Kirk Kerkorian Dead -- Billionaire Casino Mogul Dies at 98

Business tycoon Kirk Kerkorian -- the billionaire behind Las Vegas casinos, Hollywood's MGM Studio, and Chrysler ... has died at the age of 98.

Kerkorian died in Los Angeles on Monday after a brief illness.

He's most famous for making Vegas what it is today -- as the founder of MGM Resorts his company went on to purchase more than half of the rooms on the Strip by swallowing up competitors like Mirage Resorts and Mandalay Resorts.

A major notch in his belt -- he's responsible for luring Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand to perform in Vegas.

Kerkorian bought and sold MGM Studios multiple times. He made major bank off his purchase of the James Bond franchise, and merging United Artists with MGM.

He's also famous for his 2001 divorce from his wife of one month, Lisa Bonder. She wanted $320,000 a month in alimony and child support. He eventually paid her $10 million plus $100k/month in child support ... even though he turned out to not be the father!