Donald Trump is the name which many people associate with wealth, power and controversy. Prior to his entry into politics, he had made a mark for himself in real estate and reality television. This article looks at the diverse career of Donald Trump before becoming the 45th President of the United States as his journey from a real estate tycoon to a reality TV star is documented.
Early Life and Education
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York City to Frederick C. and Mary MacLeod Trump. His father, a successful real estate developer influenced him greatly towards this career path. For high school education, he went to New York Military Academy where he showed leadership skills. He then proceeded to Fordham University before transferring to Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with an economics degree in 1968.
Joining the Family Business
Upon leaving Wharton College, Trump took up a job with Elizabeth Trump & Son that was owned by his father in property development specifically focusing on low income housing for families living in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Within no time however, Trump’s ambition and business acumen was evident as he undertook bigger projects while renaming it The Trump Organization.
Expanding into Manhattan
To begin with his initial project within Manhattan was reconstruction of Commodore Hotel which later became Grand Hyatt New York in 1980 jointly done with Hyatt hotel chain; this enterprise was profitable establishing him as major stakeholder of New York City’s real estate scene. Following this success story, some significant projects followed including building Fifth Avenue based signature property named “Trump Tower”.
Building A Real Estate Empire
In the course of 1980s and 1990s decades, trump grew his empire by developing properties and acquiring others around USA. Some notable ones include;
- Trump Plaza: A luxury residential building located at Upper East Side, Manhattan.
- Trump World Tower: A 72-story residential skyscraper across from UN Headquarters.
- Trump International Hotel and Tower: A mixed-use skyscraper situated at Columbus Circle.
- Trump Taj Mahal: A casino resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey which was launched in 1990.
Financial Struggles and Comebacks
Despite his successes, Trump’s career in real estate was not without its challenges. In the early 1990s, there was a severe recession and he had borrowed excessively leading to major financial problems for his business empire. Some of his facilities such as Trump Taj Mahal were declared bankrupt. Nonetheless, he managed to recover by restructuring his debts and exploring new businesses. By late 90s, he had restored most of his wealth and continued to forge ahead with new projects.
Trump’s Foray into Casinos and Resorts
Furthermore, Trump ventured into the gambling industry specifically casinos and resorts. His Atlantic City based assets including Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino; Trump Marina; Trump Taj Mahal were widely recognized as they formed part of gaming industry within the city. Although these investments initially made him lots of money they eventually ran into great financial difficulties hence bankruptcy filing on several occasions.
Branding and Licensing
One of Trump’s most notable business strategies was his concentration on branding. He licensed his name to a range of goods and services, such as hotels, golf courses, steaks and even bottled water. This saw the Trump brand being synonymous with luxury and opulence thereby earning him huge sums of money through licensing deals.
Transition Into Television
“The Apprentice” marked Trump’s leap into reality TV in 2004. The show involved contestants competing for a management job within Trump’s organization. Apart from the larger than life character associated with the show which made it an instant hit, Trump used his catchphrase “You are Fired.” In addition to this, “The Apprentice” increased Trump’s public stature and established him as a cultural icon. It aired for 14 seasons and had various spin-offs as well as international versions.
Success Of “The Apprentice”
“The Apprentice” was much more than just another television program; it was actually a phenomenon. On a weekly basis, millions of individuals followed the show which portrayed what could be described as both leadership skills that were charismatic on one hand, while drawing millions of viewers every week who were interested in gaining insights about how he managed to transform ordinary businesses into gold mines by simply applying some basic principles which he himself has borrowed from other prominent entrepreneurs like Bill Gates among others.
Books and Media Presence
Trump also took advantage of his fame by writing several books. His first book called “The Art of the Deal” published in 1987 became popular hence shedding more light on his business approaches as well personal philosophy. Other books that followed include “Surviving at the Top”, “The Art of the Comeback”, and “Trump: The America We Deserve”. These books enhanced his brand further while giving him an opportunity to express his thoughts on business matters including leadership.
Trump University
In 2005, Donald Trump launched an online education company known as Trump University that offered courses in real estate, asset management, entrepreneurship and wealth creation. Trump University was however faced with serious legal challenges after promising its students a lot more than it could deliver. In 2010, the university finally closed shop while in the year 2016, Trump agreed to settle the various lawsuits for twenty five million dollars without accepting any guilt.
Philanthropy and Public Life
Trump participated in philanthropic activities during his career. He made donations to many charitable organizations and initiatives such as hospitals, schools and even veterans’ groups. The Donald J. Trump Foundation served as a platform of giving back to society through charity and other good works. Unfortunately, this foundation was dogged by controversies that led to its eventually being dissolved at the end of last year.
Transition To Politics
Trump’s political career started long before he ran for presidency. He has been active politically over years starting off with an attempted run for presidency on the Reform Party ticket in 2000 before officially announcing his candidature as a Republican nominee for president of United States in June 2015. This type of campaign characterized by unconventional styles along with unguarded speeches resonated well with segments of American citizens who identified themselves with it.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s pre-political career was characterized by audacious exploits, significant triumphs, and memorable defeats. His childhood in his family’s real estate business to a global brand and reality television star is a proof of his ambition, resoluteness and ability to refashion. It was one of the most bizarre journey in history when he moved from being a property magnate and media celebrity to the United State president as it shows he was a very complicated individual.
Comprehending Trump’s life before politics can be very instructive for understanding what defines his approach to leadership and public life itself. For this reason, he has been one of the most fascinating people alive with his tale of desire, notoriety, incessant chase after success.
