No matter what happens in this year’s presidential election, ex-President Donald Trump is unlikely to retire. If he loses, you can expect him to keep promoting his brand and businesses even as he faces several legal battles. He might not work full-time, but he’ll probably stay busy trying to build wealth — partly because he’ll need that wealth to fight the legal battles.
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Financially, Trump has plenty of money to retire on, at least on paper. The latest estimate from Forbes, issued in early May, pegs Trump’s net worth at $7.5 billion. But the vast majority of that — $5.6 billion — came from Trump Media and Technology Group, parent company of Truth Social, the ex-president’s social media company.
Truth Media’s valuation soared earlier this year when its shares went public under the ticker symbol DJT. But the stock tanked on May 30, after Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial in New York City.
The stock plunged again in after-hours trading on June 18, after Trump Media said its registration of additional shares had been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, CNBC reported. What it means is that up to 14,375,000 additional shares would be issuable upon the exercise of those warrants. In a prospectus, Trump Media said there could be “a significant decline in the public trading price” of the stock if warrant holders sold their shares or there was a “perception that these sales could occur,” according to CNBC.
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Trump Media shares closed near $31 on Tuesday, down from a 2024 high of $97.54 in February. The stock isn’t exactly a safe bet because the company behind it continues to lose money. It posted a net loss of $327.6 million during the quarter ended March 31, CNBC reported. A year earlier, Trump Media lost $210,300.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Trump Media, Trump himself will need to rely heavily on his other assets whether he retires or not. According to Forbes, here are the other assets contributing to Trump’s net worth:
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Real estate ($1.1 billion): Trump’s major real estate holdings include numerous office and residential buildings in New York City as well as various private residences, hotels and other holdings.
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Clubs and resorts ($810 million): These include Mar-A-Lago in Florida along with golf courses and resorts.
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Cash/liquid assets ($410 million)
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Other assets ($100 million): Trump’s other holdings include a licensing and management business, loans to his children and others, aircraft, cryptocurrency and pensions.
Forbes estimated Trump’s legal liabilities at $540 million, but that figure could go up as he navigates future legal tussles in Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia.
There’s always a chance Trump could file for bankruptcy if the costs and damages continue to mount. He has familiarity with that option, having filed for business bankruptcy several times over the last 30-odd years, though he has never filed for personal bankruptcy. As The Hill reported, the former president would have to prove damage amounts surpassing his total net worth to file for personal bankruptcy.
Beyond his assets, Trump also earns money through speaking engagements. In a 2023 personal financial disclosure report filed with the Federal Election Commission, Trump listed more than $5 million in income from speaking engagements during his first couple years after leaving the White House, CNN reported.
Should Trump lose in November, you can expect him to keep pursuing speaking engagements and business opportunities rather than retire altogether. The wild card is how much interest he’ll be able to drum up if he loses a second straight election to President Joe Biden.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If He Retires, What Could Trump’s Financial Life Look Like?
