Bill Hornbuckle

William, or Bill, Hornbuckle has been the CEO of MGM Resorts International since July 2020. From bartending in Connecticut to opening the Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip, Hornbuckle's career in hospitality has spanned decades and a series of different roles.  

Recently, People Inc owner Barry Diller tried acquiring MGM Resorts in a bid worth $18bn. Although the deal did not come to fruition, as of October 2026, MGM was reported to be weighing the possibility of buying People Inc instead.

From bus boy to CEO 

Hornbuckle was born in a US Army base in Japan and grew up in Connecticut. At 18 years old, Hornbuckle “fell in love with hospitality” and decided to enrol in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).  

New to the city and struggling to make ends meet, Hornbuckle began working as a busboy at the Jockey Club. In an interview with No Vacancy Live’s video podcast, Hornbuckle joked about the fortuitous circumstances that brought him into management. 

According to Hornbuckle, while working as a desk clerk at the Flamingo Hilton, he met Baron Hilton and “suddenly, I was walking around in a suit and tie as the hotel's assistant manager at only 22 years old.” 

From there, Hornbuckle worked in many senior leadership positions. He was the President and COO of both Caesars Palace and the Golden Nugget; moreover, Hornbuckle was part of the grand opening of the Mirage in 1989, as VP of Hotel Operations. 

In 1998, Hornbuckle joined MGM Resorts as EVP of Operations at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. Less than two years later, he became the COO of the same property. 

Hornbuckle has been the President of MGM Resorts since 2012 and, in 2019, became its COO. In 2020, Hornbuckle succeeded Jim Murren as the CEO. 

What are Bill Hornbuckle's notable achievements?

Hornbuckle was appointed CEO at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and had to guide the company through the challenges of that time. From closing operations to a tightly restricted re-opening, Hornbuckle remained steadfast in his resolve to get through the pandemic. 

In an interview with Global Gaming Insider’s Tim Poole in September 2020, the CEO expressed his optimism: “It’s our general view that by the end of 2021 we’re getting back to normal and by the end of 2022 we’re looking at 2023 as a progressive and growth year.” 

Hornbuckle’s vision came to fruition, and by 2023, MGM reported a net revenue of $16.16bn, compared to $5.2bn in 2020. 

Having worked in Las Vegas since the late 1970s, Hornbuckle has played a key role in the city’s growth. As a Board Member and President of T-Mobile Arena, he helped bring Las Vegas its first professional sports team with the establishment of the NHL’s Golden Knights. In 2016, he was appointed to the Clark County Stadium Authority Board and helped develop the city’s NFL stadium which attracted the Raiders team to Las Vegas.  

MGM’s expansion in Japan and Macau 

Hornbuckle’s expansion ambitions go far beyond the Nevada border, as a member of MGM Resorts’ Board of Directors and serving as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors of MGM China Holdings, he has led the company in opening resorts in Asia. 

MGM Resorts operates two properties in Macau, along with eight, non-gaming hotels in mainland China. In the aforementioned interview, Hornbuckle explains his plans: “We have a couple of big bets. One of them is we believe strongly in Asia as a growth vehicle. We’re going to continue to track and monitor what we can accomplish in Macau. We’re excited by Japan; the last big frontier to be tackled, if you will. And we’re excited about all things digital; sports betting will lead the way.” 

The pandemic delayed MGM’s expansion to Japan, however, as of 2026, MGM Osaka is very much on its way. In a LinkedIn post, Hornbuckle expressed is excitement and disbelief: “Every time I visit Japan, MGM Osaka feels just a little more real. [...] MGM Osaka means a great deal to me personally, but most important is how central it is to our long-term growth strategy at MGM Resorts International. Knowing it will become Japan’s first integrated resort makes me all the more excited to introduce our brand of hospitality to this market.” 

Industry veteran, Bill Hornbuckle has agreed to serve as MGM’s President and CEO through December 31, 2028.