Flagpole wrote:
I agree that he is always ABOUT trying to sell stuff, but I would not say he's good at it. To wit:
Trump Airlines
Trump Bottled Water
Trump The Game
Trump Casinos
Trump Magazine
Trump Mortgage
Trump Steaks
Trump Vodka
Trump's Travel Site GoTrump.com
Trump Telephone Company
Trump University
Not to mention all the failed real estate projects he has had over the years.
So, what DID he win due to salesmanship?
The Art of the Deal sold well.
The Apprentice was a DECENTLY-rated show but not the big hit he always described it as
The Presidency
Regarding making money, let's investigate!:
Art of the Deal -- a book he didn't even write. In 2018 (an up year because he was president), it is reported he made $1 million from royalties from that book). For someone who is supposed to be worth more than $10 billion (according to Trump), that is a pittance. If he were able to monetize just 1% of a $10 billion dollar fortune, that would be $100 million per year. What the hell would he care about a measly $1 million?
The Apprentice -- According to Trump (and since he lies about everything in ways to make himself look good, it is almost for sure less than that), he made $214 million over 14 years with that show. Obviously it made him more of a household name than he already was and stoked his ego, but at about $15 million per year, again, it is next to peanuts for someone who says he's worth more than $10 billion.
The Presidency - $400,000 annual salary that he apparently doesn't keep. Not a money making scheme at all.
Donald Trump is about to turn 73 years old. He likely will not live more than 20 more years. A man who is supposedly worth $10 billion dollars could spend, without earning any interest on any of it, $500 million dollars a year.
So, what is the point of all this?
1) He has more failures than hits.
2) His hits aren't that big moneywise compared to what he says he's worth.
3) He's not as good a salesman as he would like us all to believe. In fact, he's a big loser at it.
What about The Trump Organization? Well, it will eventually be dissolved or at least dismantled as it is currently set up, and since he reportedly has put up anything of value he owns as collateral for bank loans, it is likely it isn't really worth much.
come on FP - he's a great brander. People pay him lots and lots of money for the use of his name. He owns/controls/has his name on many many great pieces of property. He's not nothing. He succeeded at branding real estate and TV. Who cares about his failures.