Biography of Donald Trump: Life and Career

Biography: Life and Career of Donald Trump

Donald John Trump was born June 14th, 1946 in Queens, New York. After graduating from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics, Trump followed in his father’s footsteps by entering real estate.

Manhattan Real Estate

Trump went to work for his father at the Trump Organization. By 1971, he focused his energy on the world of Manhattan real estate. As New York struggled through a financial crisis, Trump capitalized and received generous tax breaks on his property purchases and he developed and renovated apartment and hotel complexes around the city. One of his most striking triumphs was his renovation of the Grand Hyatt in downtown Manhattan. Its remarkable architecture was a draw from the moment it opened in 1980.

Hotels and Casinos

That same year he moved into the casino gambling business by acquiring property in Atlantic City. By 1982, Harrah’s at Trump Plaza had opened, and by ’86 Trump became the sole owner and renamed it Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. Others followed, and he finally opened the world’s biggest hotel and casino in 1990: the Taj Mahal at Atlantic City.

Trump Tower

Back in New York, Trump Tower was finished in 1983. The 58-storey apartment and retail complex was located on Fifth Avenue next to Tiffany & Company, and has stood as an extravagant icon of The Donald’s success since it opened.

The Plaza Hotel

He continued his development of Manhattan, and bought the Plaza Hotel in 1988 for $407 million.

Financial Struggles

Trump’s plans for the next years were thwarted by the recession, and he came close to personal bankruptcy. His net worth plunged to $500 million from $1.7 billion. The Trump Organization was also close to collapse, but he rebuilt and by 1997 Trump was worth nearly $2 billion.

Beauty Pageants and The Apprentice

He also teamed up with NBC around this time to buy the Miss Universe Organization, and he took control of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants. He kept up his high media profile in 2004 when he became executive producer and host of the NBC reality series “The Apprentice.”

Outrageous Personality

While Trump first made himself famous due to his business dealings, he has stayed in the public eye due to his sometimes outrageous personality. For example, he is notorious for exaggerating his net assets, and today few people agree how much money Trump is actually worth. While he claims $7 billion in assets, more conservative estimates approximate his worth to be anywhere between $2.4 billion and $150 million.

Celebrity Feuds

He has also often shared his opinions on politics, and it has gotten him into high profile feuds with fellow celebrities. He has also had a very public ongoing dispute with comedienne Rosie O’Donnell that started in 2006.

Political Aspirations

More recently, Trump suggested he would enter the political sphere himself. In 2010, he announced his interest in running as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Presidency. During this time he caused even more controversy by becoming a leader in the birther movement that believed President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. After making headlines, he withdrew from the campaign in 2011.

High Profile Marriages (And Divorces)

Over the years, Trump has also made headlines with his high-profiles marriages, and has wed three times. Many of his children help run the Trump Organization in different capacities.

An Icon of Business

As famous for his hair as he is for his work, Donald Trump is an American icon of business, and a mainstay on the New York City scene.