Las Vegas often sparks wild tales that seem too outlandish to be true. Here are four incredible Vegas stories that actually happened:

Steve Wynn's Gangland Bluff

In 1971, 29-year-old Steve Wynn purchased a narrow strip of land next to Caesars Palace for $1.2 million. He orchestrated an elaborate bluff by announcing plans for "Gangland" - a mob-themed casino complete with vintage cars and machine gun-toting characters. This forced Caesars Palace to buy the land for $2.25 million, doubling Wynn's investment. He used these profits to acquire the Golden Nugget, launching his casino empire.

FedEx's Blackjack Salvation

In 1974, FedEx was losing $1 million monthly and faced bankruptcy. Founder Fred Smith took the company's last $5,000 to Vegas and won $27,000 playing blackjack. This covered their overdue $24,000 fuel bill, keeping operations running until Smith secured $11 million from investors.

Sinatra's Dangerous Jokes

In 1966, comedian Jackie Mason's jokes about Frank Sinatra's marriage to Mia Farrow led to serious consequences. After ignoring threats to stop, three shots were fired through Mason's hotel door, with bullets found in his mattress. Later, he was attacked outside his Miami apartment, resulting in a shattered nose and cheekbone.

Hoover Dam's Tragic Coincidence

The first and last casualties during Hoover Dam's construction were father and son John Gregory Tierney and Patrick Tierney. The father drowned during site surveys in 1921, while his son fell from the completed structure in 1935. Remarkably, both died on December 20. Their names are memorialized on a plaque at the dam.

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