Irwin Kishner was born in 1933 in Brighton Beach, New York and lived there until he was 13 years old, when the family relocated to Miami, Florida. Irwin graduated from high school and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 1954 and his law degree from the University of Miami in 1958.

Daniel J. Tafoya is an undaunted soul. He attributes much of his success to the inspiration of his loving parents, Rose and Alphonso, from whom he learned to overcome the obstacles of poverty, dyslexia, and ADHD. He shares their stories of hardships and their personal belief that each of their four children could become successful.

Charles Christian (C. C.) Ronnow moved to Nevada in 1868 when his father, C. P. Ronnow, was called by the Church of Latter-day Saints leader Brigham Young to settle the Moapa Valley. C. C. Ronnow attended Brigham Young University and served as bishop of Panaca, Nevada in 1884. He also served as a schoolteacher.

David R. Wasserman was born on December 3, 1944 in Newark, New Jersey. In 1966 he graduated from Rutgers University with his bachelors in Zoology. In 1970 he received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Upon graduation he served two years of active duty as a captain in the United States Air Force Dental Corps at Nellis Air Force Base.

Sam Boyd and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1941 and he began working as a card dealer. He moved up to a pit boss and then to a shift boss and saved enough money to buy a small interest in the Sahara Hotel and Casino. He became general manager and partner at the Mint Hotel and Casino where he developed a number of marketing, gaming, and entertainment innovations.