President-elect Donald Trump's financial comeback continues to make headlines ahead of his inauguration, as his net worth surged from $6.2 billion to just over $7 billion on January 13, according to Forbes. This marks a dramatic turnaround from his financial standing in January 2021.
Trump's significant growth in net worth, fueled by his media company, underscores his unique position as both a politician and businessman.
Why It Matters
Trump's financial trajectory reflects how unstable the overlap between politics and business can be. His net worth stood at $2.3 billion when he left office in January 2021, per Bloomberg reporting—a steep drop attributed to businesses severing ties with him following the Capitol riot and the broader economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The incoming President's recent financial gains highlight the role of his majority stake in the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, which has helped propel his wealth to higher levels. It also underpins Trump's ongoing political influence and ability to fund expansive campaign operations without relying heavily on external donations.
What To Know
According to Forbes, Trump's net worth jumped by over $865 million on January 13, following a 20 percent rally in TMTG's stock price, which closed at $42.91. This marks the company's strongest trading performance in months and coincides with heightened anticipation around Trump's second term.
Trump transferred his stake in TMTG to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust in December 2024. While his son, Donald Trump Jr., serves as the trustee, Trump remains the sole beneficiary, retaining indirect control over the asset. His media company has seen dramatic valuation swings since its March 2024 public debut, with its stock price fluctuating between $12.15 and $66.22 over the past year, per Forbes.
Trump's net worth in 2024 had dropped to $2.5 billion by January due to ongoing legal and financial challenges. However, the merger between TMTG and Digital World Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company, in March 2024 boosted his financial situation. This deal alone doubled his net worth by a few billion in less than a week.
What People Are Saying
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek in December: "Shares of DJT have been one of the most fascinating business stories of the last year. It's been an epic back-and-forth in buying and selling, largely centered around Trump's election chances. Not selling his shares and instead putting them in a revocable trust ensures a mass sell-off caused by him unloading his shares won't occur but also limits his ability to do anything with them while in the White House. It's the best scenario for investors and the only scenario for the incoming President."
President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social this past March: "Through hard work, talent, and luck, I currently have almost five hundred million dollars in cash, a substantial amount of which I intended to use in my campaign for president."
What's Next
As Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, his financial holdings and business interests are expected to come under renewed scrutiny.
The role of TMTG and its influence on his presidency will likely be a focal point, particularly as his media platform continues to be a hub for his political messaging.
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