Who are Miriam and Sheldon Adelson? Billionaire couple linked to Netanyahu in 'The Bibi Files'

At the centre of a documentary that claims to unpack power and influence around Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, two figures appear in alleged clips that have begun circulating online.

The Bibi Files, released by Tucker Carlson’s network, brings together allegations, insider testimony and leaked footage. In a post on X, the network also claimed that the documentary is banned in Israel.

As the US is dragged into another foreign war, it’s worth knowing about the man who forced us into it. Watch the film so revealing that it’s banned in Israel. The Bibi Files streaming now on TCN. pic.twitter.com/ssUqZgMcgp

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 27, 2026

While much of its focus remains on Benjamin Netanyahu, it is the presence of Miriam and Sheldon Adelson — particularly in two videos that have drawn attention — that has prompted a closer look at who they are, and how they were connected to him.

Miriam and Sheldon Adelson were an Israeli-American billionaire couple known for their support of Republican causes in the United States. Sheldon Adelson built his fortune through Las Vegas Sands, growing it into a gambling empire with operations across Las Vegas, Singapore and Macao. He entered the casino business at 55, in 1989, when he and partners bought the Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for $128 million.

His rise followed modest beginnings. The son of immigrants from Lithuania and Wales, he grew up sleeping on the floor of a Boston tenement. Over time, he became one of the most prominent Republican donors in the US. In 2018, he and Miriam contributed $123 million to Republican campaigns and political action committees.

Miriam Adelson’s journey began elsewhere. Born in Tel Aviv in 1945 to parents who had immigrated from Poland, she trained as a physician specialising in addiction treatment. She married Sheldon in 1991. After his death on January 11, 2021, at the age of 87, she took majority control of Las Vegas Sands. Her net worth is estimated at around $34.6 billion.

She is also the publisher of ‘Israel Hayom’, one of Israel’s most widely read newspapers, and has remained a key political donor. She has backed Donald Trump, contributing significant sums to support his campaigns, and has been publicly acknowledged by him for her support for Israel.

For years, the Adelsons were considered close to Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu. That relationship, however, did not remain unchanged.

In a 2019 account cited in reports, Miriam described how their ties deteriorated over time. What had once been a close association gave way to strain, marked by what she described as “constant complaints” and repeated episodes of shouting on phone calls, particularly involving Sara Netanyahu. She recounted that when calls turned into prolonged screaming, she would put the receiver down and wait for it to subside before continuing. Despite this, she said she chose not to respond, out of respect for the prime minister.

She also described a complaint from Netanyahu, who, according to her, said he was not being adequately protected, that other media outlets were attacking him, especially ahead of elections.

Tensions were also linked to a reported suspected quid pro quo arrangement involving Netanyahu and Arnon Mozes, the publisher of ‘Yedioth Ahronoth’. The alleged deal would have involved weakening ‘Israel Hayom’, its main rival, in exchange for more favourable coverage. While this reportedly deepened the rift, Miriam indicated that the relationship had begun to fracture earlier.

It is against this backdrop that the clips in The Bibi Files have circulated online. In one, a voice identified as Sheldon Adelson is heard criticising Sara Netanyahu, suggesting that Israel would be “better off” if she did not involve herself in her husband’s political affairs. He describes her as “very unforgiving” and adds that he may not continue the friendship.

In another, a voice identified as Miriam Adelson is heard saying, “If this comes out I’m dead.”

The individual who shared the clips claimed the remarks were about Sara Netanyahu and added that the documentary’s narrator describes Netanyahu as someone who maintains influential benefactors across different parts of the world, with Sheldon Adelson referred to as “the cigar guy”. The authenticity of these clips has not been independently verified.