Date of Publication: February 20, 2026, 11:52h.

Last Modified: February 20, 2026, 11:52h.

• Reports indicate that MGM’s chairman Paul Salem has shown interest in actress Nicole Kidman, although sources clarify they have yet to meet in person.
• Keith Urban is said to be annoyed by the timing, which follows shortly after finalizing his divorce from Kidman.
• Romantic connections between Hollywood stars and Vegas moguls are exceptionally rare.
  

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Paul Salem, the head of MGM Resorts International, is now at the center of a Hollywood-to-Vegas narrative—one that’s buzzing through tabloids, despite its questionable validity.

TMZ and RadarOnline report that Salem, age 62, has shown interest in the Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman, 58, just weeks after her divorce from Keith Urban was finalized. They have mutual acquaintances and have met in groups on a couple of occasions, yet insiders assert they have never had a one-on-one meeting.

These assertions come from unidentified sources and have not been substantiated. Current reports do not indicate that Kidman is involved in any relationship, and she remains officially single.

As a significant figure in Las Vegas, Salem graduated from Harvard Business School and spent nearly three decades at Providence Equity. He joined the MGM board in 2018 and took on the role of chairman in 2020. He is also a co-owner of the Worcester Red Sox, keeping his private life largely away from public scrutiny. His 2021 divorce from Navyn Salem attracted little attention.

Emotional Turmoil

The mere suggestion of a budding romance involving Kidman has reportedly unsettled Urban. Sources close to the country musician suggest that it’s the timing of the rumors rather than Salem himself that is the source of his discomfort, especially since Urban and Kidman only finalized their 19-year marriage on January 6, 2026.

Kidman, on her end, is concentrating on her daughters and upcoming projects. After spending the holidays in Australia, she returned to Nashville and is preparing for forthcoming roles, including a much-anticipated sequel to Practical Magic.

Star-Crossed Connections

If a romantic link were to develop, it wouldn’t be the first instance of a Las Vegas mogul being associated with a Hollywood star. However, it’s an infrequent occurrence, with only two known instances documented:

1. James Packer & Mariah Carey: Australian billionaire James Packer, who leads Crown Resorts, crossed paths with Mariah Carey at a 2014 film premiere in Aspen. A long-time admirer, he had attended multiple Carey concerts. The couple began dating in 2015 and got engaged in 2016, presenting her with a 35-carat diamond ring valued at $10 million. However, the relationship dissolved later that year, as they concluded they were not suited for each other. Carey retained the ring, later selling it at a loss, alongside receiving a substantial payout.

2. Kirk Kerkorian & Yvette Mimieux: Renowned casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian, who established the International Hotel and the original MGM Grand, was romantically linked to film star Yvette Mimieux in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Mimieux, known for her performances in The Time Machine (1960), Where the Boys Are (1960), and The Light in the Piazza (1962), began dating Kerkorian during his swift rise in the Las Vegas landscape. Their relationship ended before Mimieux married director Stanley Donen in 1972, although they maintained a cordial relationship for years afterward.