On page five of Donald Trump’s 1987 book “Trump: The Art
of the Deal,” he says: “Sometimes it pays to be a little wild.” Apparently
people believed advice like that could make them rich—the book sold more than a
million copies. But as The Donald climbs to dizzying heights in presidential
polls, it’s a good time to take a look at the real—and decidedly
non-wild—secrets of his success. Behold Trumponomics in 10 easy
steps.
1.
Be born rich. Mr. Trump’s father, Fred
C. Trump, built a real-estate empire after World War II and in 1999 left an
estimated $250 million estate. One of his success
secrets was taking advantage of Federal Housing Administration financing to
build cheap houses in Brooklyn and Queens. The golden government apple didn’t
fall far from the tree.
2.
Own politicians. In 1974 at age 28, Mr.
Trump officially took over the family business, the Trump Organization. His
father was a buddy of a guy named Abe Beame, who ended up mayor of New York in
the mid-1970s. That proved good for the Trump bottom line.
In the 1980s Donald Trump bankrolled people campaigning
for seats on the New York City Board of Estimate. Surprise: The board decided
land-use matters. Mr. Trump is one of the top political donors in New York
state, according to the New York Public Interest Research Group, and Democratic
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who received $64,000, is one happy recipient. Mr. Trump said
in a July interview that “when you give, they do whatever the hell you want them
to do. As a businessman, I need that.” As the saying goes, an honest politician
is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.
3.
Get tax breaks. Mr. Trump’s first big
real-estate win in the 1970s was converting New York’s old Commodore Hotel into
a Grand Hyatt. His dad’s friend Mayor Beame kindly extended a 40-year tax
abatement worth $60 million in its first decade. In 2011 Mr. Trump told the Los
Angeles Times that someone had once asked him how he had finagled a 40-year
abatement, and Mr. Trump said he replied: “Because I didn’t ask for
50.”
Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue has enjoyed a $164 million
property-tax exemption good through next year. But someone must pay taxes, and
oh, that’s right, New York is ranked No. 1 for worst taxes, with an average
burden of $9,718—almost 40% more than the national average, according to an
analysis by WalletHub.
4.
Monetize addiction. Here’s where it
gets tricky. Protected cash flow from apartments and office space is nice, and
the Trump name attracts tenants willing to blow cash. But there must be another
way to extract money from people. Fortunately, gambling became legal in New
Jersey in 1976. Voilà: Harrah’s at Trump Plaza opened in 1984 and quickly
shortened its name to Trump Plaza (hey, it was the ’80s, and the name
said classy to
high rollers). The casino closed last year. Gambling is a tax on people who
don’t understand statistics. The Donald must have earned high marks in stats 101
at Wharton.
5.
Go in debt up to our eyeballs. Another gem from “The Art of the Deal”: Most people
“think small, because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making
decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage.”
Mr. Trump’s third Atlantic City casino, the 17-acre Trump Taj Mahal, opened in
1990. But Mr. Trump loaded up $3 billion in debt from an expensive takeover,
construction and cost overruns. Which brings us to . . .
6.
Stick banks and bondholders with disasters. When the Trump Taj Mahal opened, the New York Times
quoted gaming publisher Al Glasgow as saying, “Will the Taj work? It can’t miss.
It’s like spitting and missing the floor.’’ Well, this is awkward. His company
filed for bankruptcy in 1991, tagging enormous losses on banks and bondholders.
Mr. Trump, for his part, gave up half the company and his 282-foot yacht. (Not
to worry, he still has other boats.)
By 2004 Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts filed for
bankruptcy. The company had issued more than $1.8 billion in debt, much of it in
junk bonds, whose holders now controlled the company’s fate. In exchange for new
debt with a lower interest rate and a personal infusion of $72 million, Mr.
Trump’s equity stake shrunk to 27% from 47%.
7.
Churn out books. Pop business books are
often like tomes fromDeepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle or other gurus. You read them
in a flash, feel inspired for 24 hours and then days later can’t recall a single
worthwhile syllable. Mr. Trump mastered this art: “Trump: Think Like a
Billionaire” (2004); “Trump 101: The Way to Success” (2006); “Midas Touch”
(2011). It’s hard to find anyone who profited from these books, other than the
guy with the I’m-a-serious-thinker expression on the
cover.
8.
Franchise your name. With banks and bondholders feeling a little
Trump-toasted, megadeals were shelved for a while in the 1990s. But the best
leverage is putting up no money at all. Mr. Trump franchised his name to condo
hotels and other real-estate projects in New York, New Jersey, Florida and
wherever else someone was willing to pony up the money and pay a licensing fee.
So he has added a mortgage company, real-estate brokerage, education firm,
bottled water, vodka and, yes, even the “Success by
Trump” fragrance.
9.
Channel your inner Kim
Kardashian. With so many Trump
properties and golf courses and “The Apprentice” television show, it’s hard for
most people to remember how Donald Trump got so rich in the first place. In the
Kardashian and Nicky Hilton tradition, Mr. Trump is now famous because he is
famous.
10.
Run for office. His presidential
aspirations seem to be a vanity run gone wild. But as students of the Trumpian
Way know: Sometimes it pays to be a little wild. And when it doesn’t? Go to step
two and start over.
First The Donald has not climbed to dizzing heights he polls in the mid twenties about the same number of pubs that identify with the tea party strongly. Hell William he says everything you want to hear. But what makes him dangerous to both parties is his crossover on taxes, inequality etc. If that catches hold with the Occupy movement he could very well be the next president.
ReplyDeleteReading the article complete with quotes and snapshots of a varied career, I am reminded as a foreigner how typical this story is to outsiders. Money, questionable talent and no sense of financial responsibility has marked the mans career since day one.
ReplyDeleteBy being himself, Trump has convinced an already gullible nation that he is the messiah. Everything about the story screams what foreigners have thought for decades Flash and loud; gaudy and tinsel town theatricality and the whole package contained within a canister of hot air. It is not until the lid is removed that the staleness of the air is evident.
Just lying in bed, insomnia a constant companion, gives one an opportunity to think about recent history. I think of Nixon who besmirched the office of President. Of Agnew who was forced to resign and then of Ford, an honorable man who had to live with the smell during a Presidency he did not covet and one in fact he probably wished he had not inherited. At least Ford will be remembered as the man who granted a Presidential pardon to Nixon; an act which I for one can never reconcile with political correctness or common sense.
In closing, can you not see what your nation faces? Can you not see the viable alternatives around you and can you not envisage what the nation will suffer under a President with a history of Bankruptcy and second rate showbiz experience?. I suppose one consolation is the recent history of the Presidency when a B grade actor made a pretty reasonable fist of the job. And a small plug for one of the “viable alternatives” Ben Carson, a man short on political skills but long on vision and able to command the attention of an audience. I have a recording of his “Breakfast speech” some months ago to an audience and a nation who had previously heard little about him. This man in my humble view is your best choice if you support the Republican viewpoint. Carson would also be a reasonable choice if you are an independent, I have heard nothing to date which would frighten the horses in either stable.
I have done that which I promised I would not do, I have ventured into a debate which is none of my business. Forgive me please, the temptation is simply too much to resist and the possible outcome too ghastly to contemplate.
Cheers then from Aussie
Not to fear K.
DeleteWith over a year before the election and a candidate that cannot keep his mouth shut. Reality will set in. The outcome is preordained.