Detroit-Born Casino Magnate Don Barden Dies

Barden Known For Trying To Get Casino License With Michael Jackson

DETROIT – Detroit-born businessman Don Barden passed away from cancer Thursday morning.

Barden was known for trying to get one of the city's casino licenses 13 years ago with then-friend Michael Jackson.

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The two weren't successful in Detroit, but Barden went on to own a dozen casinos from Las Vegas to Atlantic City. Since then, only one casino in Las Vegas remains -- the others have all gone into bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Earlier this year, Barden's wife, Bella, had filed for legal separation. She said in court documents that her 67-year-old husband was so sick with cancer that he could not make his own business and financial decisions.

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Detroit Mayor Dave Bing issued the following statement:

"Don was a stalwart leader and businessman in this community, as well as a friend. We were aware of his longtime illness, and dreaded this day. We send our condolences to his family."

Barden grew up in Inkster, near Detroit. He dropped out of college in Ohio but stayed in Lorain, Ohio, working a series of jobs before opening a record shop at age 22. Barden started a weekly newspaper, bought real estate and became a member of the Lorain City Council.

In the 1980s, Mr. Barden set his sights on cable television, filing for rights to build systems in seven cities. Over the next decade, Barden built, owned and operated cable systems in Inkster, Romulus, Van Buren and Detroit, Mich., making Barden Cablevision one of the nation's largest urban cable systems. In December 1994, Mr. Barden sold all of his cable television holdings to Comcast Cable for an amount in excess of $100 million.

Funeral arrangements are pending.