Trump’s Wealth Claims Don’t Add Up
Donald Trump, reality show host and real estate tycoon, has been on a media tour touting his alleged qualifications as a presidential candidate. While his promotion of the discredited conspiracy theory that President Obama was not born in America has received the most scrutiny, Trump’s claims about his wealth have flown under the radar.
A CNN analysis finds that Trump’s insistence that he is worth billions don’t stand up to scrutiny.
* Trump said his golf course complex was worth $360 million, yet three years before it was only valued at $30 million.
* Trump said he was paid $400,000 in speaking fees — but he included $600,000 he was paid for an advertising campaign as part of that payment.
* Trump claims his net worth is anywhere from $3.5 billion to $7 billion. In fact, bank analysis of Trump’s assets values them at $788 million to $ 1.2 billion.
In the video segment below, CNN’s Eliot Spitzer probes further into Trump’s money claims.
Trump image via Gage Skidmore
© 2011 The National Chronicle