THE APPRENTICE
Trump got his start on TV as a wrestling character on the World
Wrestling Entertainment’s Wrestlemania in the 1980s and never
looked back, eventually starring in a reality TV show about his
business called, The Apprentice. Trump’s name recognition
skyrocketed after The Apprentice aired in 2004.
In each season, more than a dozen contestants vied for a sixfigure
paying managerial position at one of Trump's many
companies. A press statement issued by the Trump presidential
campaign states that during the ten-year history of The
Apprentice and its spin-off series The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump
made a total of $214 million.
THE TRUMP BRAND
If you want to understand Trump the billionaire you have to look
past Trump the real estate investor. You have to think of Trump as
a brand name, just like Coca-Cola Co. or Nike Inc.
Many of the properties that bear the Trump name aren't
actually owned by the mogul. The Trump Organization has been
known to partner with developers in licensing deals. In such
an arrangement, a developer pays Trump a licensing fee. In
exchange, they're given permission to brand their building with
the Trump name and logo.
Trump benefits by receiving a regular stream of royalties, while
the developer can increase the rates she charges because
the Trump name signifies high quality and luxury. According
to Trump, his real estate licensing deals, intellectual property,
brands, and branded development is worth more than $3.3 billion.
However, Forbes pegs this number at around $253 million.
In addition to real estate, Trump has lent his name to a diverse list
of products ranging from mattresses and apparel to fragrances
and furniture. These licensing deals contribute to Trump's
annual income. In 2014 alone, Trump brought in $3.25 million via
consumer products licensing.
Trump found another way to monetize his outspoken nature —
by charging speaking fees for conferences and other functions.
Between May 2014 to March 2015, he spoke at several
engagements and charged as much as $450,000 for each
presentation. Overall speaking engagements contributed $1.75
million to Trump's income during that period alone.
108 The TRUMP RALLY Publication