• Waldowal@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      I already bought the books + it was like watching a car accident. I just couldn’t believe this guy was a successful businessman.

      • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Spoiler: he wasn’t. It was “The Apprentice” that made his fortune, before that it was just him squandering an inheritance.

        • Waldowal@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          [My initial reply got posted top- level for some reason]

          True, he straight up admits many times in the books that he would lie about his wealth so that other people would work with him. I assume that came out during his fraud case in NY.

          He had a few deals that worked out - all starting with dad’s money. He managed to squander 4 out of 5 of everything he tried. Casinos in Atlantic City, Trump University, Trump Steaks, Trump Ice, Wollman Rink, etc. It’s a long list. But the 1 or 2 that worked is why he has any money at all. If I remember correctly, it’s mostly the golf courses and an option he bought in the 70s for an old railroad yard in lower west side Manhatten I think. He really fucked someone over on that one. He bragged about how much he screwed them for pages and pages. Like it brought him more joy to fuck someone over than it did to have a success. He’s a complete psychopath.