Developer of Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas dies after battle with leukemia

Las Vegas’ Stratosphere developer dies at 67

LAS VEGAS — The developer of the 1,149-foot Stratosphere tower on the Las Vegas Strip has died at a hospital after a long fight with leukemia.

A spokeswoman for Bob Stupak’s family says the casino entrepreneur and colorful gambler died Friday at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas. He was 67.

Stupak, known for outlandish promotions, opened the $550 million Stratosphere hotel-casino in 1996 in hopes that the tower would attract millions of visitors to Sin City. The casino filed for bankruptcy in 1997 and was eventually taken over by billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

Stupak was officially named “Mr. Las Vegas” in 1996 by then-mayor Jan Jones. He once bet $1 million on the Super Bowl, winning $2 million for betting the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989.