Donald Trump – Trump Enterprises

Donald Trump, known as “The Donald” to millions, is one of the most successful business executives in the world and is the CEO of Trump Enterprises. In addition to his properties, casinos, hotels, and other real estate, Trump hosts and is the executive producer of the reality TV series The Apprentice. His trademark phrase on the show, “You’re Fired!” has become a catchphrase used across the world. He also owns the Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA pageants.

Trump got his start in business from his father’s company, the Trump Organization. He quickly showed a shrewd eye for business, turning a losing apartment complex into a huge success. He quickly began building a real estate empire and even assisted the city of New York with a project at no cost, taking over a renovation and that was four years off schedule and millions over-budget. He completed it within six months with money left over.

His empire, however, would suffer the early 90’s, when a recession caused Trump to declare business bankruptcy and almost personal bankruptcy due to financing his Taj Mahal casino on high-interest bonds. His debtors, however, opted to restructure his debt and lower the interest in exchange for 50% ownership of the casino. He was also forced to give up 49% ownership of the Trump Plaza Hotel. By 1994, however, Trump had managed to pay off much of his debts, although he still battled bankruptcy.

Trump combined his casinos into the Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, a publicly held company, in 1995, but by 2004, he was forced yet again to restructure his debts and reduce his ownership to less than 30%. It was during this time that Trump became host and executive producer of The Apprentice, a reality show on which contestants fought for a one-year contract as Trump’s business apprentice. The show became an instant success, and profits from The Apprentice helped Trump eliminate even more of his debt and bring his company out of bankruptcy. Trump also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for the show.

In his personal life, Trump has also faced challenges. His marriage to Ivana Trump and their subsequent divorce due to his affair with Marla Maples were highly publicized. Maples and Trump married in 1993, a year after the divorce, but split in 1999. Trump married again in 2005, making Melania Knauss the third Mrs. Trump. He currently has five children: Donald Junior, Ivanka, and Eric from his first marriage, Tiffany from his second, and he and Melania recently had a son, Barron, in 2006. Both Donald Junior and Ivanka are involved in Trump Enterprises and The Apprentice

Donald Trump received much of his business sense from his father, Fred Trump, who was forced by his father’s death to help support a large family. His father succeeded in producing affordable housing. Donald Trump was brought up assisting his father with his business ventures. Donald set a goal to be involved in real estate in a larger scale than his father.Trump started a billion dollar empire and is now also on his own hit TV show called the Apprentice. Donald Trump owns over 100 businesses.

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