How much will Trump's net worth increase upon returning to the White House?
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How much will Trump's net worth increase upon returning to the White House?
For him, power is more tempting than money.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsBy Tom Maloney, Bloomberg
Translated by Luffy, Foresight News
Hours before voting ended on U.S. Election Day, Donald Trump’s social media company released a bleak financial update: sales of just $2.6 million and an operating loss of $363 million in the first nine months of 2024.
But less than 12 hours later, as news emerged that the former president was poised to return to the White House by a landslide, the company's stock surged 60%, instantly boosting Trump’s personal paper wealth by $2.4 billion.
The market has always bet on who will hold power in Washington. But when it comes to assessing a U.S. president’s net worth, there is no clearer lens than looking at Trump himself. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates his fortune at approximately $6.7 billion.
A Trump victory would solidify his business empire spanning media, real estate, and cryptocurrency—industries heavily reliant on his image, brand, and, most importantly, political power. With the ability now to resolve multiple legal disputes threatening both his businesses and personal freedom, many of his investments have never looked brighter.
One of the perks of holding the presidency is that this position of authority could bring significant leverage in difficult negotiations over some of Trump’s real estate assets. Real estate experts say Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach club, has become more valuable simply because of Trump’s central role in Republican politics. Not to mention investors—American or foreign—who may seek partnerships with him to gain access to the White House.
“Maybe he’ll get to $100 billion. I don’t know—he’ll figure it out, he really will,” said Louise Sunshine, former executive vice president of the Trump Organization who helped develop Trump Tower. “He’ll be richer and more powerful than ever.”
Donald Trump arrives at the Palm Beach Convention Center for his election-night watch party
Trump Media & Technology Group (ticker: DJT) saw a brief spike Wednesday, closing up 5.8%.
But experts say reclaiming the presidency means the 78-year-old Trump has only just begun reaping the economic rewards of his extraordinary political comeback. Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and Donald Trump’s second son, did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump Media & Technology Group
The most visible growth in Trump’s wealth stems from Trump Media & Technology Group. This company was his single largest asset during the election period, valued at $3.9 billion. Its stock has long traded independently of fundamentals, often behaving more like a betting market on Trump returning to the White House.
Whether the company can sustain its nearly $8 billion market valuation remains an open question. On Tuesday, Trump Media reported a third-quarter loss of $19 million and revenue of just $1 million, indicating minimal advertising demand on Truth Social—the company’s social media platform—even amid peak election season.
A Donald Trump-branded display hangs above the Moonshot booth during the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville. Photo: Bloomberg
Occasionally, unconfirmed speculation surfaces that Elon Musk, Trump’s most prominent billionaire supporter, might merge Truth Social with X. Neither side has acknowledged such rumors, but Truth Social stated this week it “will continue to explore other growth opportunities, including potential mergers and acquisitions.”
Trump’s business career has included numerous failures. He once tried capitalizing on the popularity of *The Apprentice* by slapping his name on products like Trump bottled water, Trump vodka, Trump perfume, and Trump steaks—most of which failed. Even today, examples persist, such as a Bible endorsed by Trump from which he earned $300,000.
But cryptocurrency has opened a new, highly profitable avenue for promoting the Trump brand.
Crypto Venture Investments
According to a disclosure filed by Trump in August, his NFT collection—digital trading cards featuring various poses and outfits of him, each priced at $99—generated a total of $7.2 million in revenue.
“While a Trump victory may indirectly boost sentiment around collectibles tied to him, these effects are largely nostalgic and not strongly correlated with elections over the long term,” said Sasha Fleyshman, portfolio manager at Arca.
Cards depicting Donald Trump and Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, are sold at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville. Photo: Bloomberg
World Liberty Financial, a project led by members of the Trump family, has already sold millions of dollars’ worth of tokens to fund a yet-to-be-built cryptocurrency lending platform. Trump has embraced crypto and pledged support for the industry, including removing SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
Mar-a-Lago
As the venue for Trump’s election-night event, Mar-a-Lago has always been prime real estate—but its value rises further as the winter White House of a U.S. president.
During Trump’s first term, he spent extensive time there, planning major actions such as the assassination of a senior Iranian general. For corporate executives, lobbyists, and foreign envoys hoping to reach Trump, it became a must-visit destination. Even after his 2020 defeat, it remained central to his public image.
Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: Getty Images
Based on his latest ethics disclosure, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index values Mar-a-Lago at $250 million. Over the past 16 months since January 2023, he earned $56 million, compared to $21 million in 2021.
In a June interview with Bloomberg, Trump’s club manager said membership fees at Mar-a-Lago had increased from $700,000 to $1 million starting in October. Before Trump’s 2016 victory, the fee was $100,000.
Real Estate
Trump’s New York properties will also benefit from his new presidential status, particularly 40 Wall Street, a commercial office tower in lower Manhattan.
The building had a 74% occupancy rate in June, down from 98% in 2015 when the company secured a $160 million loan. Hit hard by post-pandemic remote work trends and high interest rates, lower Manhattan is one of the hardest-hit areas in New York. According to the latest loan review, profits from the 1920s Art Deco building in June covered only 62% of its debt obligations.
Trump Tower at 40 Wall Street in New York’s financial district. Photo: Bloomberg
“Any aggressive action by lenders or ground lessors will be difficult to execute under obvious circumstances if Trump becomes president,” said Ruth Colp-Haber, CEO of Wharton Realty Advisors.
Even the operation of Trump Tower itself raises concerns. The Trump Organization extended Gucci’s lease in 2020 in exchange for rent concessions. But earlier this year, Kering, Gucci’s parent company, purchased 715–717 Fifth Avenue across the street for $963 million. If the luxury brand relocates, Trump’s most iconic Manhattan tower would lose its key retail tenant—an outcome carrying greater risk now than when he was a private citizen.
“Being president means having immense influence,” said Colp-Haber.
Overseas Investments
This influence extends beyond U.S. borders.
During his first term, Trump placed his businesses into a trust managed by his two sons to avoid potential conflicts of interest. In October, Eric Trump hinted to *The New York Times* that such restrictions might be relaxed this time around.
Donald Trump plays golf at Trump National Doral Miami on October 27, 2022. Photo: AFP
“We did everything possible during the first term to avoid any appearance of wrongdoing, but frankly, we were still defeated,” he said.
Since 2020, the Trump Organization has expanded overseas investments—ventures that stand to benefit greatly if Trump returns to the White House for another four years. This year alone, the group announced plans to develop golf courses and hotels in Vietnam and residential buildings in Saudi Arabia. His financial disclosures list millions in income from India, Oman, and Dubai. Closer to home, the Trump Doral resort in Florida—one of his three golf properties—is among his most valuable assets and has hosted the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.
Legal Challenges
One area difficult to quantify financially is the U.S. president’s ability to evade legal challenges.
Trump will hold ultimate authority over the Department of Justice. Sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted while in office. He will have the power to dismiss—or at least indefinitely delay—his criminal cases, avoiding the threat of years in prison, and can order his attorney general to drop two federal indictments accusing him of attempting to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified information.
Trump's motorcade following the New York jury verdict finding him guilty on multiple felony counts related to hush money payments. Photo: Bloomberg
He won’t have the same powers over state-level criminal cases, including the so-called hush money case in which he was convicted in May on 34 felony counts. Still, he has strong constitutional grounds to argue for dismissal of those convictions, making a sentencing scheduled for November 26 in New York unlikely.
“I think power is more enticing to him now than money,” said Sunshine, the former Trump Organization executive. “Sometimes, power matters more than money.”
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