Many moons before Donald Trump became the President of the United States, he was a leading figure in the real estate industry. It was a career path that he naturally inherited – Donald is the fourth child of the late New York real estate giant Fred Trump.
Following his degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Donald chose to follow in his father’s developer footsteps. The now President previously admitted that he got into real estate with a “small” $1m loan from his father before he joined the company.
Donald managed his father’s vast NYC residential property portfolio before taking control of the business in 1971 and renaming it the Trump Organization. Under his leadership, the family business developed from residential units in Brooklyn and Queens to glamorous Manhattan projects. This saw the birth of Trump Tower, with the President’s former swanky residence being the penthouse suite on the 66th floor of the Trump World Tower. Each bedroom boasts its own private bathroom suite, dressing room and walk-in wardrobe.
Alongside Trump Tower, Donald restored the Commodore Hotel as the Grand Hyatt and expanded his portfolio from Atlantic City, Chicago and Las Vegas to India, Turkey and the Philippines, with casinos, golf courses, hotels, and condominiums.
HELLO! have delved deep into the archives to resurrect a photograph of Donald during his time as a real estate developer. Taken in the 70s, the black-and-white picture captured Donald posing in a suit in his apartment after receiving the news that the Board of Estimate unanimously approved a 40-year tax abatement plan. Under the plan, Donald would purchase and refurbish the Commodore Hotel. In return for his $10 million dollar purchase and up to $100 million face-lifting investment, he would have no real estate taxes for 40 years.
© The Washington Post via Getty ImToday, Donald and Melania also own a palatial beach retreat in the luxurious Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. In an interview with HELLO!, Melania described the 22-acre oceanfront property as a very happy house, saying, “It’s where we got married, which was such a big event, so it is a very special place for us.”
© Getty ImagesThe property was built by philanthropist and socialist Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1927, and features rare marble, carved stone, gold leaf and eclectic antiques. Donald purchased the 126-room property in 1985, and transformed it into an ultra-exclusive members-only club.
© POOL/AFP via Getty Images“We have our own special wing,” Melania told HELLO!. “It’s very beautiful and it’s very private. It’s very comfortable because you have everything you need. It has tennis, a beach with a swimming pool, an amazing spa. You can really enjoy yourself and everything is right here. There is a beautiful patio and dining room and it’s very elegant.”
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