In the August 18, 2025, issue of The New Yorker, David D. Kirkpatrick explores a question that’s equal parts curiosity and controversy: How much is President Trump personally profiting from his time in office?
The Price Tag of the Presidency
Trump entered office with a sprawling business empire—luxury condos, branded consumer products, real estate developments spanning the globe. Kirkpatrick adds up reported gains that include:
- Five mega-projects in the Persian Gulf
- A luxury jet from Qatar
- A lavish resort in Hanoi
- Multiple cryptocurrency ventures
- Ongoing MAGA merchandise and licensing deals
Although Forbes estimated Trump’s net worth had doubled to over $5 billion, and The New York Times later pegged it at $10 billion, those figures largely reflect paper gains from assets and incomes not necessarily tied to the presidency itself—like preexisting real estate, licensing, or resort fees.
The Ethics Case
Ethics experts say one thing is clear: Trump is in a class of his own when it comes to monetizing public office. Fred Wertheimer, a leading ethics advocate, calls his level of profiteering unprecedented in modern American politics.
But despite intense scrutiny, no one knows the full extent of Trump’s earnings from the presidency. Norm Eisen, a government ethics lawyer, noted, “We don’t know the full amounts.” Robert Weissman of Public Citizen agrees: “We will never really know.”
Kirkpatrick’s “The Number” pulls together a clearer picture of Trump’s financial gains tied to holding public office. But with gaps in transparency and blurred boundaries between personal and official revenue—plus assets that may collapse under closer inspection—the full tally remains elusive.
It’s an eye-opening read that underscores how uniquely intertwined Trump’s business and political worlds have become.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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