How President Trump Makes His Money: Real Estate, Crypto, and Branding (npr.org)
Overview & Context
In this June 26, 2025 article, NPR’s Stephen Fowler details how President Donald Trump earns his money during his second term—highlighting income streams that mix traditional real estate with aggressive branding and cryptocurrency ventures.
Key Financial Highlights
- Trump reported over $630 million in income last year.
- Roughly three-quarters of that came from hotels and golf courses, especially Mar-a-Lago.
- He earned $57 million from cryptocurrency sales, primarily through the World Liberty Financial crypto venture.
- Trump made:
- $2.8 million from Trump Watches
- $2.5 million from Trump Sneakers and Perfumes
- $1.3 million from the God Bless the USA Bible (includes the Constitution, Declaration, and Pledge)
Trump’s total reported assets exceed $1.6 billion, spread across real estate, investment accounts, and newly branded products.
New Ventures
- Trump Mobile, a phone service and smartphone brand, was launched recently. While not directly operated by Trump’s company, it uses his name under a licensing deal.
- The “T1” gold smartphone sells for $499.
- A cellular plan named “The 47 Plan” references Trump’s status as the 45th and 47th president.
Ethics & Concerns
- Ethics watchdogs and some Democrats express concern about potential conflicts of interest—especially related to his crypto ventures, which coincide with active federal legislation.
- The White House maintains that Trump’s assets are held in a revocable trust and that he complies with all ethics laws.
Trump as a Brand
- Branding expert Robert Passikoff compares Trump to a “Martha Stewart of the conservative right.”
- Products like Trump Bibles and sneakers serve more as political symbols than consumer goods.
- Trump’s brand, once a symbol of luxury, is now a statement of ideological allegiance.
“They see these things as being symbols… to show their friends, their family and the world: ‘This is who I am and what I stand for.’” — Robert Passikoff
Citation
NPR. (2025, June 26). How President Trump makes his money: Real estate, hospitality and his name. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5446114/trump-wealth-business-crypto-brand