Donald Trump's Full Biography
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York City. Starting out with the fortune his father had built, he established a real-estate empire, followed by a reality television stardom, and served a single term as the President of the United States.
Starting out working for his father, Trump proceeded to build onto the business, although he allegedly didn’t always do so by the most legitimate means. He’s been accused of shady business practices ranging from hiring undocumented workers to falsifying property values, though the allegations have not at this time resulted in a verdict, and Trump denies all.
In the 1970s, he would rename the family business, founded in 1927 by his grandmother, from E. Trump & Son to The Trump Organization, and it would be the hub of hundreds of business entities in the Trump name.
It was Trump’s reality show, though, that would bring him into homes around the world and establish his fame as more than just a real estate billionaire.
Trump toyed with a presidential run more than once over the years, but finally announced in 2015, as then-president Barack Obama, against whom Trump had held a long grudge, would be leaving office.
He ran a brash and savage campaign, attacking every opponent, and even openly calling on Russia to release oppositional propaganda against his Democratic opponent – and in November 2016, when the votes were tallied, he was declared the winner.
His presidency was equally aggressive, with attacks on LGBTQ rights, and Supreme Court appointments aimed at overturning the landmark decision that protected the right to privacy in health care.
His presidency culminated in an attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, who threatened the lives of legislators and attempted to force Congress to alter the outcome of the 2020 election after Trump’s re-election bid failed.
He left office quietly two weeks later, and has since been hit with more than 70 felony charges, all of which he also denies.
Early Life and Education
He was born to Mary Anne MacLeod and Fred Trump, the fourth of five siblings, following Maryanne, Fred Jr., and Elizabeth, and followed by Robert.
The most prominent accounts of Trump’s childhood come from his niece, Mary, the daughter of his brother Fred. An accomplished psychologist, Mary Trump says that her uncle’s childhood was defined by abuse and trauma, and that in order to please a sociopathic father, Trump learned to cheat and be ruthless in his practices, according to a profile of her book in the Washington Post.
Trump was enrolled in the New York Military Academy at the age of 13, then attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania.
Profiles of Trump based on information obtained predominantly from Trump himself say he graduated at the top of his class, but this has been disputed, with a leaked document at one point showing that Trump was not even listed in the top 15% of his class, according to Essence.
Career
Trump’s career is predominantly in three areas: business/real estate (including licensing of his name); television and entertainment (including beauty pageants as well as reality tv); and political.
1960s
Trump graduated from Wharton with a degree in economics in 1968. During this time, he received multiple student deferments from the military draft, then obtained a medical exemption for bone spurs.
Instead, he joined his father’s real estate business, Trump Management.
1970s
In 1971, Trump was named president of Trump Management.
In 1978, he began expanding the empire into Manhattan, beginning with the renovation of the Commodore Hotel, financed through his father’s help.
1980s
Manhattan
In the 80s, Trump continued expanding the business in Manhattan, including purchasing the Plaza Hotel.
He also purchased Mar-a-Lago in Florida, which he would later turn into a private resort.
Atlantic City
Trump also expanded his business empire into New Jersey, opening Harrah's at Trump Plaza (a hotel and casino) in 1984, another hotel he’d call Trump Castle in 1985, and the Trump Taj Mahal in 1988.
The first two filed for bankruptcy in 1992, and the third closed in 2016.
In ‘88 he also purchased an airline he would rename the Trump Shuttle, which ran flights between Washington D.C., New York City, and Boston, until he defaulted on loans in 1991, and banks took ownership, later selling it to US Airways.
1990s
In 1996 Trump bought into the Miss Universe pageant program, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. He continued to have holdings in these programs through 2015, and in 2005, he boasted on Howard Stern’s radio program about going backstage while the contestants were not fully dressed.
In 1999, Trump opened the Trump International Golf Club, West Palm Beach in Florida, the first of 17 he would own by the time he ran for President in 2016. On his taxes, he reported a loss of more than $300 million on these courses over the years, according to the New York Times.
2000s
In 2004, he opened Trump University. This would offer real estate courses until it ceased operations in 2011, facing numerous investigations and lawsuits. Along the way, the company also used alternate names, Trump Wealth Institute and Trump Entrepreneur Initiative. Trump settled several lawsuits after the 2016 election.
In the same year, he launched his reality show The Apprentice, with the spin-off, Celebrity Apprentice, following in 2008. On the program, contestants compete to prove their business skills. The Celebrity version involved a cash prize to a charity of the contestant’s choice. These ran through 2017.
2010s
Trump’s political career was long in the making, with lots of early speculation, and his side trip into birtherism (the unfounded conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., and not a valid presidential candidate) intensified it.
He talked about running against Obama in 2012, but ultimately shelved the notion and waited until the very popular president was on his way out, running instead against Hillary Clinton.
He launched that campaign in 2015, running in large part on conspiracy theories and rumors about his opponent. Ultimately, he won the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots.
Presidency
Trump’s presidency was a controversial one, characterized by personal attacks on others, two impeachments, allegations of using the office for personal enrichment, and legislation that affected vulnerable groups including immigrants and LGBTQ people.
2020s
2020 election
In the months leading up to the 2020 election, Trump was juggling reputational problems, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ballot box. In the months leading up to the election, he spread conspiracy theories suggesting that if he lost it was a “stolen” election, and leveling allegations that his opponents were crooked.
When he lost, he repeated these claims, and in January of 2021, as Congress prepared to formalize the electoral vote, he called his fans to join him for a rally. They proceeded to breach the Capitol and carry out an attack, forcing legislators to evacuate to a safe location.
He left quietly shortly before noon on Joe Biden’s inauguration day, January 20th.
2024 election
Almost immediately after the 2022 midterm elections, Trump announced his 2024 presidential candidacy.
Business Ventures
Aside from his real estate, pageant, golf clubs, and casino efforts, Trump has been involved in other ventures, including purchasing a United States Football League team in 1983 (two years before the organization folded); various shell companies through which he has done business; and stock purchases in other companies that he would muse about taking over, before reselling stock.
Personal Life
Relationships
Trump’s first marriage was in 1977 to model Ivana Zelníčková, with whom he had his eldest three children: Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka. They divorced in 1990.
His second marriage was in 1993, to Marla Maples, with whom he had carried out an affair during his first marriage. They have one daughter, Tiffany. They divorced in 1999.
His third marriage was to Melania Knauss, in 2005. They have one son together, Barron.
Religion
Trump identifies as a Christian.
Health
During his time in the White House Trump’s doctor (who has since become a Republican Congressman) declared him extremely healthy, and Trump boasted of passing a cognitive test designed to identify signs of dementia. His previous doctor also declared him the picture of health, though he later said Trump had dictated the statement.
He tested positive with COVID-19 before the presidential debate with Joe Biden in September 2020, according to CNN, but would not share positive results until after the debate. He continued to downplay the seriousness of the virus, but was hospitalized at Walter Reed for a period of time.
Net Worth
Trump’s net worth is estimated around $2.5 billion.
Jobs
Trump has income from multiple properties, as well as from his social media site, selling NFTs and various other interests.
Endorsements
He licenses his name for various properties, including branding buildings around the world with the “Trump Tower” name, hotels, a board game, and even Trump Steaks and Trump Vodka (both discontinued).
Inheritance
The amount of Trump’s inheritance is not clear, but according to Forbes, at least one 2018 analysis determined that it was the equivalent of more than $400 million in current rates.
Activism
Trump has fought for harsher criminal penalties for drug dealing, harsher response on immigration, and to end abortion access. In 1988 he established the Donald J. Trump Foundation for charitable works, but it dissolved in 2016, facing investigations. He was later ordered to pay $2 million for misusing funds from the foundation.
Controversies
Trump has a long list of controversies, legal issues, and allegations, including more than two dozen allegations of sexual assault or misconduct; a history of allegations of racial bias (dating as far back as the 70s when the Justice Department found racial discrimination in housing); and allegations of incitement of violence.
Just a few of his post-presidency legal troubles:
- The Trump Organization was found guilty on all counts in a New York case for tax fraud.
- A criminal case in New York charges Trump with 34 felonies for falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to an adult film star with whom he allegedly had an affair (this case is still open).
- A federal case charges Trump with another 37 felonies centering around documents he kept after leaving office.
- He was found liable for sexual assault and defamation in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll, and still faces an additional lawsuit from her.
- At least two additional investigations, one in Georgia and one Federal, could still bring indictments related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
