Donald Trump Net Worth in 2016: The Richest Presidential Candidate

Currently, Donald Trump has quite a strong online presence by being one of the most-searched presidential candidates in the first quarter of 2016. Donald Trump is also a famous socialite and a popular television personality. He’s known for hosting and judging NBC’s acclaimed reality game show The Apprentice.

Forbes ranked Trump as the 72nd most powerful person last year. The publication also ranked him at number 30 in their 2013 list of the world’s highest-paid celebrities. These days, Trump is infamously known for making negative remarks about several communities and factions of society during the ongoing presidential debates and campaign speeches. However, Trump’s absurd political career hasn’t seemed to adversely affect his net worth, as he continues add millions to his wealth every day.

Also Read: Donald Trump’s Net Worth: A Comprehensive Breakdown Of The Man’s Wealth

The Trump Organization

Donald Trump was born in Queens, New York to one of the city’s biggest real estate developers, Fred Trump (pictured below). After formal schooling and training from New York Military Academy, Donald Trump graduated in business education from Fordham University, as well as the Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania.

Following graduation, Donald joined his father’s real estate company, Elizabeth Trump & Son Co. After taking on the successful restoration of Cincinnati’s Swifton Village as his first project, Trump moved on to developing bigger projects right in the heart of Manhattan, New York. His developments include Riverside South on the Hudson River and developing the area around Grand Central Terminal, like turning the Commodore Hotel into the prestigious Grand Hyatt. This was the first establishment in laying down the Trump Organization, which has since acquired and developed many projects in and around New York. By 2001, Donald Trump finally completed his 72-storey masterpiece in Manhattan, the Trump World Tower.

Today, Trump owns several millions of square feet in prime Manhattan real estate, which is said to be worth over $1 billion.

Trump Assets and Holdings

The Trump Organization has expanded their real estate holdings across America and other parts of the world, with primary developments being the Trump International Hotel, the Trump Towers, and the Trump Golf Clubs. Donald Trump has sold and leased millions of well-developed residential and commercial properties in these prime-located holdings, which have added over $2 billion in earnings for The Trump Organization and around $1 billion to Donald Trump’s net worth.

It’s reported that Trump also owns $50 million in aircraft holdings, and his aircraft assets are currently valued at $90 million. Here’s an overall look at Trump’s domestic and international real estate assets.

Donald Trump Real Estate Holdings

Investments and Licensing Deals

A small portion of Donald Trump’s earnings are invested outside of the Trump Organization. Donald has bought sizable stocks in the Bank of America, Citigroup, Caterpillar Inc., Intel, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble. In 2014, Trump sold his investment shares from Bank of America for $6.7 million and his Facebook shares for $3.9 million. Trump has also revealed his $9 million investments in several U.S. hedge funds. Back in 1983, Trump also owned the football team the New Jersey Generals, which merged with the NFL’s Houston Gamblers in 1986.

The Trump brand is also known for its entrepreneurial licensing with investment ventures like Trump Financial, Trump Sales and Leasing, Trump International Realty, The Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, and Trump Restaurants (Trump Buffet, the Trump Catering company, a Trump Ice Cream Parlor, and a Trump Bar). Trump’s licensing deals also include GoTrump, Select By Trump, Trump Drinks, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection (clothing), Donald Trump The Fragrance, SUCCESS by Donald Trump (fragrance), Trump Ice bottled water, and Trump Magazine. He has even added the Trump brand to simple ventures (some of which have failed), like chocolate, home furnishings, TV productions, a board game, a business simulation game, books, a modeling agency, an airline, a vodka, a mortgage company, and even a line of premium steaks.

Entertainment and Beauty Pageants

Since 1996, Donald Trump owned part of, if not all, of the leading beauty pageants, including Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. After launching his controversial presidential campaign, both NBC and Univision backed out of their partnership with the Miss Universe Organization—Donald Trump responded by slapping Univision with a $500 million lawsuit. They eventually settled and Trump bought out NBC’s stake, making him the pageant’s sole holder. However, he ended up selling his own interests a couple months later for an undisclosed amount.

Apart from hosting NBC’s famous reality show, The Apprentice, Trump has also appeared in several television shows and movies as himself. His cameos include Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Nanny, Days of Our Lives, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, and The Little Rascals.

Donald Trump is estimated to have earned around $3 million per episode from The Apprentice, which works out to around $235 million over 14 seasons.

Donald Trump Net Worth Breakdown

Trump’s Homes

Donald Trump and his current wife, Melania Trump, live in an exclusive $100 million three-storey penthouse in the Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. The apartment has stunning views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The penthouse also has marble floors, walls, and columns, and 24-karat gold decor with fine glass moldings. This is not their only exquisite home. Trump owns another $250 million estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The luxurious Mar-a-Lago mansion sits on 17 acres and has its own private ballroom. His collection of private estates also reportedly includes a Beverly Hills mansion on Rodeo Drive; a summer home in Bedford, New York; and a slew of other apartments around Manhattan.

 Now, keeping Donald Trump’s gigantic net worth out of his political life is not possible. The notorious businessman-turned-politician has stated that his formidable net worth would make him a good president, because he’s the only one who can make America rich—Trump has related his wealth and financial status as a key factor to returning the country to a stronger economic status. On the other hand, critics claim that his lack of integrity and arrogant self-confidence make him out of touch with the financial concerns of the average American household. Only time will tell whether all Americans will want this billionaire as their next President…or not!

Photos: Instagram/realdonaldtrump