The most expensive things owned by Donald Trump (12 photos). From Forbes to President: What Donald Trump Owns

Illustration copyright Reuters

Billionaire Donald Trump, who is seeking the right to represent the Republican Party in the US presidential election, loves to talk about his wealth.

“I am very rich,” he told his supporters. “I have always been able to make money.”

Trump estimates his wealth at more than $10 billion, although this estimate is disputed by experts. It's actually not clear how much money he actually has.

Organizations that examined his finances came to different conclusions.

Forbes magazine estimates his wealth at $4.5 billion, Wealth-X estimates it at $4.4 billion, and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates that Trump has “only” $2.9 billion.

Trump rejects all these assessments, saying he is "worth much more."

The main reason for such significant discrepancies is that most of his companies are private, they are not open joint-stock companies.

Father's inheritance

Last October, Trump told voters that his father had left him a “small allowance” of $1 million to start his own business.

But Donald Trump received from his father not only money, but also business style.

When Fred Trump began trading real estate in the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, his business was also valued at a million dollars.

Trump Sr. was known for building fairly high quality homes, but he squeezed every penny out of his business.

He typically saved money on government-funded construction projects, didn't budget entirely, and pocketed the rest. This is not illegal in the performance of a contract, however, he was called to explain this matter to Congress.

"Fred Trump took every opportunity to save on taxes, and David was there, learning from his father," says Gwenda Blair, author of The Trumps.

Donald Trump says the move from building affordable housing on the outskirts of New York to building luxury towers in Manhattan was his idea, but Gwenda Blair says his father was most likely behind the decision.

"Donald Trump relied on his father's resources. He needed his father's signature on loan agreements, he used his father's connections in banking and in the world of politics," she says.

Real estate

Trump's first major project was the Commodore Hotel, which he bought in 1976 in partnership with the Hyatt Organization. The cost of this purchase was not disclosed.

At that time, many buildings in Manhattan were facing closure. Commodore owed one and a half million dollars, and New York in those years was not considered as attractive a place for wealthy tourists as it is now. This investment was very risky for the young developer.

Using his extraordinary negotiator skills, which he brazenly talks about in campaign speeches, Trump secured a 40-year hotel tax break from New York City officials. This allowed him to save $160 million. In 1996, he sold his half of the hotel for $142 million.

Trump continued to invest in New York real estate, including the Plaza Hotel and the former Bank of Manhattan building.

Trump's most valuable property remains the 58-story Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, built in 1983. It is still the headquarters of his company, the Trump Organization. He and his family live on the upper floors of this skyscraper.

Barbara Res, who led the construction of Trump Tower, recalls in an article published in the New York Daily News how simple and approachable Donald Trump was then.

However, over time, she said, it became increasingly necessary to “groom him, cherish him and agree with him.”

Brand creation

The then-young businessman appeared regularly on television and was active during the 1988 Republican primaries.

In the 1980s, the Trump Organization began trading licenses to use the Trump name, and his fame only increased from this.

Many companies now pay Trump for licenses to use his name, even though the Trump Organization does not own them. Such companies include Trump Ocean Club and Trump Fine Foods.

Trump became even more famous in 1987 when he published The Art of the Deal.

Donald Trump established his reputation as a straightforward but effective negotiator through his appearance on the popular TV show The Apprentice, where his blunt remarks and graphic, often on-the-spot, decisions to fire a challenger won him hordes of fans.

Business style

Just like his father, Donald Trump has a reputation for saving every penny.

He considers it a very clever move to refuse payments under the contract if he can find fault with the quality of the work. This forces the other party to renegotiate the terms of the contract. Trump told Reuters he renegotiates contract terms 10% to 15% of the time.

“I fight to the last to pay as little as possible,” he says.

Trump's style has led to several high-profile lawsuits. He is still facing lawsuits related to Trump University and has been sued by his former employee and pension funds.

Trump himself also does not shy away from lawsuits as a tool for conducting business. He was suing one of the Miss USA contestants over her criticism of the show he owned. He was suing Deutsche Bank for refusing to give him an additional loan for a construction project in Chicago.

Despite all these trials, Trump is often praised for his business sense.

British TV presenter Piers Morgan, who works in the United States, called Trump a “smart guy.”

"I think from a business point of view he has quite good business, he usually puts him in charge capable people" says Morgan.

Investor Carl Icahn, who Trump believes would be a good Treasury secretary, said the Republican leader in the race is a very open person.

"He has a high ego, he's a cocky guy, but he's willing to listen," Icahn says.

Carl Icahn took over Trump Entertainment in 2009 when the company filed for bankruptcy, forcing Trump to abandon all of his investments in Atlantic City casinos.

Corporate law

Donald Trump has successfully used corporate law for his own purposes more than once.

"I've used the law four times and had great results," he says.

In the 1990s, Trump and his companies ran up $3.5 billion in debt. His organization has forced creditors to write off debt on four occasions in the past 30 years.

Often in difficult situations, his biggest concession was the renunciation of part of the rights to real estate, despite the fact that the buildings themselves retained his name. This way his brand was preserved.

The only time Trump himself came under attack was the 1991 bankruptcy of the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City.

Of the casino's nearly $3 billion in debt, he was personally responsible for $900 million. Therefore, he was then forced to give away half of his share in this business, as well as sell the airline and yacht.

Foreign ownership

Donald Trump's affairs outside the United States are as controversial as his campaign statements.

He called the Chinese crooks, but he invited Chinese investors to help finance his project in western New York, on the site of a railroad depot. Trump and his investors eventually sold the land for $1.8 billion.

Trump says he loves Scotland, where his mother was born and where he owns several golf courses. But he criticized the Scottish Government and British courts for allowing windmills to be built near his Aberdeenshire golf course.

Baja Mexico resort on Atlantic coast, which Trump owns, was forced to deal with investors who filed a lawsuit. They paid millions of dollars for condominiums and apartments that were never built.

When the resort scandal broke, Trump said the developers were using his name and that he was not responsible for the resort, despite appearing in its advertisements.

Trump was also criticized for allowing a clothing company under his name to import goods into the United States from Mexico when he himself led a campaign against imports into the United States.

Success

One of the reasons for the Trump Organization's success was that Trump was willing to lend his name to any project, product, or product, from buildings to steaks and ties.

Forbes magazine gave Trump a 5 out of 10 on its scale of how much wealth a businessman has built on his own. This means that Trump "inherited a small or medium-sized business and turned it into a ten-figure fortune."

His father, Fred, was most involved in Trump's upbringing. It was as if they were cut from the same cloth. It is not surprising that it was Donald who became Fred's favorite: he was the only one who could resist his father's toughness, uncontrollable temperament and difficult character. The father passed on to his son a sense of exactingness, which helped Trump become New York's largest post-war developer. Fred taught his son consistency and the ability to influence a person's motivation. One of Donald's father's most important lessons was how to use other people's money, especially taxpayers' money, and how to use your own reputation to generate high dividends. Trump ignored only one invaluable lesson from his father: how to avoid the troubles associated with such “entrepreneurship.”

Before you plunge into the world business people, Trump, at the request of his father, went to college. And despite minor successes, in 1964 the father sent his son to Fordham University, from where two years later Trump transferred to University of Finance and Commerce Warton School of Pennsylvania.

Donald's behavior differed from the usual behavior of a student: he did not drink, did not smoke, and became famous as a playboy much later. Studying did not become a priority for Trump; he dreamed of creating his own empire. A former classmate of his recalled that Donald constantly talked about changing the Manhattan skyline. Helping his father, Trump became interested in real estate and decided that he wanted to get into this business at all costs, but even more seriously than his father.

How Donald Trump got rich

While Trump was still a student, he and his father decided to buy a bankrupt 1,200-unit complex called Swifton Village in Cincinnati, Ohio. Amazingly, government funding for this Trump project exceeded its actual price, which allowed entrepreneurs to carry out restoration work on the depreciated building without investing a dime. The complex was purchased for less than $6 million and sold within a year for $12 million. Donald realized in time that the government would help low-income people acquire property, and he knew better than anyone how to get such help. This incident marked the beginning of the activity future construction magnate.

But things weren't always easy for Donald. Although his first investments were very successful, he remained unsatisfied. Donald has always had a great interest in New York. He believed that this city would become his gold mine. Arriving here, Trump rented, by his standards, not the best apartment in Manhattan, but the move itself allowed him to be in the very heart of New York, where he had the opportunity to directly enter the real estate market. Walking through the streets, Donald carefully studied the buildings. He believed that in the future this knowledge would help him create his own name.

Trump understood well: in order to penetrate the environment powerful of the world this and “get” elite clients, he needs make friends with politicians and prominent bankers. Donald set himself the task of entering a club that was closed at that time for rich people of French origin. Without strong recommendations, it was almost impossible to realize this dream. Therefore, Donald chose a different path: the young businessman sought meetings with the club manager and finally became the owner of the coveted card. Membership in the most prestigious club actually gave Trump the opportunity to contact the richest clients: top managers, oil kings, union bosses, successful models - in short, regulars of such establishments. Trump became one of them. Fantastic deals were made away from prying eyes, contracts worth millions were concluded.

Donald's first steps in New York as a real estate developer went unnoticed. Even though his price proposals were more promising than those of his competitors, Trump continually failed. His early fame and fortune seemed to be fading. Perhaps the reason for this was youth and inexperience, which raised doubts among older and experienced developers. However, this did not stop Donald, he became more single-minded and aggressive, like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum and not getting what he wants.

Taking raising capital from his father, Trump made his first independent deal in 1974. From the bankrupt railway company Penny Central Railroad, he bought the Commodore Hotel, built at the beginning of the 20th century and already very dilapidated, adjacent to the Grand Central station. Trump managed to persuade the city authorities to grant him a deferment of property taxes for 40 years, the banks to issue loans for $70 million to finance the construction of a new hotel on the site of the Commodore, and the Hyatt Corporation to provide its brand. And soon the luxurious Grand Hyatt hotel appeared in place of the decrepit Commodore.

From the very beginning, Trump was incredibly lucky. A few years before the legalization of gambling in Atlantic City (New Jersey) in 1976, he began buying land there. By 1982, this land was already worth more than $20 million.

But what really made him the largest New York developer was the construction of Trump Tower. In 1979, he received a multi-year lease for $45 million on a department store building on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Manhattan. The building stood next to the Tiffany boutique. “New York is a minefield. You’re dead if you don’t know where you’re stepping,” Trump explained. “And Tiffany always takes the best place in any city in the world. I simply could not pass up such an offer." On the site of the department store, he was going to build a majestic building, which would contain only first-class shops, offices and apartments. Trump quickly agreed with the banks on a loan, but then unexpected difficulties arose. The mayor refused to provide tax breaks for $50 million, he said that the law was designed to stimulate the construction of inexpensive housing, not a luxury complex. The entire ambitious project was in jeopardy. Donald went to court, but the judge sided with the city. The appeal was also unsuccessful. It seemed that Trump would have to come to terms. But unexpectedly, the next court ordered the municipality to provide Trump with tax breaks. Then Trump called this strategy “fight until you win” and always followed it.

Three years later, in 1982, the magnificent 68-story Trump Tower, at the time the tallest and most expensive reinforced concrete structure in New York, was unveiled. The building featured a six-story atrium, a 25-meter waterfall and a pink marble lobby. Trump Tower has become a real Klondike. In 1988 alone, Trump received $100 million from this building (another $90 million was received by other co-owners) and $30 million for the land underneath.

The 1980s became Trump's golden time - all his projects gushed out in millions. Although Trump had never been known for modesty, his behavior now bordered on delusions of grandeur. When asked how things were going, he began to answer simply: “It’s good to be Donald.”

Trump's power was finally recognized with the completion of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in 1979.

The 58-story complex of shops and apartments with an 80-foot waterfall attracted everyone's attention, which, in fact, was Donald's dream. The fashionable building attracted the attention of famous store owners and celebrity tenants such as Sophia Loren and the King of Saudi Arabia. The building has become a Trump trademark. Trump Tower saw a huge number of tourists and became a clear example of great financial success. When competitors tried to force Donald out of the market by lowering prices, Trump, on the contrary, raised them. He figured it out correctly: it's not the price that worries wealthy consumers. Thanks to the verified advertising campaign, the money aces of New York did not skimp on purchasing premises for offices in Trump Tower. The “golden” meters were sold out overnight. This once again proved that Donald Trump understands the psychology of the rich. He had found his niche and was going to exploit all its possibilities.

Donald Trump's entertainment empire: gambling business

Having completed the construction of Trump Tower, Donald turned his attention to Atlantic City, where he dreamed of creating entertainment empire. He attracted his younger brother Robert to the new idea so that he would lead the project of purchasing land and obtaining a license to engage in the gambling business. Holiday Inns Corporation offered to collaborate, and in 1982, a $250 million complex called Harra opened. Trump bought Holiday Inns in 1986 and renamed the establishment Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, which became as iconic in Atlantic City as Trump Tower in New York. Donald also bought the Hilton hotel-casino in Atlantic City, but when the corporation could not obtain a gambling license, he renamed the $320 million complex Trump Castle. A little later, in 1990, he bought the most expensive hotel-casino in the world, the Taj Mahal.

At the peak of his wealth in 1989, Trump's $1 billion empire (in addition to Trump Tower and the Atlantic City casino) included Trump Parc, which consisted of 24,000 rental properties and apartments, the Trump Shuttle Airline, a riverboat casino in Indiana, football team New Jersey Generals of the US Football League, Trump Castle and luxury private homes.

The book “The Art of Survival” written by Trump was intended for those who comprehend the mechanisms of business relations and want to achieve success. While giving lectures in America, Donald wipes the noses of those who previously disdained him. In The Art of Survival he states, “I set myself high goals to achieve what I become after this.” Donald Trump emphasizes that starting a business is an ability that a person is born with because it is genetically determined. He has always been guided by this conviction in his business.

Donald Trump takes risks

It was at that moment when Trump felt that he had achieved everything he wanted, due to his lack of management experience, he began to lose control over own business. The great tycoon loved to make acquisitions in the real estate market through other people's money. His partners included lenders from major banks such as Citicorp, Chase Manhattan and investment firms such as Merrill Lynch. In order to receive loans, Trump paid a lot of attention public opinion. He used the image created by the media to impress bankers. He also had a close relationship with a Chase Manhattan Bank real estate executive who preferred to build long-term relationships with high-end clients, which Donald Trump embodied. These relationships made it possible to obtain financing without formal review of each loan request (Trump was not always able to meet the necessary requirements). Ultimately, Donald was unable to balance his current assets with his mounting unpaid debts. Market instability, requiring large investments, promised Trump bankruptcy. Information began to leak into the press that not all was well with the brilliant and charming Donald. In addition, there was talk about problems in the tycoon’s personal life. Trump was at a loss: the empire was slipping out of his hands, the most powerful man in New York was becoming helpless.

However, the banks were not in the best position at that time. They provided Trump with money without much concern for how successful his operations would be.

Banks that had never before financed a gambling business financed Trump's empire, more enamored with his name and previous successes than with any specific arguments.

Donald built huge casinos, apartment complexes full of lights, hotels, Aeroflot and gave them his name. Banking officials, dazzled by Trump's charm, thought they would make huge profits. But in reality it looked like they sold their souls to the Devil, because if Trump had failed, they would have been unlucky.

Donald Trump is losing money

In 1990, Trump found himself in the sticky position of being unable to repay more than $2 billion in loans. While it might be possible to secure some emergency financing, the tradeoff would be to hand over more than just control and management of more to the creditor banks. part of real estate, but also 10% of all earnings.

And yet, gradually losing control of the Trump Shuttle, the casino and the “plaza,” Trump had to do this in order to pay off the debt as quickly as possible. Creditors were hard to break. Ultimately, the litigation became like a tug of war: whose name would suffer more, theirs or Trump’s. When they wanted to provide Donald with money, the banks were constrained by the current situation. Credit crisis forced federal services control banks more seriously, which, in turn, limited the possibility of their cooperation with Trump.

After numerous negotiations with creditors, Trump hired a financier to oversee the Trump empire. The new administrator was responsible for the sale of the property. Donald's personal expenses were $450 thousand in 1990 and $300 thousand in 1992. However, Trump did not seem to lose hope. Like many New York developers, on the brink of bankruptcy, he tried to stay afloat. True, neither the media nor the public bought his optimism anymore.

What a rapid collapse in the early nineties! Some believe this was due to Trump's lack of clear strategies. For example, when he decorated a building or an airplane with his name, he thought it would immediately bring him money.

Trump was not a wizard, he was born with instinctive sense for profitable real estate ventures. Forbes magazine criticized Trump, arguing that his increasing debt would lead to the loss of more than two-thirds of his net worth.

Donald Trump's successes

Donald Trump achieved brilliant success in the real estate market, but paid a high price for it. He achieved a lot and quickly, but did not know how to plan. Trump's projects, like two sides of a coin, were profitable and deadly for investors at the same time.

Despite his failures and 53 years of age, Trump remains the most famous businessman in America. According to Gallap Organization research, 98% of Americans know him better than others famous businessmen like Jack Welch, Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs or Ted Turner. According to Forbes magazine, Donald was ahead of his time and managed to remain in the spotlight. It is perfectly preserved, like a cryogen-frozen body. The love of money, success and fame drives him, prompting him to create large projects, amazing the city and the public.

There is another way of looking at Trump's activities. Fortune magazine surveyed several thousand wealthy people to rank 469 companies that are universally admired. Trump's casinos came in last place in 1999.

The fact is that Trump’s fortune allows him to invest capital in several projects simultaneously. Typically, one out of five investments covers the rest of the unsuccessful ones, although Donald himself tries to refute this in his book “The America We Deserve” ( The America We Deserve: “I don’t think everyone knows how big my business is. People prefer to talk about my personal life rather than the fact that I am building a 90-story building next to the UN... They judge me for every wrong step.”

Many of Donald Trump's partners talk about his incredible abilities and supernatural memory. But here's what's certainly hard to argue with: Trump will never play with security. Trump visits construction sites every day, shouting that the wrong kind of concrete is being used, that the marble is not flat enough, that the ceiling needs to be torn down and rebuilt. Trump should be everywhere. He states: if you want to do something well, you must do it yourself. He is the sole manager of his company, negotiating with subcontractors instead of relying on the purchasing department. But he is able to make the doorman or worker feel needed and important.

Trump's lifestyle hasn't changed much since the early 1980s, but his approach to doing business has. He has become more cautious, he does not refrain from investing large sums, and tries to cooperate with financial backers.

There are many who want to take advantage of the popular name: one company paid Donald $5 million for the right to place the Trump Tower inscription on a hotel in Seoul. Trump's opponents and competitors say that Donald is being used for their own financial interests, that Trump has become a brand, that his name is being sculpted on buildings that he is not the owner of. Trump always defends himself by saying: “I’m the biggest developer in the hottest city in the world.”

In Manhattan, Donald and his partner Daewoo built a huge 90-story building called Trump World Tower. The skyscraper is approximately 900 feet tall and is located on First Avenue. Hanging over Manhattan, it literally suppresses the “modest” 59-story UN building located opposite. They say that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is terribly dissatisfied with such a neighborhood, but what can be done if even the former mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, chose not to interfere.

On the west side of Manhattan, Trump and a group of Hong Kong investors own two buildings in an 18-building apartment complex above the Hudson River, again bearing Trump's name. This project was the last on Manhattan soil. Sales of apartments in both buildings generate huge income. As for Trump's three properties, he calls them "my other children": Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street and General Motors, which he bought in 1998 along with the insurance company Conseco. In addition, Donald Trump is the official owner of the Miss Universe pageant, a very popular and profitable enterprise, which is watched by about 2.5 billion people in more than 90 countries. Almost 700 foreign TV channels are buying the right to broadcast the competition. And if you consider that the beauties were seen by 150 million Internet users, then you can estimate how much profit advertising brought in at these events. But even this was not enough for Trump. In 2000, he ran in the presidential elections as a representative of the reform party.

Not everything is going smoothly for Trump...

Without his casinos, Trump would not be what he is today. Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, opened by Donald in 1995 under the name DJT, were once his salvation. It was they who, with the construction magnate’s then earnings of $140 million, helped repay the loans. Surprisingly, even after almost complete bankruptcy and unsuccessful investments, Donald's assets are in excellent shape. Trump's three New Jersey casinos account for nearly a third of Atlantic City's gambling revenue and compete with the new Taj Mahal mega casino, which has about 4,500 slot machines and generates $100 million in cash annually. The smaller Trump Marina's revenue is $53 million. If you add in revenue from Trump Plaza and the riverboat Outside Gary Ind., the Trump company's annual revenue is more than $240 million.

At first glance, the amount is impressive, but given that most of the proceeds are used to pay off high-interest debt of $1.8 billion, the company does not have much money left for reinvestment. Even less “goes” to shareholders.

The press often accuses Trump of using casinos as a “personal piggy bank.” This, for example, can be judged by the fact that the pilots of his personal Boeing 747 are on the company’s payroll.

Donald does not leave the media without gossip. For example, in 1996, after selling Trump Marina for what shareholders considered too high, Trump claimed it was a “great deal.” He angered investors when he used $26 million the company gave him in 1998 to pay off a personal loan for Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette. However, Donald himself completely denied the fact that he had misused the company's funds, promising to return the money. Well, Trump always knows how to make the best of a situation.

Many believe that the right decision for Trump would be to step away from governing. Manufacturing executives estimate that this single move could boost the company's share price by 30%. But Trump always chooses the opposite path. He proves that he can do without advice.

It’s quite strange that a person who “lives” in the media has no PR people. While even small tycoons protect themselves with “platoons” of press attachés, he relies only on his old assistant Norma Foederer (photo). Donald answers most reporters' inquiries personally, gaining fame as the most “accessible” businessman in the world.

Although Trump runs two companies with 22,000 employees, it’s not easy to feel like he’s under him—he’s not only the sole owner, but also the only employee. Both his former and current employees speak of Donald as a loyal, but not particularly generous boss. However, some shrug their shoulders when it comes to the popularity of their manager. Trump is ironic and ambitious. He is a purposeful workaholic, constantly in search, so it is difficult to blame him for using the desire to once again shock America as a stimulus for success. It seems that Trump’s name will always remain in the center of attention, because it’s not for nothing that his last name is translated as “trump card.”

Personal life of Donald Trump

Donald Trump is successful not only in business, but also on the love front. Throughout his life, Donald had three wives. Two of which were Slavs.

Ivana Zelnichkova, a native of Czechoslovakia, was married to a businessman for 15 years, from 1977 to 1992. She gave birth to a girl and two boys.

He and his second wife, Marla Maples, spent 6 years together, 1993 - 1999, and a girl was born from the marriage.

And the third wife, with whom Donald has been with since 2005 to the present, Melania Knauss (photo), Yugoslavian. She gave birth to a billionaire's boy.

Interestingly, without paying a cent, Donald Trump did wedding gift Melania. The platinum ring, worth $1.5 million, adorned with 15 diamonds weighing a total of 13 carats, he received as an advance for services that Trump provided to the Graff jewelry company.

Donald Trump Presidential Campaign

On June 16, 2015, multi-billionaire Donald Trump announced his intention to run for President of the United States of America from the Republican Party. The elections will take place on November 8, 2016. The main slogan of the election campaign is “Let's give America back its greatness!” During the election campaign, Trump does not hide his wealth, but, on the contrary, opposes himself to politicians who depend on “sponsors.”

Interestingly, the income statement filed with the Federal Election Commission turned out to be the longest in the history of the agency and amounted to 104 pages.

According to this certificate, Donald Trump's fortune as of May 2016 is over $10 billion.

On November 8, 2016, the elections for the 45th President of the United States took place. Republican candidate Donald Trump wins by a large margin, gaining 290 electoral votes against Hillary Clinton's 232 votes, and 16 electors could not decide for whom to vote. However, it is worth noting that among voters Hillary Clinton received more votes, 59,926,386, versus 59,698,506 for Donald Trump, according to CNN and politico.com

"America will never settle for less than the best."Trump said in his victory speech to voters.

On January 20, 2017, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, was inaugurated.

How to become a millionaire according to Donald Trump:

1. Always dress according to your cultural level

2. Deliberately damage your reputation.

3. Become your own financial advisor

4. Let's change

5. Don't neglect hairdressing

6. Try to avoid handshakes

7. Follow your instincts

8. Stay optimistic, but be prepared for failure.

9. Pay attention to details

10. Sign prenuptial agreements

Donald Trump- 45th President of the United States, businessman, billionaire, construction magnate, owner of a large chain of hotels and casinos. From 1996 to 2015, he was the owner of the Miss Universe beauty contest. Author of a number of books on business and self-development. Member of the Republican Party. Forbes estimates Trump's net worth at $4.5 billion.

Donald Trump Family

Trump was born on June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York, in the family of a wealthy American developer - owner of several construction companies- Frederick Trump. Donald's mother Mary Ann MacLeod was of Scottish descent. They married in Kallstadt, Rhineland-Palatinate, in 1902. The Trump family had many children - Donald had two brothers and two sisters. The president's paternal grandparents were German immigrants who came to the United States in 1885 and subsequently became American citizens.

Donald Trump's childhood and education

Donald Trump's education began at Kew Forest School in Queens. At the age of 13, his parents sent him to the New York Military Academy, where young Donald achieves success: by the time he graduates in 1964, he becomes one of the best athletes and a leader among students. Donald received academy awards, was a member of football teams, and was captain of the baseball team.

After graduating from the academy in 1964, Trump decided to continue his father's business and went into real estate, dreaming of building his own construction empire. So, he entered Fordham University, but two years later he dropped out and moved to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics. “I was very happy when I graduated. I immediately went home and started working in my father’s company,” Trump later wrote about this in his autobiography.

Donald Trump's business

Already on the first project, the Swifton Village apartment complex in Ohio, Trump Jr. earned 100% of the profit. He completed it in just a year, spending $6 million on it. Later, the young entrepreneur sold the complex for $12 million. It is curious that Donald Trump’s father worked exclusively with the middle class, which made it possible to save on taxes and receive help from municipal authorities, but his son Donald he was interested in the highest segment of the market - he wanted to build real estate for the rich.

In 1971, Trump moved the company's office to Manhattan and began to get acquainted with the local elite - famous politicians and bankers, billionaires, presidents of huge companies and oil tycoons. These connections bore fruit, and Trump began signing contracts worth millions of dollars. An important year for Trump was 1974, when he won the tender and bought the neglected Commodore Hotel, which was in terrible condition, but had an advantageous location near the station. Trump promised the city authorities to restore it, and when six years later the new Grand Hyatt hotel opened its doors to its first guests, Trump immediately gained enormous popularity among the city residents as a person with whom it was profitable to do business.

Donald's next project was a 58-story skyscraper on 5th Avenue - Trump Tower. It was this building that made Trump famous throughout New York. In 1983, when builders finished the building's spire, it was the tallest in the city. In addition, Trump Tower had luxurious interior decoration and was located in a very expensive area.

This skyscraper became a symbol of American luxury, and the Trump name became a world-famous brand. Later, many projects were named after Trump - skyscrapers, parks, a chain of hotels, casinos and golf courses in many countries around the world. In addition to his construction business, Donald Trump is also known for being a co-owner of the Miss Universe and Miss USA beauty pageants. Trump also has his own line of clothing, fragrances, and a brand of household goods.

The love of ordinary Americans brought the businessman the role of host in the reality show “The Apprentice” on one of the top American channels NBC, where participants, under camera surveillance, underwent internships in his companies, and those who could not cope heard the famous “You”re Fired from Trump himself !" The show was extremely popular for many years and was even nominated for an Emmy.

Donald Trump's bankruptcy period

In the late 1980s, Trump fell on hard times amid the financial crisis. In 1990, Donald became the owner of the world's most expensive hotel-casino, the Taj Mahal. But due to a sharp decrease in income, he could not service his debts on time, and he had to sell a number of assets. In 1991, Trump’s business empire and the businessman himself were actually on the verge of bankruptcy, but Trump managed to refinance and by 1994 had repaid more than half of his personal debt of $900 million and reduced his business debt obligations by $3.5 billion. During the crisis, he had to give up the Trump Shuttle airline, but at the same time Trump Tower remained his property. In addition, Trump continued to lead the casino chain in Atlantic City. Thanks to income from the casino, by 1997 the tycoon had completely repaid his debts and began working on new projects. Since the late 1990s, Trump's real estate business has subsequently remained highly successful.

Donald Trump Presidential Campaign

Trump has been tipped for the US presidency since the 80s, but for a long time he couldn't choose between right and left. It was only in 2009 that Trump decided on his own political views and joined the Republican Party. They wanted to nominate the successful billionaire to participate in the elections back in 2011, but then he refused, answering that he was not ready to say goodbye to business.

In July 2015, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. His campaign slogan is "Make America Great Again." A year later, on July 19, 2016, the party congress approved Trump as a presidential candidate. First, Trump visited New Hampshire, which Republicans consider their stronghold. Then he flew to Nevada and California, where he had previously invested impressive sums. He also repeatedly held rallies in his support and worked very actively with the electorate throughout America.

Trump has become popular due to his character - he speaks directly and openly, without mincing words. Because of this feature, he gained fame as a truth teller. Trump has spoken extensively about health care, the economy, and has also spoken harshly about migrants - especially Mexicans and Muslims - while criticizing the Obama administration's policies. Also during the campaign, Trump promised to build a huge wall on the border with neighboring Mexico.

In November 2016, Donald Trump won the US presidential election, beating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump's activities as president

On January 20, 2017, Trump officially became President of the United States and signed the first executive orders on the same day. In particular, he began with the elimination of the Obamacare health care reform, which he had previously sharply criticized. Also in his first days in office, Trump signed controversial executive orders on border security and immigration. They envisaged the beginning of the construction of a “Mexican wall” and the mass expulsion from the United States of illegal immigrants with a criminal past.

Trump also banned his administration officials from lobbying. On January 30, he signed a decree to ease conditions for small businesses. In addition, one of Trump’s landmark decisions is the ban on entry into the country for citizens of six Muslim countries: Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, and Somalia. Fulfilling his election promises, Donald Trump signed the “Buy American, Hire American” decree, which should stimulate production within the United States, as well as a number of decrees aimed at economic growth.

In May 2017, during the G7 summit, Trump said that the United States was not ready to fulfill its obligations under the Paris Agreement, which caused a global scandal and a wave of negative reaction against him. Trump cited unfavorable economic conditions for the United States as the reason for leaving the agreements.

Donald Trump and involvement in conflicts

In June 2017, Trump, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, announced US support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the context of the conflict with the Russian Federation and the annexation of Crimea. He noted the importance of implementing the Minsk agreements and expressed hope for a peaceful resolution of the situation in Donbass. Also, the topic of Ukraine was repeatedly raised by Trump during conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as EU leaders.

On April 7, 2017, the United States, on Trump's orders, attacked the air base of Bashar al-Assad's forces in Homs province. US Navy ships fired 59 Tamogawk missiles at runways and aircraft stands. The operation was carried out in response to a chemical attack in Idlib, for which the US and EU blame Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In April 2017, Trump sent a strike group of ships to counter the threat from the DPRK, which has repeatedly threatened the United States nuclear strike. On April 15, a group led by the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson moored at the port of Busan. Washington called this a signal from North Korea that the United States is determined to respond decisively to the threat from North Korea.

Donald Trump's ties to Russia

In the United States, at the official level, they suspect that hackers from the Russian Federation attacked the servers of the National Committee of the Democratic Party of Hillary Clinton, thereby changing the political result of the elections. In addition, it is known that the election result was influenced by the active use of gray marketing technologies on the Internet, in particular social networks. According to American investigators, this helped Trump win. Trump, in response to these accusations, stated that there were no contacts, including Russian ones, that could influence the outcome of the vote.

As part of the case about possible Russian interference in the elections, prosecutors are also investigating the sources of funding for the Trump campaign. A number of media outlets have repeatedly accused him of sympathizing with Russia, while pointing to evidence of connections with the Russian Federation among his close circle. According to journalists, Trump repeatedly visited Moscow in search of favorable business opportunities, and also communicated closely with Russian investors about the construction and sale of large real estate.

Happened in January 2017 loud scandal- The American publication BuzzFeed published a 35-page dossier on Trump, which the Russian intelligence services allegedly managed to collect on him. The author of the article stated that a former Russian intelligence officer told him about FSB surveillance of Trump during his stay in Moscow in 2013. It is alleged that the FSB bugged a room at the Ritz Carlton hotel where Trump invited prostitutes. According to the document, the FSB, knowing about Trump's predilections, deliberately organized entertainment for him in order to further blackmail him. Buzzfeed correspondents tried to verify the facts mentioned in the document, but were unable to confirm or refute them.

Personal life, hobbies of Donald Trump

Donald Trump is married for the third time to Melania Knauss. He has five children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys golf and regularly takes part in competitions at his Winged Foot Golf Club.

Donald Trump's fortune excites the imagination of ordinary people. Luxurious personal apartments, numerous skyscrapers, golf clubs, vineyards and more - all this suggests that the modern American president is swimming in gold, like the hero Scrooge McDuck. But is this really the case?

Our hero was lucky to be born into a rich family. But the prospect of a prosperous future did not spoil Donald - from childhood he watched his father’s work and absorbed all the information.

My analytical mind and innovative thinking suggested that I need to engage not only in construction and real estate, but also invest in interesting projects. Not every investment proved its worth, but it only taught Trump to go higher and higher.

Today Donald is not only a talented businessman, investor and author of motivational books. As the forty-fifth President of the United States, he personifies American dream. And such an example is worthy of emulation.

Photo. 1 Donald Trump is somewhat similar to the famous cartoon character

What makes Trump so rich

So how much money does the current US President have in his wallet? " At least 10 billion“,” Trump himself claims. The status for 2017 must be looked at based on the hero’s tax return and data from foreign media. They vary a little, but basically the numbers are the same: The lower limit of the tax document shows 1.5 billion dollars.

The New York Times names specific amounts. Donald Trump's net worth includes the following assets:

1. The profit generated by the rental of real estate, the operation of hotels and golf courses gives 615 million dollars.
2. Donald owns the Miss Universe brand – it brings in $49 million.
3. A certain passive income comes from royalties for copyrights (here, the use of both the name and books) brings in at least 10.2 million dollars.

Photo. 2 There is income from your own books

Now about the assets:

1. Real estate brings in $1.337 billion.
2. The shares are worth $61 million.
3. 58 million “green” friends are brought by airplanes.
4. Vineyards provide 6 million dollars.

Trump's Top 10 Most Expensive Real Estate

The forty-fifth President of the United States owns numerous expensive real estate properties. You can make a rating like this:

• Leadership lies with the 1290 Avenue of the Americas business center. This building is 174 meters high, where Donald owns almost a third of the entire area. The cost is 409 million dollars.

Photo 3. 1290 Avenue of the Americas

• The silver medal is the land on which the New York Niketown store stands (located next to the famous Trump Tower skyscraper). Forbes estimates these lands at 390 million.

Photo 4. Niketown

• The same one “receives” bronze. The 202-meter-tall building was Donald's first major project and cost $371 million. The skyscraper became our hero's first major project.

• Fourth place in the ranking is taken by house number 40, located on New York Wall Street. Here stands the Trump Building, 255 meters high. The billionaire owns the land under this building. The total cost of ownership is $345 million.

• The top five is headed by the office in San Francisco - it is considered the second highest (237 meters). Trump owns a third of the buildings, valued at $317 million.
• The 107-meter-tall building is called Trump Park Avenue and represents the most expensive apartments for rent. It is wholly owned by Donald and ranks sixth at $177 million.
• The Magnificent Seven is completed by the Florida Golf Club, located in Miami. Experts Trump National Doral Miami at $169 million.

• The eighth place is at the private club Mar-a-Lago, which is also located in Florida, but in Palm Beach. It is valued at $150 million.

• The penultimate place is behind the Trump Chicago hotel with a height of 423 meters. It is the second tallest. The building received ninth place for an assessment of $119 million.

Photo 9. Trump Chicago

• The rating is completed by the Trump International Hotel Washington, which is located near the White House. Cost: $104 million.

Is Trump's fortune declining?

The Guardian says it is much lower than in previous years. How “impoverished” has Donald Trump become? His net worth as of 2016 shows that he said goodbye to 18% of his wealth. The reason was expenses financing the election campaign. The second factor was the fall in prices in the real estate market - the problem led to the fact that several Trump skyscrapers fell greatly in price (Trump Tower was on this list).

Head of state and business in one person

Donald Trump became the first billionaire president of the United States in history. Now the welfare of an entire nation is in these hands. The growth of his personal finances will be handled by his sons and Eric, whose introduction was the Trump Organization.

The guys promised that their father would completely step away from the management of the companies, but for now this question remains open. Eric Trump admitted that Donald will still get acquainted with the financial results of the business (the phrase was said: “ Probably quarterly "). Such data was presented on Trump’s official profile on Forbes.com at the end of March 2017. The reality of such promises will be proven in the future.

According to the annual ranking of dollar billionaires by Forbes version, during the year of his tenure as US President, Donald Trump's fortune decreased by approximately $400 million and amounted to $3.1 billion. What caused this drop? Part of the blame can be laid on the real estate market, prices for which, for example, in New York have fallen. But the odiousness of the US President himself also played a role.

The rapid growth of online commerce has significantly reduced the value of real estate properties such as Trump Tower, a skyscraper located in the mecca of shopaholics on 5th Avenue in New York. According to Forbes, the value of the most famous building built by Trump's company decreased by $41 million last year. Just around the corner, at the intersection of 6th Avenue and 57th Street, there is another building owned by Trump - its value has decreased even more. Nike Company, a longtime tenant at the property, announced that it will move its flagship store to a new location this spring due to difficult markets. Now The Trump Organization will need to find a new tenant for the building, which has an area of ​​approximately 6,000 square meters. "I don't know of any other tenants other than department stores that need this much space," says realtor Eric Anton, who works in Manhattan real estate. “I don’t think any of them are expanding at the moment.”

The value of golf clubs owned by the US President has not decreased as much due to changes in the market. Another thing is the political situation in the country and in the world. Trump's three biggest golf clubs are in states he won. presidential elections. Their income is more than 5% higher than that of other golf clubs. In states where Trump lost to Hillary Clinton, the opposite is true: in the Northwest states and Los Angeles, golf club revenues fell by 4%. Their revenues also fell in Scotland, where the President of the United States owns two golf clubs.

Last year, the value of The Trump Organization fell by about $50 million - the Trump “brand” is increasingly losing strength in Toronto and New York, where the president’s name was removed from the names of hotels. On last week in Panama, workers removed a sign with the president's name from a third building.

Shortly before Donald Trump became president of the United States, his lawyer promised that The Trump Organization would no longer pursue deals abroad, eliminating another potential development opportunity. Months later, The Trump Organization announced plans to open hotels under the new Scion brand and partner with American Idea. So far, only four deals have been announced. “I think it’s impossible to accomplish this goal,” one hotel industry expert told Forbes.

But there are also positive aspects. The situation on the office real estate market in Lower Manhattan is much better than in its center. Thanks to this, the value of Trump's most expensive property, the skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, soared by about $32 million.

Real estate tycoon Stephen Roth is the best person to help the president grow his fortune. As CEO of publicly traded Vornado Realty Trust, Steven Roth operates buildings at 1290 Avenue of the Americas in New York City and 555 California Street in San Francisco. Both properties belong to Trump - his share is 30%. Profits from the New York building are up about 15%, and the real estate market in San Francisco is also doing well. As a result, the value of Trump's share in both skyscrapers is $71 million.

Forbes journalists also uncovered additional information that raises the value of some of Trump's assets but lowers the value of others. For example, President Trump paid off the debt on the Niketown skyscraper and apparently received an additional $45 million in loans for his hotel in the US capital Washington, DC.

As of today, Donald Trump's net worth is $3.1 billion. This figure is very far from the $10 billion that the president once claimed he possesses. However, Donald Trump still remains the richest US president in history.

Translation by Polina Shenoeva