A self-made billionaire, real estate mogul Donald Trump is
widely regarded as a man who makes the rules. And among Trump’s rules for
success, you will not find the words, “humility,” “generosity,” “sympathy,” or
“compassion.” The quintessential bullying boss, Donald Trump is a cultural icon
and one of the most famous people in the world. Comparing publicity photos from
his early years of fame with his more recent dominance on the world’s stage, it
is clear Trump has cultivated a distinctly mean image. It is possible he still
enjoys smiling, but apparently it is no longer marketable. While nobody is
questioning his head for business, Trump’s fame, if not his fortune, is less
attributable to any specific business deals or professional decisions than to
his “mean boss” imagine and his high-profile personal life (including his
widely publicized divorce from Ivana Trump and his scandalous sex life with
Slovenian supermodel, Melania Knauss, who would become his wife).
Donald Trump
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Donald Trump
Trump announcing David Blaine's latest feat
Born June 14, 1946 (1946-06-14) (age 62)
New York City, New York
Alma mater University of Pennsylvania
Occupation Chief executive officer
Salary $32 million (2007) [1]
Net worth ▲$3 billion (2008) [1]
Spouse(s) Ivana Trump (1977-1992)
Marla Maples (1993-1999)
Melania Trump (2005-)
Children Donald Trump, Jr. (b.1977)
Ivanka Trump (b.1981)
Eric Trump (b.1984)
Tiffany Trump (b.1993)
Barron Trump (b.2006)
Parents Fred Christ Trump (1905-1999)
Mary A. MacLeod (1912-2000)
Website
The Trump Organization
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American
business magnate, socialite, television personality, and author. He is the
Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a US-based real-estate developer.
Trump is also the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, which operates
numerous casinos and hotels across the world. Trump's extravagant lifestyle and
outspoken manner have made him a celebrity for years, a status amplified by the
success of his NBC reality show, The Apprentice (where he serves as host and
executive producer).
Donald was the fourth of five children of Fred Trump, a
wealthy real estate developer based in New York City. Donald was strongly
influenced by his father in his eventual goals to make a career in real estate
development,[2] and upon his graduation from Wharton School at the University
of Pennsylvania in 1968, Donald Trump joined his father's company, The Trump
Organization.
Starting with the renovation of the Commodore Hotel into the
Grand Hyatt with the Pritzker family, he continued with Trump Tower in New York
City and several other residential projects. Trump would later expand into the
airline industry (buying the Eastern Shuttle routes),[3] and Atlantic City
casino business, including buying the Taj Mahal Casino from the Crosby family,
then taking it into bankruptcy. This expansion, both personal and business, led
to mounting debt.[4] Much of the news about him in the early 1990s involved his
much publicized financial problems, creditor-led bailout, extramarital affair
with Marla Maples, and the resulting divorce from his first wife, Ivana Trump.
The late 1990s saw a resurgence in his financial situation and
fame. In 2001, he completed Trump World Tower, a 72-story residential tower
across from the United Nations Headquarters.[5] Also, he began construction on
Trump Place, a multi-building development along the Hudson River. Trump owns
commercial space in Trump International Hotel and Tower, a 44-story mixed-use
(hotel and condominium) tower on Columbus Circle. Trump currently owns several
million square feet of prime Manhattan real estate,[6] and remains a major
figure in the field of real estate in the United States and a celebrity for his
prominent media exposures.
Contents [hide]
1 Background and education
2 Career
2.1 Early success (1968–1989)
2.2 Financial problems (1989–1997)
2.3 Resurgence (1997–2007)
2.4 2008 financial crisis
3 Properties
3.1 Selected completed properties
3.2 Real Estate Licensing
4 In the media
5 Other ventures
5.1 Golf course
6 Personal life
6.1 Family
6.2 Hobbies
7 Bibliography
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
Background and education
Donald Trump is the son of Fred Christ Trump (Woodhaven, New
York, 11 October 1905 – 25 June 1999) and wife Mary A. MacLeod (Stornoway,
Scotland, 10 May 1912 – 7 August 2000), who married in 1936. His paternal
grandparents were German immigrants Frederick Trump (Kallstadt,
Rheinland-Pfalz, 14 March 1869 – 30 March 1918), who immigrated to the United
States in 1885 and became a naturalized US Citizen in 1892. Frederick married
his wife, Elisabeth Christ (10 October 1880 – 6 June 1966)[7] at Kallstadt,
Rheinland-Pfalz, in 1902.
Trump attended The Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills,
Queens, but after trouble there when he was thirteen, his parents sent him to
the New York Military Academy hoping to direct his energy and assertiveness in
a positive manner.[8] It worked reasonably well: while at NYMA, in upstate NY,
Trump earned academic honors, played varsity football in 1962, varsity soccer
in 1963, and varsity baseball from '62-64 (baseball captain '64). The baseball
coach, Ted Dobias, a local celebrity for his unselfish work with area youth,
awarded him the Coach's Award in '64. Promoted to Cadet Captain-S4 (Cadet
Battalion Logistics Officer) his Senior Year, Trump, and Cadet First Sergeant
Jeff Donaldson, '65, (West Point '69) formed a composite company of cadets, taught
them advanced close-order drill, and marched them all down Fifth Avenue on
Memorial Day, 1964.
Trump attended Fordham University for two years before
transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After
graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics and concentration in
finance, he joined his father's real estate company.
In his book, Trump: The Art of the Deal, Trump discusses his
undergraduate career:
"After I graduated from the New York Military Academy
in 1964, I flirted briefly with the idea of attending film school...but in the
end I decided real estate was a much better business. I began by attending
Fordham University...but after two years, I decided that as long as I had to be
in college, I might as well test myself against the best. I applied to the
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and I got in...I was also very
glad to get finished. I immediately moved back home and went to work full time
with my father."
Career
Early success (1968–1989)
Trump began his career at his father's company, the Trump
Organization, and initially concentrated on his father's preferred field of
middle-class rental housing in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. One of
Donald's first projects, while he was still in college, was the revitalization
of the foreclosed Swifton Village apartment complex in Cincinnati,
Ohio--turning a 1200-unit complex with a 66% vacancy rate to 100% occupancy
within a year. When the Trump Organization sold Swifton Village for $12 million,
they cleared $6 million in profit.
In 1971 Trump moved his residence to Manhattan, where he
became convinced of the economic opportunity in the city, specifically large
building projects in Manhattan that would offer opportunities for earning high
profits, utilizing attractive architectural design, and winning public
recognition.[2] Trump began by landing the rights to develop the old Penn
Central yards on the West Side, then--with the help of a 40-year tax abatement
by the financially strained New York City government, which was eager to give
tax concession in exchange for investments at a time of financial
crisis--turned the bankrupt Commodore Hotel into a new Grand Hyatt. [9]
He was also instrumental in steering the development of the
Javits Convention Center on property he had an option on. The development saga
of the Javits Convention Center brought Donald Trump into contact with the New
York City government when a project he'd estimated could have been completed by
his company for $110 million ended up costing the city between $750 million to
$1 billion. He offered to take over the project at cost but the offer was not
accepted.[10]
A similar opportunity would arise in the city's attempt to
restore the Wollman Rink in Central Park--a project started in 1980 with an
expected 2½-year construction schedule that was still, with $12 million spent,
nowhere near completion in 1986. Trump offered to take over the job at no
charge to the city, an offer that was initially rebuffed until it received much
local media attention. Trump was given the job which he completed in six months
and with $750,000 of the $3 million budgeted for the project left over.[11]
Financial problems (1989–1997)
By 1989, the effects of recession left Trump unable to meet
loan payments. Trump financed the construction of his third casino, the $1
billion Taj Mahal, primarily with high-interest junk bonds. Although he shored
up his businesses with additional loans and postponed interest payments, by
1991 increasing debt brought Trump to business bankruptcy[4] and the brink of
personal bankruptcy. Banks and bond holders had lost hundreds of millions of
dollars, but opted to restructure his debt to avoid the risk of losing more
money in court. The Taj Mahal re-emerged from bankruptcy on October 5, 1991,
with Trump ceding 50% ownership in the casino to the original bondholders in
exchange for lowered interest rates on the debt and more time to pay it
off.[12]
On November 2, 1992, the Trump Plaza Hotel was forced to
file a prepackaged Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection plan after being unable to
make its debt payments. Under the plan, Trump agreed to give up a 49% stake in
the luxury hotel to Citibank and five other lenders. In return Trump would
receive more favorable terms on the remaining $550+ million owed to the lenders
and retain his position as chief executive, though he would not be paid and
would not have a role in day-to-day operations.[13]
By 1994, Trump had eliminated a large portion of his $900
million personal debt[14] and reduced significantly his nearly $3.5 billion in
business debt. While he was forced to relinquish the Trump Shuttle (which he
had bought in 1989), he managed to retain Trump Tower in New York City and
control of his three casinos in Atlantic City. Chase Manhattan Bank, which lent
Trump the money to buy the West Side yards, his biggest Manhattan parcel,
forced the sale of a parcel to Asian developers. According to former members of
the Trump Organization, Trump did not retain any ownership of the site's real
estate - the owners merely promised to give him about 30 percent of the profits
once the site was completely developed or sold. Until that time, the owners
wanted to keep Trump on to do what he did best: build things. They gave him a
modest construction fee and a management fee to oversee the development. The
new owners also allowed him to put his name on the buildings that eventually
rose on the yards because his well-known moniker allowed them to charge a
premium for their condos.[15]
In 1995, he combined his casino holdings into the publicly
held Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts. Wall Street drove its stock above $35
in 1996, but by 1998 it had fallen into single digits as the company remained
profitless and struggled to pay just the interest on its nearly $3 billion in
debt. Under such financial pressure, the properties were unable to make the
improvements necessary for keeping up with their flashier competitors.
Finally, on October 21, 2004, Trump Hotels & Casino
Resorts announced a restructuring of its debt.[16] The plan called for Trump's
individual ownership to be reduced from 56 percent to 27 percent, with
bondholders receiving stock in exchange for surrendering part of the debt. Since
then, Trump Hotels has been forced to seek voluntary bankruptcy protection to
stay afloat. After the company applied for Chapter 11 Protection in November
2004, Trump relinquished his CEO position but retained a role as Chairman of
the Board. In May 2005[17] the company re-emerged from bankruptcy as Trump
Entertainment Resorts Holdings.[18]
Resurgence (1997–2007)
Trump has several projects under way. The level of success
of the progress of the projects varies. The Trump International Hotel and Tower
- Honolulu seems to be a success. According to Trump, buyers paid
non-refundable deposits to commit to purchase every unit on the first day they
were made available. Construction of the Trump International Hotel and Tower -
Chicago seems to be proceeding as planned although 30% of the units remain
unsold. The Trump International Hotel and Tower - Toronto has had a series of
delays and a height reduction. The Trump Tower - Tampa has been quite
controversial because the initial sales were so successful that all deposits
were returned to charge a higher price. Three years after construction of this
controversial development began, construction has delayed and lawsuits have
been filed. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida one Trump construction project was put
on hold in favor of another (Trump International Hotel and Tower - Fort
Lauderdale). Meanwhile, Trump Towers - Atlanta is being developed in a housing
market which has the nation's second-highest inventory of unsold homes.[19]
2008 financial crisis
Trump has been caught in the 2008 financial crisis as sales
for his Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago have been lagging and he
failed to pay a $40m loan to Deutsche Bank in December.[20] Arguing that the
crisis is an Act of God, he evoked a clause in the contract to not pay the loan
and initiated a countersuit asserting his image has been damaged.[20] Deutsche
Bank has in turn noted in court that 'Trump is no stranger to overdue debt' and
that he has twice previously filed for bankruptcy with respect to his casino operations.[20]
On 17 February 2009 Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Mr Trump having stated the Friday previous that he would
resign from the board.[21]
Properties
Future site of Trump International Hotel & Tower,
TorontoIn its October 7, 2007 Forbes 400 issue, "Acreage Aces,"
Forbes valued Trump's wealth to $3.0 billion. Trump is known for his many
properties.
Selected completed properties
Trump World Tower: 845 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY.
It is valued at $290 million.
Trump Tower: 725 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10022 Trump owns
the retail and office space on the lower half of this building. It is valued at
$288 million.
Personal Residence: Trump Tower: top 3 floors of Trump Tower
with approximately 30,000 square feet (3,000 m²) of space; detailed in bronze,
gold, and marble. Worth as much as $50 million, it is one of the most valuable
apartments in New York City.
AXA Financial Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY
555 California Street, formerly the Bank of America Center,
in San Francisco: When Trump was forced to sell a stake in the railyards on
Manhattan's West Side, the Asian group to which he sold then sold much of the
site for $1.76 billion. They then reinvested the rest of the money, via a
tax-free exchange, into two office buildings: 1290 Avenue of the Americas in
Manhattan and 555 California Street in San Francisco (The Group has since sold
their stake to Vornado Realty Trust). Trump ended up owning 30% of the two
buildings. Based on the recent sales price, Trump's stake is valued at $540
million.
The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street: Trump bought and
renovated this building for about $35 million in 1996. Although Trump claims it
is worth $400 million, New York tax assessors value it at only $90 million. Mr.
Trump has taken out a $145 million mortgage on this property to use for other
investments. Forbes values the property at $260 million.
Trump Entertainment Resorts: This company owns the Trump
branded casino resorts. After a long period of financial trouble, the company
entered bankruptcy protection in 2004. Trump agreed to invest $55 million cash
in the new company and pay $16.4 million to the company's debtors. In return he
holds a 29.16% stake in the new public company. This stake was worth
approximately $171 million in October 2006. The following are the Trump branded
casino resorts:
Trump Taj Mahal (Official Site)
Trump Plaza (Official Site)
Trump Marina (Official Site)
Riverside South/Trump Place When completed, Riverside South
will be the largest single private development in New York City's history. It
was built by the Trump Organization, although financed by investors from Hong
Kong and owned by the Hudson Waterfront Company. During his financial
difficulties in the mid 90's, Trump was forced to sell this site, the former
west side rail-yards. The new owners continued Trump's involvement with the
property and sought to use his name to seek higher sales prices. Trump was paid
$2 million annually for his oversight of the project, and he was offered an
estimated 30% of the net profits upon completion of this 10 year project. The
investors sold off the uncompleted project in 2005 for $1.8 billion and offered
Mr. Trump $500 million. Trump contends that the property should have been sold
for more than $3 billion and in 2006 sued the owners for selling without his
consent, and sought $1 billion in damages. Forbes values his stake in the
property at $170 million.
Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago (Official Site),
(under construction, anticipated completion is 2009) The entire project is
valued at $1.2 billion ($112 million stake for Trump).
Trump Hotel Las Vegas (Official Site) This is a joint
development with fellow Forbes 400 member, Phillip Ruffin. Trump's stake is
valued at $162 million.
Trump International Hotel and Tower (NY) at Columbus
CircleTrump International Hotel and Tower New York (Official Site), Trump
provided his name and expertise to the building's owner (GE) during the
building's re-development in 1994 for a fee totaling $40 million ($25 million
for project management and $15 million in incentives deriving from the condo
sales). Forbes values Trump's stake at $12 million.
Trump Park Avenue: Park Avenue & 59th Street. It is
valued at $142 million.
Golf Courses (valued at $127 million):
Trump currently owns four golf courses in the United States
including Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, New York, Trump National
Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump International Golf Club in West Palm
Beach, Florida, and Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, CA.
In 2006, Donald Trump purchased a 1,400-acre (5.7 km2) plot
just north of Aberdeen at Menie, Scotland, Trump International Golf Links, with
the intention of turning it into a £1 billion golf resort and "the world's
best golf course". The development plan included two courses, a 5-star
hotel, holiday homes, and a golf academy. Trump wishes the site, once finished,
to hold the British Open. There has been opposition from some locals and
negative reaction from environmental groups interested in preserving the
4,000-year-old dunes that are designated as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific
Interest). The development was rejected by the local council's planning
subcommitee and is currently going through a planning inquiry with the Scottish
Parliament.
Trump is also building Trump International Golf Club in the
Caribbean island of Canouan Island, The Grenadines. The development will
include Trump Club Privee, a Monte Carlo inspired casino.
Trump also builds residential housing developments near
these golf clubs. Examples include: The Estates at Trump National in Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA, Trump Island Villas on Canouan Island, The Grenadines, and
The Residences at Trump National in Westchester County, NY.
Nike Store: The Niketown store is located in Trump Tower. It
is valued at $120 million
Palm Beach estate: 43,000 square feet (4,000 m²) on a large
oceanfront lot in Palm Beach. Trump purchased this property for $40 million at
a bankruptcy auction in 2004. Renovations to the property were led by the
Season 3 Apprentice Kendra Todd, and Trump sold the property for $100 million
in June 2008, making it the most expensive house ever sold in the United
States. (The preivous record is $70 million for Ron Perelman's Palm Beach
estate in 2004.). Forbes values his stake in the property for $43 million.
Mar-A-Lago (Official Site), Palm Beach, Florida. Most of
this estate has been converted into a private club. This landmark property,
according to Trump, has received bids near $200,000,000. However, Forbes
magazine does not take into account either of Trump's large vacation residences
(Mar-a-Largo or his 213-acre (0.86 km2) spread near Bedford, NY in Westchester
County, NY) for its valuation of his wealth.
Real Estate Licensing
Many developers pay Donald Trump to market their properties
and be the public face for their projects. For that reason, Trump does not own
many of the buildings that display his name. According to Forbes, this portion
of Trump's empire, actually run by his children, is by far his most valuable
with a valuation of $562 million. According to Forbes, there are 33 licensing
projects under development including seven "condo hotels" (i.e. The
seven Trump International Hotel and Tower developments). Some examples are:
Manhattan:
Trump Palace: 200 East 69th Street, New York, NY
Trump Parc and Trump Parc East: Two adjoining buildings on
Central Park South on the southwest corner of The Avenue of the Americas. Trump
Parc East is a 14-story apartment building and Trump Parc (the former Barbizon
Plaza Hotel) is a 38-story condominium building.
Trump Plaza: 167 East 61st Street, New York, NY ( 39-story,
Y-shaped plan condominium building on the Upper East Side)
610 Park Avenue (The old Mayfair Hotel): Trump is helping
with the construction and development of this property for Colony Capital.
Trump Soho (Official Site) Hotel Condeminium: A partnership
with Bayrock Group to build a 42 story building in Soho.
New York City Suburbs:
Trump Plaza: Jersey City, NJ. The project includes New
Jersey's two tallest residential towers and costs about $450 million. The 55-story
tower will have 445 condos, and the 50-story tower will have 417. [22]
Trump Plaza (New Rochelle) is a 39-story luxury residence
and hotel with retail space that is currently under construction in Westchester
County, NY with developer Louis R. Cappelli.
Trump Tower at City Center is a 35-story condominium
apartment building built in Westchester County, New York with developer Louis
R. Cappelli.
Trump Parc Stamford is a development in Stamford,
Connecticut with F. D. Rich Company and Louis R. Cappelli.
Florida:
Trump International Hotel and Tower Fort Lauderdale
(Official Site), Anticipated completion is 2007
Trump Towers (Sunny Isles Beach, Florida): will have over
270 residential condominiums
Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences: A hotel
condominium (Trump International Sonesta Beach) and two residential condominium
towers (Trump Palace and Trump Royale) located in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
with fellow Forbes 400 member Jorge Perez.
Trump Hollywood: A 40-story building on Hollywood Beach,
Florida with fellow Forbes 400 member Jorge Perez.
Trump Tower (Palm Beach) will be a 23-story residential
condominium development.
Domestic:
Trump Towers (Atlanta): Tower I will be 48 stories and
include 370 units while Tower II is still under design.
Trump Tower (Philadelphia): This 45-story building will
offer 263 luxurious condominiums on the Delaware River.
Trump International Hotel and Tower Waikiki (Official Site),
Anticipated completion is 2009
Trump International Hotel and Tower, New Orleans (Project
slated to begin construction during the first quarter of 2007)
International:
Trump World: Seoul, Korea for which Trump received a
licensing fee of $5 million to lend his name.
Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto (Anticipated
completion is 2010)
The Palm Trump International Hotel and Tower, Dubai, United
Arab Emirates
Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower, Panama City
(Anticipated completion is 2009)
Trump Ocean Club Baja Mexico is a planned 3 tower, 25 story,
526 unit hotel condominium 30 minutes south of downtown San Diego.
Trump at Cap Cana will be located in Punta Cana, Dominican
Republic.
In the media
Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Donald
Trump, a two-time Emmy Award-nominated personality, has made appearances as a
caricatured version of himself in television series and films (e.g. Home Alone
2: Lost in New York, The Nanny, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Days of our
Lives), and as a character (The Little Rascals). He has been the subject of
comedians, flash cartoon artists, and online caricature artists. In addition to
the aforementioned forms of media he has appeared on, he has been a guest on
various talk shows and other media.
In 2003, Trump became the executive producer and host of the
NBC reality show, The Apprentice, in which a group of competitors battled for a
high-level management job in one of Trump's commercial enterprises. The other
contestants were "fired," or eliminated, from the game. At the end of
each episode, Trump eliminates at least one contestant while uttering the
catchphrase "You're fired." For the first year of the show Trump was
paid $50,000 per episode (roughly $700,000 for the first season), but following
the show's initial success, he is now paid a reported $3 million per episode,
making him one of the highest paid TV personalities. In 2004, Donald Trump
filed a trademark application for the phrase "You're fired," which he
had popularized on the show.[1][2][3]
In December 2006, talk show host Rosie O'Donnell criticized
Trump on The View for "acting as a moral compass for 20-year-olds"
after giving a second chance to Miss USA, Tara Conner, who had violated pageant
guidelines by partying and drinking. Trump, who owns the rights to the pageant,
decided to let Conner retain the Miss USA crown while she pursued
rehabilitation. A tabloid war raged for several weeks thereafter between the
two celebrities.[23]
In 2007, Trump received an honor for his contribution of The
Apprentice to television by receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In October 2007, Trump appeared on Larry King Live and
delivered a strong criticism of then-United States President George W. Bush,
particularly concerning the Iraq War. He also predicted that Rudy Giuliani and
Hillary Clinton would win the Republican and Democratic Presidential
nominations, respectively, and said that he would be very supportive of either
of them being elected President. He made further statements about the issue on
the The Situation Room, in which he said "anybody who wants more troops in
Iraq, I don't feel can win an election" as Rudy Giuliani supports that
position. On the same show, he was also critical of the public perception of
Angelina Jolie as a grand beauty.[24]
On Sept 17, 2008 Trump officially endorsed John McCain for
U.S. Presidency on Larry King Live show.[25]
Other ventures
The Miss Universe Organization is owned by Donald Trump and
the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). The organization produces the Miss
Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants.
Other investments include a 17.2% stake in Parker Adnan,
Inc. (formerly AdnanCo Group), a Bermuda-based financial services holdings
company. In late 2003, Trump, along with his siblings, sold their late father's
real estate empire to a group of investors that included Bain Capital, Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts, and LamboNuni Bank reportedly for $600 million. Donald Trump's
1/3 share was $200 million, which he later used to finance Trump Casino &
Resorts.
With his success in real estate and television, Trump has
succeeded in marketing the Trump name on a large number of products. These
products include Trump Financial (a mortgage firm), Trump Sales and Leasing
(residential sales), Trump University (a business education company)[4], Trump
Restaurants (Located in Trump Tower and consisting of Trump Buffet, Trump
Catering, Trump Ice Cream Parlor, and Trump Bar), GoTrump[5] (an online travel
website), Donald J. Trump Signature Collection (a line of menswear, men's
accessories, and watches), Donald Trump The Fragrance (2004), Trump Ice bottled
water, Trump Magazine, Trump Golf, Trump Institute, Trump The Game (1989 Board
Game), Trump Vodka, and Trump Steaks. In addition, Trump reportedly receives
$1.5 million for each one hour presentation he does for the The Learning
Annex.[26]
Donald Trump and Bobby Lashley shave Vince McMahon
bald.Trump is a known World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fan. He has hosted
two WrestleMania events in the Trump Plaza and has been an active participant
in several of the shows. Trump's Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was host to
the 1991 WBF Championship (which was owned by WWE, known at the time as the
"World Wrestling Federation"). He also appeared at WrestleMania 23 in
the corner of Bobby Lashley who competed against Umaga with Vince McMahon in
his corner, in a hair versus hair match, with either Trump or McMahon having
their head shaved if their competitor lost. Lashley won the match, and he and
Trump both proceeded to shave McMahon bald. Trump was also involved with the
old USFL, a competitor to the NFL, as owner of the New Jersey Generals. In
addition, Trump at one time acted as a financial advisor for Mike Tyson and
hosted Tyson's fight against Michael Spinks in Atlantic City.
In the 2000 election, Donald Trump considered running for
president as a member of the Reform party.
Instituted by Ronna Mee Brand, the Donald J. Trump Award
honors and recognizes individuals who make a significant impact on the
evolution, development and perpetuation of real estate throughout Greater Los
Angeles.
The second annual Donald J. Trump Award was presented
December 6, 2007 at the Beverly Hilton, International Ballroom. Tom Gilmore,
the first recipient, presented the award to Michael Koss. Donald Trump
congratulated Mr. Koss via video broadcast.
Golf course
Trump testified in June 2008, as first witness at the
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) inquiry (ordered by Scottish
ministers) after an Aberdeenshire Council committee denied his plans to build a
£1billion golf resort north of Aberdeen, at the Menie Estate. Environmental
groups and local campaigners opposed the bid in which part of the course would
be built on sand dunes that are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI),
though business leaders supported the would-be golf course.[27] Trump stated
the site "had the potential to be the greatest golf course in the
world."[28]
Personal life
Donald Trump is popularly known as The Donald, a nickname
given to him by the media after his ex-wife Ivana Trump, a native of the Czech
Republic referred to him as such in an interview.[29] He is also known for his
catchphrase, "You're Fired", made popular by his television series
The Apprentice. Trump is known for his distinctive hairstyle, which he has
refused to change throughout his career.
Family
Melania Knauss-TrumpTrump's mother Mary Anne was born on the
Isle of Lewis. She left Tong, Scotland in 1930 aged 18 for a holiday in New
York, met a local builder, and stayed. Born in Queens, New York, United States,
Trump has four siblings - two brothers (Fred Jr., who is deceased, and Robert)
and two sisters (Maryanne and Elizabeth). His older sister, Maryanne Trump
Barry, is a federal appeals court judge and the mother of David Desmond, who is
a neuropsychologist and writer.
In 1977, Trump married Ivana Zelničkova (later Ivana Trump)
and together they have three children: Donald, Jr. (born December 31, 1977),
Ivanka, (born October 30, 1981), and Eric (born January 6, 1984). They were
divorced in 1992. In 1993, he married Marla Maples and together they had one
child, Tiffany, (born October 13, 1993). They divorced on June 8, 1999. In a
February 2008 interview on ABC's Nightline Trump commented on his ex-wives by saying,
"I just know it's very hard for them (Ivana and Marla) to compete because
I do love what I do. I really love it."
On April 26, 2004, he proposed to Melania Knauss (Melanija
Knavs in Slovenian, later Melania Knauss-Trump) from Slovenia. Trump and Knauss
(who is 24 years Trump's junior) married on January 22, 2005, at Bethesda by
the Sea Episcopal Church on the island of Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a
reception at Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate. Neither Melania nor Trump is an
Episcopalian.[30] Melania gave birth to a boy named Barron William Trump,
Trump's fifth child, on March 20, 2006. He was christened at the same church as
his parents were married.
Hobbies
Trump is an enthusiastic golfer, with a low single-figure
handicap. He is a member of the Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York,
and also plays regularly at the other courses he owns and operates.[31]
