William Hornbuckle

Early Career and Entry Into MGM

Hornbuckle graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in Hotel Administration. He began his career on the operations side of the Las Vegas Strip, working at the Golden Nugget and later as part of the opening team at The Mirage.

He joined MGM in the early 1990s. Over the next decade he became one of the company’s core operational leaders, gaining frontline experience across hotel, gaming and development projects.

Rising Through MGM

From the late 1990s through the 2000s, Hornbuckle held senior roles across flagship MGM properties. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of Mandalay Bay and later MGM Grand Las Vegas. He also led MGM Resorts International–Europe, overseeing early attempts to expand the MGM brand beyond the US.

His background in marketing and customer strategy led to his appointment as Chief Marketing Officer, where he helped launch M life Rewards, MGM’s customer loyalty programme.

He later became Chief Design and Construction Officer and Chief Customer Development Officer, overseeing resort development projects that expanded the company’s national footprint, including MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.

Executive Leadership

Hornbuckle was named President of MGM Resorts in 2012. He became Chief Operating Officer in 2019, responsible for all global operations. In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Las Vegas Strip, he was appointed Acting CEO. He was formally named Chief Executive Officer in July 2020.

In this role, he focused on financial recovery, asset-light strategy and digital expansion. Alongside Entain, he co-founded BetMGM, which has since become one of the leading online sports betting and iGaming operators in the United States.

Hornbuckle has also placed emphasis on sports, live entertainment and large-scale events as core revenue drivers. MGM properties are now closely aligned with major US sports franchises and events, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix, professional boxing, the NFL’s Raiders and the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

Global Expansion

Hornbuckle has overseen MGM’s push into Asia. He sits on the board of MGM China and is a key figure in the development of Japan’s first integrated resort in Osaka. The project, valued at approximately $10 billion, is scheduled to open in 2030, with MGM committing around $3 billion in equity. Following his current contract, which runs through 2028, he is expected to serve as an adviser on the Osaka development.

Crisis Management

One of the most significant tests of his leadership came in September 2023, when MGM Resorts suffered a major cyberattack. The company chose not to pay a ransom. Operations were disrupted for more than a week, and the financial impact exceeded $100 million. The incident accelerated investment in cybersecurity and digital infrastructure across the company.

Leadership Roles Outside MGM

Hornbuckle sits on the board of MGM Resorts and MGM China. He also serves as National Chair of the US Travel Association for the 2025–2027 term. According to the company’s 2025 proxy filings, his total compensation for 2024 was reported at just under $16 million.

Beyond industry roles, he has been involved with regional non-profit organisations such as Three Square Food Bank and the Fulfillment Fund. He is also a founding board member of GBank, formerly Bank of George.