Former US president Donald Trump is making another bid for the White House in 2024, but before his political career took centre stage, the billionaire businessman accumulated a vast property portfolio, both for personal and business use. However, with a mounting pile of lawsuits and investigations brought against him, all that could be about to change. From his childhood home to his New York estate, click and scroll on to take a look inside Donald Trump's real estate empire and discover the allegations that could jeopardise his reign...
Born on 14 June 1946, for the first four years of his life, Donald Trump lived in a modest but quaint mock Tudor mansion located in the leafy and upscale Jamaica Estates section of the borough of Queens. After attending the Kew-Forest School, the young teenager was enrolled at the New York Military Academy aged 13.
Trump's childhood home was built in 1940 by the future president's real estate developer father, Fred, who founded The Trump Organization in 1923. Notably normal and unpretentious, this perfect family home has five bathrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, a roomy living room, a dining room and a library. It was last sold in 2017 for $2.1 million (£1.7m).
While there were rumours that Trump wanted to buy his childhood home, The Guardian reported that it was bought by a mystery Chinese investor in 2017 and then listed on Airbnb several months later. Previously available to rent for $727 (£587) a night, the New York Times reported that the house seemed to be empty most of the time.
After failing to sell at auction in 2018, the house was put back on the market for $2.9 million (£2.3m) in February 2019, but it was mysteriously withdrawn without a sale. In November 2020, a GoFundMe page was set up by Trump fans to purchase the house as a thank-you gift for the departing president before he left office in January 2021. The target was to raise $3 million (£2.4m), which is yet to be reached.
After attending the New York Military Academy in 1959, Trump moved to attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to study business in 1966. By 1968, at just 22 years old, he joined the family business and began his journey into property development. Since then, Trump has developed real estate, hotels and even golf courses, amassing a business empire thought to be worth $3 billion (£2.4bn).
After setting his sights on Manhattan, Trump began the construction of Trump Tower in 1979. The 58-storey skyscraper, which was previously a department store, houses luxury residential complexes as well as retail spaces, including Donald Trump's personal residence in the penthouse triplex.
Also the home of the Trump Organization's offices, the tower is famous for its all-out luxury décor. The reception area boasts 240 tonnes of pink- and white-veined marble with four gold elevators serving visitors only, and a private elevator reserved for members of the Trump family.
Until 2019, Trump Tower was the official main residence for the family. When Donald was elected president, he made the move to the White House in Washington, DC, while Melania and Barron stayed on in New York until the teenager could finish school. After his presidential term came to an end, the Trumps' official residence became Mar-a-Lago, however, the former leader still stays at his penthouse apartment whenever he returns to New York.
Often hidden behind closed doors, this rare photo shows a glimpse inside the penthouse suite. From the sparkling crystal chandeliers and 24-carat gold embellishments to the plush cream carpets, it illustrates Trump's penchant for luxury furnishings. Barron is said to have had his own floor of the building when they lived there full-time.
Decades before the name Trump was connected to US politics, it was a name that spoke to great wealth and big business. Trump snapped up this mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut for his then-wife, Ivana and their two children, Donald Trump Jr and daughter, Ivanka. He paid a reported $4 million (£3.2m) in 1982 to secure a trophy home in one of America's wealthiest towns.
Sitting on nearly six acres of lush green land, the property boasts sweeping views of the Long Island Sound. In keeping with Trump's signature style, the billionaire decorated the house in rich gold with lavish finishes throughout. A photo of Trump at home in 1987 shows the grand entrance with a double staircase and what looks like a hand-painted wall mural.
Trump can be seen here sitting in one of the reception rooms of the traditional 1930s house. Wood panelling, rich drapes and antiques surround him. According to a real estate agent quoted by the Wall Street Journal, the subsequent owners chose to remove a lot of the gold leaf when they bought it.
When Ivana and Trump divorced in 1992, Ivana got the mansion as part of her settlement and later went on to sell it for a reported $15 million (£12.1m) in 1998. The current owners have been trying to sell the home since 2014 and have taken it on and off the market a number of times, but it was relisted in August 2022 for $29.9 million (£24.1m) before once again being removed from the market.
In 1985, after many years of trying to purchase it, Trump bought Mar-a-Lago for $8 million (£6.5m) including the estate and all its contents. A bargain price, it was much less than what Mar-a-Lago cost to build, with the estate said to be worth $160 million (£129m) in 2018 according to Forbes.
In the early 1990s, Mar-a-Lago was transformed into a members' club by Trump. As his empire ran into financial difficulties, Trump restored the mansion with a view to creating a cash cow by opening it up to fee-paying members. At the wish of Palm Beach Council, and to gain permission for his new project, Trump promised a sensitive restoration. Some of the estate's contents were sold off at auction to make money but were replaced with reproductions, including a jewel-encrusted marble dining table and Louis XIV chests.
In typical Trump style, the restoration cost millions of dollars with a number of lavish additions including two swimming pools, a beauty salon, spa and a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. The Louis XIV-style space has $7 million (£5.6m) in gilding and each of the gold basins in the bathroom cost $100,000 (£81k) a pop.
This fairytale room was the childhood bedroom of Dina Merrill, the previous owner of Mar-a-Lago and was also Ivanka Trump's bedroom. Named the 'Baby House', the décor was said to be inspired by Sleeping Beauty and boasts a silver-plated four-poster bed and an opulent fireplace surrounded by grand rose motifs.
Aside from Trump's private apartments, Mar-a-Lago offers members access to two dining rooms, a beach club, pool and spa and guest suites. In 2017 an Associated Press investigation found that Mar-a-Lago had 78 counts of health code violations in the last three years, which included a range of issues, from mould in the ice machine to dirty cutting boards and even chefs serving unsafe seafood to guests.
During his presidency, Trump visited Mar-a-Lago 32 times, spending a total of 142 days there. However, these jaunts didn't come cheap, costing on average $3.4 million (£2.7m) each. His trips back and forth are said to have cost $13.6 million (£11m) in taxpayers' money in 2017.
After leaving the White House, the Trumps arrived at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida on 20 January 2021 to head to their new official home at Mar-a-Lago. However, this permanent move didn't go down too well with the estate's affluent neighbours according to CBS Miami. In December 2020, local residents sent a letter to the town council highlighting an agreement from 1993 that stops any club member from staying at the club for more than three weeks in a year.
Since Trump's rocky exit as POTUS, he has also lost all his presidency perks. A helipad, which was installed at Mar-a-Lago with a temporary permit while he was president, has now been removed. It was the only one of its kind on Palm Beach, which has a strict 'no helicopter' rule.
After snapping up Mar-a-Lago, Trump bought his Seven Springs estate in 1996 for a reported $7.5 million (£6m). As always, a firm focus was on golf and Trump's aim was to build a Trump-branded golf course on the estate. However, plans were dashed by protests but despite the setback, Trump kept the property as a retreat for his family.
Reached via a sweeping driveway and surrounded by manicured lawns, the 5,000-square-foot mansion boasts three swimming pools, a carriage house and 15 bedrooms. Surrounded by 230 acres of land, it would have made the perfect setting for Trump's proposed golf course.
The grand interior, of course, follows the lavish style that the Trumps favour with marble floors, stone staircases and high moulded ceilings. Built in 1919 by Eugene Meyer, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, today the home is full of modern amenities including a bowling alley and two staff wings.
The property reportedly took almost five years to build, with the help of 500 Italian masons and craftsmen, and it's been meticulously preserved over the years. One of the largest privately owned properties in Westchester, it's clear that Seven Springs holds a special place in the hearts of the Trump family.
In October 2021, a bombshell rocked the Trump Organization when ABC News revealed that according to its sources, the golf course was the subject of an 'ongoing criminal investigation' by the District Attorney's office in Westchester, New York. According to USA Today, the probe centred around the organisation's valuation of the Trump National Golf Course Westchester, following a successful six-month appeal to lower the club's taxes.
Donald Trump is shown here in the club's restaurant back in 2014, with his ex-wife Ivana, son Eric and his wife Lara. The Trump Organization's request to lower its tax liability on the Westchester estate was granted by a Supreme Court judge in August 2021, in a move that saved the club $155,000 (£125k) a year in tax going forward, as well as a substantial rebate of $860,965 (£695k). No charges or accusations of wrongdoing have been made at this time.
Pictured here is the 13th hole of the Trump National Golf Club Westchester. A representative of the Trump Organization told ABC News that a review of the club's tax assessments in 2021 was signed off by the town board, therefore "the suggestion that anything was inappropriate is completely false and incredibly irresponsible. The witch hunt continues." This is a separate case from the larger fraud lawsuit brought against the Trump Organization by the New York Attorney General.
That's not the only reason Westchester's been under scrutiny in past years. The golf club hosted the Eric Trump Foundation's charity golf tournament every year from 2011 to 2015, with the proceeds going to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. However, the event caused controversy when it was revealed $200,000 (£161k) of donations went to other organisations with strong ties to Trump family interests, according to Forbes. A spokesperson for the Foundation said that relevant donors were made aware of where their money was going.
Ideally located by leafy Central Park in New York City, Trump Park Avenue is one of the jewels of Donald's portfolio. Dating back to the 1920s, the property was formally known as the Delmonico Hotel. Donald Trump purchased the prime piece of real estate in 2001 for a staggering $115 million (£92.8m) and set about renovating the building into one of the city's most luxurious apartment complexes.
The 32-storey structure offers its residents elegant, upscale living, with a 24-hour doorman and concierge, a valet parking service, laundry service, daily cleaning service and a fitness centre. The building's entryway is typical of Trump's signature style, with rich wood panelling, dazzling chandeliers, a checkerboard floor and gold-effect elevator doors. Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka even purchased her first home in Trump Park Avenue, and it's seen many high-profile residents over the years. One tenant though would go on to cause the Trump Organization something of a headache.
Pictured here is one of the building's duplex penthouse apartments, which originally hit the market for $45 million (£36m), before having its price slashed to $29.5 million (£23.8m) in 2017. However, it was a resident in another of the complex's penthouses that got into hot water with Trump. In 2018, Trump Park Avenue sued a Saudi prince for $1.8 million (£1.5m) in unpaid rent. While he'd moved into the 7,132-square-foot unit in 2014, he'd reportedly stopped paying rent in 2017. In 2018, a Manhattan court ruled that the prince must repay the sum he owes.
In 2002, Trump National Golf Club snapped up this estate in Bedminster for a reported $35 million (£28.2m). Located 40 miles west of New York City in New Jersey, Trump immediately began transforming the club into a luxury club and golf course – it opened in 2004, just in time for that year's Fourth of July celebrations.
Spread over 600 rolling acres of New Jersey countryside, Bedminster offers no end of world-class amenities. It boasts a 36-hole golf course designed by renowned architects Tom Fazio and Tom Fazio II, a 16-acre practice facility, an indoor golf learning centre and even equestrian facilities.
Initial membership fees for Trump National Golf Club Bedminster are reported to cost around $350,000 (£282k) – and joining comes with lots of perks. As well as world-class golf, members also have access to a heated swimming pool, eight tennis courts, a basketball court, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and even a helipad for flying visits.
Members can also rent one of five luxury cottages or 11 suites during their stay. In 2020, plans were put forward to the township's land use board for the construction of five new cottages and the expansion of Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner's cottage, though it's not clear if permission was granted or when work might begin. The estate holds a special place in the couple's hearts after they wed within the grounds in 2009.
Not just a corporate venture for Donald Trump, he also used Bedminster for presidential business too. Just two weeks after his election win in November 2016, he reportedly invited the club's wealthiest members to help him interview candidates for positions in his administration.
Bedminster was the location for his presidential coordination team, and Donald Trump has said it was an ideal location for coordinating business because it cost less to operate out of than New York. “I have a place there that costs almost nothing because it’s hundreds of acres and security, and they don’t have to close up streets," Trump said during a 2017 Fox News interview about his reasoning for staying at Bedminster. However, Trump's use of private, non-secure locations for official business often caused concerns regarding the security of sensitive intelligence and improper influence on the administration.
While Donald Trump pushed hardline immigration policies throughout his presidency, the New York Times reported that the club employed people who were in the country illegally. Though there is no evidence that Trump or the Trump Organization executives knew of the two employees' immigration status, Amanda Miller, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said in a statement provided to CNN. "If any employee submitted false documentation in an attempt to circumvent the law, they will be terminated immediately."
Since leaving the White House, Mar-a-Lago has been his permanent home, but when the Palm Beach resort closes from May through the summer, when hurricane season and stiflingly hot temperatures rock the region, Trump heads to New Jersey for the warmer months. In 2022, he reportedly moved all of his business dealings to Bedminster during this period, before returning to Mar-a-Lago for its autumn reopening.
Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump’s stays at his luxurious golf retreat have not been without controversy. Records released in July 2021 indicated that Donald Trump charged the Secret Service nearly $10,200 (£8.2k) for its use of guest rooms at his New Jersey golf club in May 2021. The charges were for an 18-day stay – that’s about $566 (£457) per night at the resort. The Secret Service also released documents including a “hotel request” form that covered the period from 28 May to 1 July, as well as bills indicating $3,400 (£2.7k) worth of resort charges for January, February and early May.
The agency didn't disclose the reason behind those charges, which were placed before Trump’s arrival. The release of these bills came as New York state prosecutors announced criminal charges against the Trump Organization over its business dealings. The company and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg were subsequently found guilty of criminal tax fraud in 2022. Trump's Bedminster estate continued to make headlines throughout 2021...
In January 2021, the PGA stripped Bedminster of its role as host of the 2022 championship tournament after the violent attack on the US Capitol carried out by the then president’s supporters. The organisation tweeted: “Our feeling was given the tragic events of Wednesday that we could no longer hold it at Bedminster,” PGA CEO Seth Waugh told the Associated Press. “The damage could have been irreparable. The only real course of action was to leave.” Trump has held multiple campaign events at the Bedminster course over the years, including his appearance at a largely mask-free fundraiser in October 2020 held just hours before he announced his coronavirus diagnosis.
The mansion's name translates as 'The House of Friendship', which is somewhat ironic, as according to The Washington Post, the property came between Trump and his former friend, the late disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. When the estate went under the hammer, the two reportedly vied bitterly to snap up the property, even lobbying the home's trustee to gain favour, but ultimately, Trump came out victorious and claimed the mansion for himself.
After clinching the deal, Trump told The Palm Beach Daily News that he vowed to transform the Florida mansion into the "second-greatest house in America" – the first presumably being his nearby Mar-a-Lago property. The neo-classical Maison de l'Amitie estate spanned around 60,000 square feet and encompassed four buildings. Its scale is clear to see from this elaborate reception room, however, Trump said he splashed out $25 million (£20.2m) on renovations, a job he gave to the season three winner of The Apprentice, Kendra Todd. She confirms her involvement with the project on her brokerage page.
However, speaking to Politico some years later, the 45th president of the United States said he'd simply “cleaned it up a little bit, but not too much... the primary thing was, I painted it." Whatever the truth behind the overhaul, the property was certainly designed to dazzle. The revived residence offered the perfect place to entertain Florida's movers and shakers. The mansion's extravagant amenities included 17 bedrooms, a ballroom, an art gallery (pictured) and a wine room.
As you can see from this image of the interior during Trump's tenure, gilded finishes abounded throughout the living spaces. Kendra Todd reportedly embellished the property with marble, 24-karat gold and diamond fixtures. From the magnificent engraved ceiling and mirrored walls to the opulent light fixtures and artwork, this room in the mansion bore the unmistakable hallmarks of the former president's lavish signature style.
Pictured here in 2005, an assortment of supercars fill the driveway in front of the house during a showing of the property. In 2008, the mansion was eventually sold to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, who acquired it for $95 million (£76.7m), almost $54 million (£43.6m) more than Trump originally paid for it. But just five years after the sale, Palm Beach County valued the house at the significantly lower price of $59.8 million (£48m). To make matters worse, according to Politico, sources close to Rybolovlev revealed the house was uninhabitable – it had a severe mould problem and was difficult to air condition.
Because of its inflated price tag, accusations of money laundering were thrown around, but both Trump and Rybolovlev were cleared of any wrongdoing. However, due to the mansion's long-term issues, Rybolovlev razed the estate to the ground in 2016. The property was then divided into three separate parcels, which were sold for a total of $108 million (£87m). A lavish spec house was built on one of the lots and became one of the priciest properties in the country when it closed for $140 million (£113m) in early 2021. It was reportedly paid for in cash by a mystery Russian buyer.
In 2006, Trump purchased Balmedie, a 1,400-acre plot just north of Aberdeen, Scotland, with plans to turn it into yet another luxury golf course. However, turning the unspoiled stretch of coastline into a high-end golf course didn't run smoothly...
Just one of many hurdles for Trump to overcome, Scottish fisherman Michael Forbes, who had lived on his 25-acre farm his entire life, refused to sell his home to the billionaire. Located right in the middle of the planned second hole and hotel site, the real estate rebel was offered $408,000 (£329k) and a job on the golf course but still declined and refused to give up his home.
The proposal faced more uncertainty when Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee ruled against the plans in 2007. After an intervention by the Scottish government in 2008, Trump was finally given the go-ahead to start turning the ecologically sensitive site into a golf course.
Finally in October 2009 work on the site started and in 2012 it opened to the public. The billion-pound project includes two golf courses and a luxury 16-room hotel known as Macleod House. The estate reportedly cost Trump $60 million (£48m) to buy and a further $200 million (£161m) was spent on the new golf course.
Looming 64 storeys over the city of Las Vegas, the Trump International Hotel and Tower is impossible to miss when you drive down the world-famous Strip. Its gleaming façade, enveloped in 24-karat-gold-infused glass panels, is a monument to Donald Trump’s signature taste for extravagance. Co-owned by Trump and businessman Phil Ruffin, who also owns the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino on the Strip, the tower opened back in 2008 to the tune of $500 million (£404m). Trump’s only real estate foray in Las Vegas, the development hosts a luxury hotel, high-end condominiums, time-share properties and no shortage of plush amenities.
Pictured on the day of the grand opening, the man himself can be seen here in the building’s opulent lobby, which features marble floors, gold embossed wallpaper and an ornate ceiling. According to the Los Angeles Times, Trump had promised to build a second tower back in 2005, but fast-forward three years to the Great Recession and it never materialised. In fact, the timing couldn’t have been worse, with many investors reportedly pulling out and demanding their money back. Meanwhile, a number of condominium owners filed a lawsuit alleging that they were sold units at inflated prices in 2005 and 2006 amid the market boom, yet when the market had cooled, they were unable to cancel their purchase agreements. The judge ultimately found in Trump’s favour and the lawsuit was dismissed in 2011.
Despite the tower’s rocky start, it certainly went on to leave its mark on the Las Vegas skyline. The elaborate structure includes a 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness centre, a 110-foot heated swimming pool with air-conditioned cabanas, a poolside bistro and the DJT restaurant, which was named after Trump’s initials. There’s also The Trump Store, which stocks all manner of Donald Trump memorabilia, along with six luxe meeting spaces, including the Trump Boardroom, a nod to his fourteen-season stint on The Apprentice.
As well as hosting the Miss Universe pageant for a time, the Las Vegas tower has also played a starring role in Trump’s political career over the years. In October 2020, he announced his business endorsements at the hotel amid his run to secure a second term as president – a bid that he ultimately lost to Joe Biden. Trump reportedly stayed at the tower six times during his presidency, including a short trip in February 2020 that wracked up something of a hefty bill. According to Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington (CREW), who obtained the information via a Freedom of Information Request, the hotel charged the Secret Service an extortionate $12,368.66 (£10k) for the three-night stay.
Controversial charges aside, the so-called Trump Tower of Las Vegas does have its selling points, including the lavish outdoor swimming pool, which offers tenants and tourists respite from Nevada’s dry desert heat. But while the amenities are high-end, not everyone is enamoured with the building’s blingy, gold-plated design. In fact, the development was crowned one of America’s ugliest buildings by builder’s merchants Buildworld in January 2023. The company compiled the list by cross-referencing architectural landmarks with the percentage of tweets criticising their design. The Trump International Hotel and Tower came in sixth place in the rankings, behind the J. Edgar Hoover Building and the Watergate Complex.
In May 2011, Trump coughed up $6.2 million (£5m), plus $1.7 million (£1.4m) in equipment and inventory for this 776-acre vineyard home in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 2012, he then went on to splash out $6.7 million (£5.4m) for Albemarle House, completing his acquisition of the entire estate.
In 2015, Trump opened the estate as a bed and breakfast. Today, the 26,000-square-foot mansion is still full of historic details and boasts hand-painted plaster ceilings and wallpaper, antique mantels and 150-year-old English oak.
The sprawling grounds of the estate feature exquisitely manicured English gardens, fishing ponds, and an outdoor pool and hot tub surrounded by outdoor lounge areas, and not to mention Virginia's largest vineyard. It's another jewel in the crown of Trump's incredible real estate empire.
Formally known as the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Donald Trump snapped up this 700-acre Miami property back in 2012 for $150 million (£121m) after it fell into bankruptcy. Swiftly renamed the Trump National Doral Golf Club, it was initially one of the Trump Organization's biggest money-makers, but in the past few years, the estate's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse.
Prior to the pandemic when the 45th president was still the leader of the free world, the luxurious resort was reportedly bringing in over $70 million (£57m) a year, according to official financial disclosures he made while in office. However, over the next two years, following a divisive presidency and the introduction of global travel restrictions in the midst of the pandemic, that figure fell by more than $33 million (£26.6m), a colossal drop of over 40% in revenue.
But signs of decline at the club have been clear for some time. In 2016, the PGA announced it was moving the World Golf Championship from the Doral resort. Meanwhile, back in 2019, The Washington Post reported that overall revenue had been falling since 2015. As of 2021, the Trump Organization had borrowed around $125 million (£100m) on the property, according to The Independent – loans which Donald Trump himself is said to have guaranteed.
What's more, when the pandemic struck, the resort reportedly laid off 560 workers. Change may be on the cards though, as new expansion plans could offer the resort a lifeline. In January 2022, Donald Trump announced that there would be 2,300 new luxury homes built at the Doral estate, as well as retail and commercial spaces, branding the move "perhaps the most exciting development in the country".
In 2016, a $250 million (£202m) renovation of the Trump National Doral Golf Club was unveiled by Ivanka Trump. The luxurious Miami resort is now home to 643 guest rooms and over 100,000 square feet of space for business meetings and events. There's also a state-of-the-art clubhouse, numerous restaurants and lounges, plus a 50,000-square-foot spa, tennis courts and golf facilities.
Clearly a busy man in 2012, Donald Trump also snapped up this 350-acre estate in Jupiter, Florida for a reported $5 million (£4m). Formally known as the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa, it was rebranded the Trump National Golf Club Jupiter, with the complex featuring a stunning golf course by award-winning designer Jack Nicklaus. A favourite among the Trump clan, Eric Trump, Donald's son, even owns a house on the property with his wife Lara.
There's no shortage of plush entertaining spaces too. While it's regularly used for weddings, the Crystal Ballroom is pictured here back in March 2016, when Donald Trump hosted a press conference in the space during his run for the presidency. The space measures 10,000 square feet and features glittering crystal chandeliers, as well as striking views over the state-of-the-art golf course.
Yet another real estate investment in 2012, the Trump Organization was awarded the lease to Washington, DC's Old Post Office building by the General Services Administration, a branch of the US government. In 2014, an ambitious $200 million (£161m) redevelopment project began to transform the structure into the 263-room Trump International Hotel Washington, DC. Trump reportedly received millions of dollars from foreign governments to fund the construction.
The hotel opened in October 2016, when Donald Trump was the Republican nominee for president, and a month before he was elected the 45th President of the United States. While Trump relinquished control of his companies when he assumed office, his assets were moved to a trust overseen by his sons, allowing him to still benefit from the federally-owned building. Unsurprisingly, there were calls for him to sell the property, which was labelled a magnet for "foreign businesses seeking favour" by critics.
The Trump Organization eventually offloaded the hotel in 2022 for an eye-watering $375 million (£303m) and it's since been rebranded as a Waldorf Astoria. However, the quirks of Trump's premier hotel won't be forgotten quickly. Establishing itself as a high-society hub, the hotel's Benjamin Bar served rare wines in crystalline spoons for the hefty sum of $140 (£113). It's also said to have the largest ballroom in Washington, DC, which you can see here in this photo from the grand opening ceremony of the hotel.
However, the hotel's pièce de résistance was the Trump Townhouse, which was dubbed the “largest Presidential Suite in Washington, DC,” on the hotel's website at the time. The executive space spanned 6,300 square feet and included two plush bedrooms, a 20-person dining room, a private gym and a self-contained entrance. On 9 November 2016, the night Trump was elected president, the suite was reportedly available to rent out for a staggering $33,434 (£27k) including tax.
Mar-a-Lago isn't the only extravagant home linked to the Trumps in Florida. This little-known home in the sunshine state is reportedly owned by a company related to Donald Trump and his family. Eric Trump, the third son of Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. ran a limited liability company called 1125 South Ocean LLC. The company snapped up the home in 2018 for just short of $18.3 million (£14.8m) from Donald Trump's sister, retired judge Maryanne Trump Barry.
Not long after the family bought the home, it was listed to rent for $100,000 (£81k) a month on Trump International Realty. Now available to rent for $195,000 (£156k) a month – or $2.3 million (£1.9m) per year – the palatial beach house was advertised in 2022 for $208k (£164k) per month or $59 million (£47m) to buy, but it seems there weren't any takers.
Old listing images show the traditional décor before Melania got her hands on the interiors. With furnishings and fixtures that needed an upgrade, the public spaces face out onto breathtaking ocean views. The interiors have since been transformed, with this room now boasting panelled walls and chic neutral furniture.
The eight-bedroom, eight-and-a-half bathroom home is spread over 10,455 square feet and boasts a whole host of luxury features including sleek marble floors, ocean-facing balconies, a library and a wet bar.
The beachfront home is set on just over half an acre of land that includes 194 feet of prime ocean frontage, swimming pools and terraces. Just look at that view across the glittering water! The house was listed as an asset of Trump's in financial disclosure statements released during his time in office.
Donald Trump's extensive property portfolio may be impressive, but it's also landed him in hot water. New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit on 21 September 2022 against the former president for "staggering" fraud. She has alleged that Trump, along with his children and senior executives at the Trump Organization, "falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars" to secure bank loans on more favourable terms and gain tax benefits. Trump rebutted the accusations on Fox News, claiming: "This is just a continuation of a witch hunt that began when I came down the escalator at Trump Tower."
In a move that could see the end of Trump's real estate monopoly in the Big Apple, the lawsuit is seeking $250 million (£202m) in penalties, along with a permanent ban that would prevent Trump from running businesses in New York. One of the city's landmark buildings, Trump Tower, is among the 20 properties implicated in the allegations. The lawsuit states that Trump's personal triplex penthouse in the building was valued at an eye-watering $327 million (£264m) in 2015. However, not only was its size allegedly inflated, but the record sale in the building prior to its valuation was a mere $16.5 million (£13.3m), casting doubt on the "absurd" figure.
Also included in the civil indictment is Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, which was valued at a staggering $739 million (£596m). According to Letitia James, this figure was based on the "false premise" that the land could be developed and sold for residential use, despite Trump signing away his right to do so. The club reportedly generated annual revenues of less than $25 million (£20.2m) and should have been valued at $75 million (£61m), James says. In August 2022, the estate was also the site of FBI raids, related to a separate criminal investigation into the mishandling of classified government documents.
Other properties mentioned in the Attorney General's bombshell lawsuit include Trump Park Avenue, 40 Wall Street and Seven Springs in New York, Trump International Hotel and Tower properties in Las Vegas and Chicago, the former Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC, and a number of Trump National Golf Clubs across the US, including Jupiter, Doral and Westchester, plus Trump's Aberdeen and Turnberry clubs in Scotland. The trial has been scheduled for 2 October 2023.
Following the fraud lawsuit brought against Trump, the judge overseeing the case ruled that a watchdog should be appointed to oversee Donald Trump's real estate empire. Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York County State Supreme Court granted the preliminary injunction on 3 November 2022, which saw a court-appointed monitor chosen from a list of recommendations made by James and the Trump Organization. In the 11-page opinion, the judge said that the move was to "ensure there is no further fraud" before the lawsuit goes to trial.
As well as installing a watchdog, the injunction also prevents Donald Trump and the Trump Organization from transferring or selling assets without notifying the court and the New York Attorney General's office. The court-appointed monitor must also be given 30 days' notice before any restructuring of the Trump Organization takes place. Judge Engoron said the decision, which puts something of a chokehold on Trump's property empire, was necessary so that "defendants do not dissipate their assets or transfer them out of this jurisdiction". Ivanka Trump has since been excused from financial monitoring.
Stepping away from Trump's mounting legal woes, it seems his company may have shifted its gaze from the US to more distant shores. At the end of 2022, Business Today revealed that the Trump Organization is mulling over plans for five or six new construction projects in India. They're reportedly in talks with India-based Tribeca Developers, who they've collaborated with before. The company's founder, Kalpesh Mehta, said: "Up to six new deals [under the Trump brand] are in the works. We plan to launch 3-5 of them within the next 12 months – starting mid-2023”.
Donald Trump Jr., the 45th president's eldest son, has been instrumental in bringing the Trump brand to India. “I am very bullish about the India market. It is already the largest market for us outside of the US,” he told Business Today. However, it's worth noting that the new developments will be part of the Trump Organization in name alone. Rather, they're the product of a lucrative licensing deal to use the Trump brand and trademark, while the structures themselves will be built and owned by Tribeca Developers. The Trump Organization will offer their expertise and monitor the quality of the construction.
Among the new Trump-branded projects in the pipeline are an array of ultra-luxury residential apartments, while the two companies are also in talks about commercial real estate ventures. These developments will reportedly add the equivalent of $30 million (£24.3m) in inventory to India's high-end property market. This isn't the first foray into the South Asian market for the Trump real estate empire, who have put their name to four Trump Tower projects so far in India. Towers in Mumbai – pictured under construction here – and Pune are already up and running, while projects in Kolkata and Delhi will soon be completed. The new India developments are expected to be launched in Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ludhiana and Chandigarh.
Meanwhile, a luxury condo in Trump Towers, Florida was the subject of a dramatic FBI raid on 11 May 2023, according to the Miami Herald. The apartment in Trump Towers III on Sunny Isles Beach is owned by two Russian businessmen, Oleg Sergeyevich Patsulya and Agunda Konstantinovna Makeeva. An FBI spokesperson said it “was conducting court-ordered law enforcement activity in the vicinity of that location."
The condo is reportedly owned by a shell company called MIC-USA LLC, which is controlled by Patsulya and Makeeva. According to property records, MIC-USA bought the 41st-floor, three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment a decade ago for just under $1.7 million (£1.4m). Neither man has commented on the raid and Patsulya’s wife, Roza Pereira, told the Miami Herald: “I can’t talk about it. The lawyer said not to talk to anyone... I have no idea what it’s about." In 2020, Mr Patsulya and Mr Makeeva were sued by BAC Florida Bank for allegedly defaulting on the condo's $975,000 (£779k) mortgage. However, the dispute was settled and the condo is still owned by the Russians.
The condo is located in the third tower of the three-tower complex that makes up Trump International Beach Resort. Despite the name, Donald Trump doesn't actually have much to do with the building. The developers of the towers secured a licencing deal with the Trump Organization to use its brand and trademark in a bid to boost the profile of the project. According to The Washington Post, Trump's name is a big draw to the European, South American and Asian elite, but especially among Russian oligarchs.
Built in 2003 and set on 10 acres of oceanfront, the resort is made up of a hotel and luxury condominiums. It boasts a private white sand beach, numerous pools and cabanas, 360 "oversized" guest rooms, an 8,000-square-foot spa, four dining options and wedding facilities. Described as an 'oceanfront oasis,' a two-bedroom apartment suite will set you back as much as $1,260 (£1k) per night. Meanwhile, if you wanted to make your stay a little more permanent, this two-bedroom condo will set you back just under $2 million (£1.6m).
Known as 'Little Moscow,' Sunny Isles Beach is a small strip of Miami oceanfront favoured by the Russian elite. According to one survey, as of 2021, there were 1,349 Russian-born residents living in the area. "They love to be here, and they like to spend their money and enjoy their life," Lana Bell, a real estate agent, told News Nation in 2022. After Russia invaded Ukraine, many Russians have been worried they would be prevented from buying in the US or have their property confiscated. President Biden's administration launched the KleptoCapture task force in 2022, which targets corrupt Russian oligarchs. Sunny Isles' real estate agents reported that some Russian buyers and sellers were pausing their property transactions to see if sanctions would affect them, but the area still remained popular.
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