J. Terrence "Terry" Lanni most recently served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of MGM Mirage, one of the world's leading and most respected development companies with significant holdings in gaming, hospitality, and entertainment. Lanni joined MGM Grand, Inc. in 1995 as president and CEO and a member of the board of directors. Just one month later, he was named to his current position. Lanni previously served as a senior executive of Caesars World, Inc., serving as president and chief operating officer from 1981 to 1995. He originally joined Caesars World in 1977 as chief financial officer, was named senior vice president in 1978 and elected executive vice president in 1979.
Lanni was appointed by the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1997 to serve on the nine-member National Gambling Impact Study Commission. In 2000 he was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame, and in 2001 was the recipient of Casino Journals 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award. Lanni has received much recognition for making diversity a top priority for MGM Mirage, Inc., as well as for his personal dedication to philanthropy in the community. Among the awards he has received are the 2007 CEO Diversity Leadership Award from Washington-based Diversity Best Practices, the 2002 Philanthropist of the Year and the 2002 Distinguished Nevadan.
Lanni serves as a member of the board of directors of KB Home, the board of trustees of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, board of overseers of the Keck School of Medicine at his alma mater, the University of Southern California, the board of trustees for Santa Clara University and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Lanni and his wife, Deborah, have a charitable family foundation based in Nevada with giving limited to the geographic region of California.