Phil Ruffin

Former casino mogul glad to be out of the gambling business. Sold New Frontier Hotel & Casino for $1.2 billion last June to El-Ad Group (owners of Manhattan's Plaza Hotel). Vegas casinos hammered since. Patiently waiting for next opportunity: "It's nice to be in cash during a recession." College dropout invested in oil, real estate with money saved from fast-food job. Built 64-story Trump International Hotel & Tower with Donald Trump 2005, duo split $500 million. Married Aleksandra Nikolaenko earlier this year; former Miss Ukraine appeared in 2004 Miss Universe contest. Winner of last year's Forbes 400 charity poker tournament hoping to retain title on Oct. 10: "Give me better competition this time."