Built-in 1940 by Trump’s dad, real estate developer Fred Trump, the quaint Tudor-style house was their family home until the young Trump was four years old and they upgraded to a larger home. Now it’s a historic relic, or at least a novelty, attracting curiosity and a $2.9 million price tag—far out pricing comparably-sized properties in its upscale Queens neighborhood. So, yes, it’s up for sale! The President of the United States’ childhood home could be anyone’s.
It’s a five-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot darling brick and stucco yellow house with a finished basement and hardwood floors. Inside, you’ll find a library, Trump memorabilia and a cut-out cardboard cut-out of the Prez. For a time, it was available on Airbnb for $725 per night, and the initial listing in August of 2017 ignited a viral craze triggering the media to come herding in droves to the property. I wonder who will end up with a little piece of Americana history?
The Scotland and Ireland Golf Resorts – $78 Million
Trump has a true affinity for Scotland, it’s his homeland—at least on his mom’s side. His mom, Mary Anne Trump, was born in Stornoway and lived there until she immigrated to America when she was 17. His affection for Scotland led him to his dream of developing two golf courses in Aberdeenshire. He even wanted to name the second golf course development after her saying, “My mother loved Scotland and I wanted to create a lasting tribute to her.” It would be called, The McLeod Course if it ever gets built. There is, however, the McLeod House namesake, a magnificent Scottish mansion at which one may stay, accommodating Aberdeen golf guests. In 2005 Trump purchased a 1,400-acre piece of rugged, green Scottish coastline and white dunes for about $12.6 million. Out of it, he created a world-class golf resort by 2012 and has been busy trying to push through the rest of his development plans. His Aberdeenshire neighbors have been unsupportive, often protesting, and his arrogant attitude has earned him a lot of defiance from the Scots.
In 2014 he grabbed the existing Turnberry golf resort, now called Trump Turnberry, his most prestigious and prized world-class golf course located on the other side of Scotland’s coast, for $59 million. So far, the Scottish investments have not enjoyed Trump’s trademark exponential profiting, both of his Scotland golf resort ventures lost money for three years straight, from 2014 to 2016. But things may be turning around. In 2018 revenues for Trump International golf resorts, including his Ireland golf property, doubled at Trump Turnberry and posted a profit in the contested Aberdeen, increasing from $3.2 million in 2017 to $3.4 million in 2018. If Trump Organization’s real estate development plans go through, it’s possible that all those jobs he promised Alberdeen in 2005 will come through.
Trump Air – $32 Million
Trump Organization has two planes and three helicopters, but Trump Force One, or the private jet he affectionately calls “T-Bird” is his favorite. He even prefers it over Air Force One, notwithstanding that Air Force One is larger, faster, and higher capacity. Trump notably complained about the bed being too small on the presidential plane, preferring his own private jet’s accommodations. And they are plush. It’s got a cinema system, silk lined bedroom, a guest room, also lined in silk, and a lavish bath, including 24-karat gold, plated fixtures.
Trump purchased the Boeing 757 for $100 million in 2011 and precipitously installed the upgrades. His last name is emblazoned in large upper-case letters—TRUMP— across the outside of the plane, naturally. He used it for his campaign travel. It’s not cheap to fly, it costs about $10,800 per hour. His hopes to use his jet instead of the Air Force issued Boeing 747 fell through after necessary high-tech security systems couldn’t be replicated. In order to increase the size of the bed and update the color scheme of the presidential aircraft to more “American looking” colors, and more to his liking, Trump has ordered two new Air Force One planes which Boeing should complete manufacture of by 2021.
New York's Iconic Empire State Building
Trump owned half of the Empire State building!.. kind of. . . for several many years. . . From 1994 to 2002, Trump held a 50 percent stake in New York City’s iconic skyscraper, widely recognized as the world’s tallest building after it was constructed in 1931, now the city’s fourth tallest building. What happened was this. A new investor, Japanese billionaire Hideki Yokoi, paid $42 million for the Empire State Building in 1991 and then handed it over to his daughter to own and operate. She proceeded to hook up with Trump, as a native N.Y.C. real estate mogul, giving him 50 percent ownership with no money down—they just handed it to him—in exchange for his commitment to pull off a hostile takeover by breaking the lease.
Trump was convinced that suing the leaseholders, Helmsley and Malkin, for negligence—rats, dark hallways, slow elevators, too many small tenants— would force them to sell their share to the new owners, and he and they would make a marvelous profit, into the billions! Prior to suing Helmsley and Malkin, Trump announced his plan to “restore the Empire State Building to its rightful position as a world-class real estate asset.” The courts ruled against him and he sold his share to the leaseholders. All told, he made $8 million and, even better, he can call himself, “New York’s Native Son” who once owned half of the Empire State Building.
The General Motors Building, Midtown Manhattan, NY
The General Motors Building takes up an entire city block of midtown Manhattan, facing Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, 58th Street, and 59th Street. The busiest store in the world can be found through a massive glass cube, down a spiral staircase or a glass elevator, into the basement to, you guessed it, the Apple Store. Other high-end retailers take up space, and there’s plenty. The colossal building leases an astounding 1.7 million-square-feet. In 1982 General Motors sold their namesake skyscraper. It changed hands several times, however, in 1998 Trump and insurance company Conesco teamed up to purchase it for $878 million.
Trump chipped in only $11 million for half a stake in the General Motors Building but wasted no time emblazoning the tower with his name in gigantic gold letters. The white marble covered building is 50 stories high and was completed in 1968. Trump cashed in on his investment in 2004, selling the building to developer Harry Macklowe for $1.4 billion whose dramatic real estate loss in 2015 was chronicled by author Vicky Ward’s 2004 book, The Liar’s Bell. Today, the building is worth about $3.4 billion.