Donald Trump Biography Donald Trump is synonymous with money, hotels, and boardroom authority. He has an authoritative demeanor accented by an underlying and seldom seen but real sense of humor. Donald Trump has made his fortune with his interest and intricate knowledge of business and real estate, and has gained fame through media attention drawn largely from his outspokenness. Trump, or simply The Donald, has suffered criticism both financially and personally, but runs a solid company grounded by his executive abilities and entrepreneurial spirit. Donald Trump was born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York. His father, Fred Trump, was a would-be millionaire who eventually created a multi-billion dollar real estate empire that sustained Donald through his financial difficulties later in life. At the age of thirteen, Donald’s parents sent him to the New York Military Academy. In 1968 he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and then went to work full time at his father’s company, The Trump Organization. Donald Trump has credited his father as his mentor. His first project for his father’s company was the revitalization of the Swifton Village Apartment Complex in Cincinnati, Ohio, clearing a 6 million-dollar profit for the company. Throughout the 1970s Trump continued to benefit the Trump Organization with various real estate and development projects. In 1983 his landmark project, Trump Tower, was completed.
Trump overcame looming bankruptcies on both the business and personal fronts in the early 1990s. Many critics at the time believed the Trump Empire was about to collapse, but despite some continuing financial issues with Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, the Trump name has expanded into merchandising, mortgage loans, gaming, and entertainment. Besides numerous real estate acquisitions in New York, Donald Trump is partnered with the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC) in ownership and broadcasting rights of the Miss Universe Organization. Donald Trump also hosts the NBC reality game show The Apprentice, in which contestants vie for Donald’s approval in the boardroom to win a one-year, $250,000 contract within one of Trump’s companies. Entering its third year and sixth season in the fall of 2006, The Apprentice is tagged as "the ultimate job interview" and viewers have adopted the catch phrase "you’re fired!" coined by Donald during the show. In his personal life, Donald Trump has had a highly publicized marriage and divorce to Ivana Trump, with whom he has three children. He followed this marriage with a six-year stint married to actress and model Marla Maples, who bore his second daughter, Tiffany. Maples and Trump divorced in 1999. In 2005, Donald married model Melanija Knavs, or Melania Trump, in Palm Beach, Florida at what was reported to be the most expensive society wedding of the year. Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, and Billy Joel were just some of the guests in attendance. In 2006, Melania gave birth to Donald’s third son, Barron William Trump.
Donald Trump has made guest appearances on numerous television shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Days of Our Lives, and The Nanny. He has also hosted the Miss USA Pageant, co-hosted Live with Regis and Kelly, and appeared on numerous other talk shows. Donald Trump and Regis Philbin sang a duet version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on a Christmas album put out by Regis. Trump continues to be a household name even as The Apprentice continues into season six, and merchandising encompasses everything from watches to vodka. When speaking about his son, Trump’s late father was reported as saying, "Everything he touches turns to gold." Such a statement can hardly be argued when speaking of a modern-day billionaire. Let us know of updates to the Donald Trump biography at editor@yuddy.com |
