12. Tony Berti
Cofounder, Goodie Two Shoes
Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, Andre Agassi Foundation for Education
What’s your prediction for the future of your industry? Unfortunately, with the Las Vegas economy being what it is, there are more and more children in need. If we can just provide them with the understanding that everything in life they do is a choice, and they can make better choices, society as a whole would be better.
Sport coat and dress shirt made to measure by Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection, trousers by Zanella, tie by Robert Graham
