You’re walking down the Las Vegas Strip, dodging a guy in a giant Minion costume and trying not to spill an oversized yard-long margarita. You look down. There’s a granite star under your shoe. Then another. Most people barely glance at them, assuming it’s just a cheap imitation of that famous sidewalk in Hollywood. But honestly? The Las Vegas Walk of Stars is its own weird, glittering, and sometimes controversial beast. It isn't just a copycat project. It’s a massive, four-mile-long tribute to the people who actually built this neon playground, and if you aren’t looking for the specific names, you’re missing the point of the city's history.
It’s long. Really long.
While Hollywood keeps its stars relatively clustered around a few blocks, the Las Vegas version stretches across both sides of Las Vegas Boulevard. Since it started back in 2004, it’s grown to include over 100 stars. It isn't just for actors, either. You’ll find stars for magicians, showgirls, lounge singers, and even the guys who run the casinos. That’s Vegas for you.
The Reality of Getting a Star on the Strip
Don't think for a second that some secret committee sits in a dark room and decides who is "worthy" based purely on talent. That’s not how the Las Vegas Walk of Stars operates. To get a star here, someone has to nominate you, sure, but then someone has to pay for it. We’re talking about a significant chunk of change—historically around $15,000 to $25,000 depending on the year and the maintenance fees. This covers the slab of granite, the installation, and the upkeep of the sidewalk. It’s a business.
The project was founded by Bob Alexander, who wanted a way to honor the legends who made Vegas the "Entertainment Capital of the World." The very first star went to Wayne Newton. Obviously. You can’t have a walk of fame in this town without "Mr. Las Vegas" leading the charge.
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Frank Fahrenkopf, a former chairman of the American Gaming Association, once noted that the city’s identity is tied to these personalities more than its architecture. The buildings get imploded every twenty years, but the names remain. However, because of the "pay-to-play" nature of these monuments, you’ll sometimes see a name that makes you go, "Who?" alongside legends like Liberace or Elvis Presley. It’s a mix of global icons and local power players who helped pull the strings behind the scenes.
Where to Actually Find the Best Stars
The stars are scattered. You won't find them in one neat row. They usually cluster near the properties where the performers had their biggest runs.
- Wayne Newton: Look near the Flamingo or T-Mobile Arena area; his presence is felt everywhere, but his primary star is a cornerstone of the walk.
- Penn & Teller: These guys are Vegas royalty. Their star is a must-see for anyone who appreciates the "Bad Boys of Magic."
- Siegfried & Roy: Located near the Mirage (RIP), their star serves as a bittersweet reminder of an era of Vegas entertainment involving white tigers and capes that we probably won't see again.
- Elvis Presley: Located near the Westgate (formerly the International and the Las Vegas Hilton), where he performed his legendary residency.
If you start at the MGM Grand and walk toward the Sahara, you’ll hit the bulk of them. Wear sneakers. Serious ones. The Strip is deceptive; it looks like a short stroll, but it’s a marathon. You’ll be dodging tourists and "Click-Click" girls snapping photos while you try to find the tribute to The Righteous Brothers or Jenni Rivera.
The Jenni Rivera Controversy
One of the most visited stars isn't for a lounge act. It’s for Jenni Rivera, the "Diva de la Banda." When her star was dedicated in 2011, thousands of fans showed up, proving that the Las Vegas Walk of Stars resonates deeply with the Latin American community. However, her star has also been a flashpoint for drama. In recent years, it was vandalized—literally spray-painted over—which sparked a massive outcry. It highlights a weird reality of the walk: these are public monuments on a very chaotic street. Unlike the stars in Hollywood, which are protected by a Business Improvement District with heavy security, the Vegas stars are out in the wild. They get stepped on, spilled on, and occasionally caught in the crossfire of Strip shenanigans.
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Why Some Big Names Are Missing
People always ask why Celine Dion or Britney Spears or Adele doesn't have a star yet. It usually comes down to three things: timing, interest, or money. Some stars don't want to pay for their own monument. Others have their "people" decline because they don't think it fits their brand.
And then there's the politics of the sidewalk itself. In 2018, there was a whole mess where several stars had to be moved or went into "storage" because of sidewalk renovations and the installation of safety bollards (those big poles that prevent cars from driving onto the sidewalk). For a while, some of the biggest names in Vegas history were literally sitting in a warehouse. It was a PR nightmare. People thought the stars were being tossed. They weren't, but it showed how vulnerable these tributes are to the ever-changing landscape of the Strip.
Is It Worth the Walk?
Honestly, if you're a casual tourist, don't make it your entire day. Use it as a scavenger hunt while you're doing other things.
The Las Vegas Walk of Stars offers a weirdly democratic view of fame. You’ll see a star for a world-famous magician right next to one for a local philanthropist or a pioneer of the gaming industry. It reflects the soul of the city—a place built on equal parts talent, grit, and marketing.
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If you want to find a specific star, don't just wing it. The locations shift occasionally due to construction. Check the official Vegas Walk of Stars registry online before you head out, or you’ll spend three hours walking in circles near the Bellagio fountains for a star that’s actually two miles south near the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.
Pro-Tips for the Walk
- Golden Hour Photos: The granite reflects the neon. If you want a photo of a star, hit it just after the sun goes down. The glare during the day is brutal.
- Look for the "Legends": The stars for the Rat Pack era performers are usually the most understated but hold the most history.
- Respect the Sidewalk: It sounds stupid, but people treat the sidewalk like a trash can. If you see a star you love, maybe don't set your wet drink on it.
The Future of the Granite
Vegas is changing. The "Old Vegas" crowd is thinning out, and the new stars of the Strip are DJs and residency pop stars who might not see the value in a physical granite slab. But for now, the Las Vegas Walk of Stars remains one of the few free things you can do on the Strip that actually connects you to the history of the place. It’s a permanent record in a city that usually loves to erase its past.
Go find the stars for Donnie and Marie. Find the one for Bobby Darin. Even if you don't know every name, each one of those slabs represents someone who convinced the world to come to a patch of dirt in the middle of the Mojave Desert to see a show. That’s worth a look down.
Next Steps for Your Strip Walk:
- Start your trek at the MGM Grand and head North toward the LINQ Promenade. This stretch has a high density of recognizable names.
- Keep your phone charged; you'll find yourself Googling names like Vince Gill or Rich Little to figure out why they were the "Kings of the Strip" in their heyday.
- If you're looking for the most "Instagrammable" stars, the ones near Planet Hollywood and Paris Las Vegas tend to be in the best condition and have the best lighting at night.