Las Vegas is home to numerous wild stories that seem too outlandish to be true, yet historical records confirm their authenticity. Here are some of the most remarkable verified tales from Sin City's past:

Steve Wynn's Gangland Casino 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 cartoon characters. This forced Caesars Palace to buy the land for $2.25 million, giving Wynn the capital to acquire the Golden Nugget and launch 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 Las Vegas and turned it into $27,000 playing blackjack. This allowed him to pay a crucial $24,000 fuel bill, keeping the company operational until securing $11 million from investors.

Jackie Mason's Dangerous Sinatra Jokes

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

The Hoover Dam's Tragic Coincidence

In an extraordinary coincidence, the first and last fatalities during Hoover Dam's construction were father and son John Gregory Tierney and Patrick Tierney. Both died on December 20, the father in 1921 during preliminary surveying and the son in 1935 falling from the completed structure. Their names are commemorated on a plaque near the dam.

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