Many celebrities call Las Vegas home

Since Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel unveiled the Flamingo in 1946, celebrities have flocked to Las Vegas to party. In recent years, more and more are staying after the parties end. Dozens now spend a good part, or most, of the year in high-rise condos or golf-course mansions.

Criss Angel, Penn & Teller, Donny and Marie Osmond, George Wallace, Rita Rudner, Lance Burton, Carrot Top, Danny Gans and Louie Anderson choose to make their homes here for obvious reasons. But the list of big names that Las Vegans could theoretically run into at Vons doesn't stop at those flashing across hotel marquees.

Entertainers who hang hats here include motocross and tattooing star Carey Hart -- a valley native -- Wayne "Mr. Las Vegas" Newton and Motley Crue singer Vince Neil.

"Celebrities are moving to Las Vegas for the same reason so many other people are," says Mike Fleeman, West Coast editor of People.com. "They like the weather, the excitement. But also, Las Vegas is a more sophisticated, larger city than it used to be. It's more than just a resort or getaway town.

"It's the kind of place where you can do business, raise a family and put down roots."

The lack of a state income tax probably doesn't hurt either.

Unlike us regular folk, A-listers probably don't care about the bang they can get for their real-estate buck, according to Fleeman. But what they especially love about our town is its privacy. Los Angeles, New York, Miami and London provide none of our freedom to take the kids for a slice of pizza without appearing on "TMZ."

"The paparazzi fly in for the big events and fly out," Fleeman says, "because there's no money to be made Monday through Thursday."

What thwarts them is our architecture. While the hottest clubs and restaurants sit curbside in other cities, ours are half-a-mile deep inside private casinos that forbid uncredentialed media.

"A very, very big star can partake in the action and be left alone," Fleeman says.

This probably factored into Michael Jackson's decision to reside here for most of 2007 and 2008. Jacko utilized the freedom to take his three carefully guarded children on multiple excursions to the Forum Shops at Caesars, and to see "Nathan Burton Comedy and Magic" at the Flamingo and "Tournament of Kings" at the Excalibur -- all while reportedly engaging in contract talks with the Hilton that he could have flown in for. (Another plus for Jackson, Fleeman points out, is that his parents live here.)

The list of sports celebs in our midst is topped by former tennis greats Andre Agassi and his wife, Steffi Graf.

"Andre grew up in Las Vegas," Fleeman says. "This is his hometown and he has personal ties." (The same goes for boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.)

This list also includes a subset of the obvious: Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson and Jennifer Harmon make their livings at poker. But Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino don't need to live here to work.

"A lot of professional athletes -- because they would go to Vegas all the time anyway -- decided that it would be easier to spend the off-season there," Fleeman says.

Las Vegas seems the choice for celebs who've hung it up, or slowed considerably down. Veteran entertainers in our midst include screen legends Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis; singers Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme; and comedians Rich Little, Sammy Shore, Pat Cooper and Steve Rossi.

"They're a 15-minute drive from the top showrooms in the country -- and not just for the entertainment, for the people they know in the business," Fleeman says. "They have long-standing personal and professional ties -- their friends, their former managers -- having worked in Vegas for so many years."

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-0456.