Publisher and editor of California Courier Weekly  Harut Sassounian has no doubt that a part of the wealth of Armenian American philanthropist and National Hero of Armenia Kirk Kerkorian will be geared towards charity programs in Armenia. This is what Sassounian said in an interview with “Armenpress”, stating that there was only one sentence in the tycoon’s will, directing all of his wealth to benevolence.

“Mr. Kerkorian has never dealt with details. He gave a general direction, and his aides are the ones carrying out the work according to his will. In his will he wrote about giving his entire wealth to benevolence, without specifying where, to a foreign or Armenian organization. There is a man in charge of the will, a person who worked for Kerkorian for 50 years, who is well aware of Mr. Kerkorian’s preferences, attitudes and mentality. I have no doubt that his posthumous desire is the same, to give his wealth to both Armenian and non-Armenian philanthropic projects,” Harut Sassounian said.

He noted that it is still early to talk about those projects since there are legal issues. “His dividends of MGM have to be sold and converted into money. These issues still need to be solved. Only then will it be clear how much money will be allocated for the programs,” he said. As for the rumor that Kerkorian was offended by Armenia and therefore suspended the activities of the Lincy Foundation, Harut Sassounian called it lies and false accusations. He said that Kirk Kerkorian had no reason to be offended and was satisfied with the works that had been done. On June 16, 2015, Armenian American businessman, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian passed away at the age of 98.

Kirk Kerkorian was born on June 6, 1917 in Fresno, California. He was involved in hotel construction, cinema and automobile production. After the Spitak Earthquake and during the years of blockade and economic crisis, he donated more than $20 million dollars to the Hayastan Pan-Armenian Fund’s programs. In 1996, he doubled the money raised during the Telethon in Los Angeles by $4 million dollars. The Telethon was held to raise money for construction of the Goris-Stepanakert highway.

Since 2001, his Lincy Fondation implemented $200 million dollars worth of projects in Armenia, including reconstruction of roads, restoration of cultural institutions and reconstruction of the disaster zone. Kirk Kerkorian is a National Hero of Armenia. He was awarded the “Homeland” Order.