A brief history of Donald J Trump

Donald Trump is certainly one of the most iconic personalities of our time and now that he has entered into the race for the United States presidency, his impact upon our culture is more undeniable than ever before.

Early Years and Education

Donald John Trump was born in 1946 in Queens, New York. His father Frederick was a local real estate developer who enjoyed a moderate amount of success and it has been argued that Donald was inspired at an early age to follow a similar path. He was enrolled at a New York State military academy at the age of 13 and he performed well until he graduated in 1964. He then studied finance at the University of Pennsylvania and obtained a degree in the field of economics in 1968.

Entry into the Real Estate Market

Soon after graduation, Mr. Trump followed his father's footsteps into the booming real estate market. He initially worked for Elizabeth Trump & Son (the family company) and by 1971, he was able to obtain managing control of the firm. It was during this time that Donald began to expand the business and make influential Wall Street connections. These would later prove to be vital to his future success. Such contacts also allowed him to undertake many large building projects throughout Manhattan and it was not long before Trump buildings were known for their use of iconic architectural designs, luxurious furnishings and their grandiose nature.

Further Growth and Expansion

One of the major turning points of his career was when he capitalized on the bankruptcy of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad; securing its former property as the future home of a large convention center. This would eventually become known as the Jacob Javits Center.

However, it was not long before Trump and his father faced litigation claiming that discriminatory practices took place within the firm in reference of the race of tenants. Trump publicly denied all allegations and the case was eventually dropped in 1975 with a small settlement. Still, such practices would continue to follow him throughout his career (and even during the 2016 presidential election). The following years saw further expansion and success. Some notable examples here include the acquisition of the Commodore Hotel, a licensing agreement with the Hyatt Hotel Corporation and the construction of Trump Tower in 1982. Trump Tower could arguably be called his most well-known real estate venture.

A Foray into the Casino Industry and Business Problems

Donald Trump began setting his sights on the lucrative gambling industry during the early 1980s. He acquired a piece of lucrative property in Atlantic City in 1980 and by 1984, Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino was opened at a cost of $250 million dollars. Other ventures included Taj Mahal at Atlantic City, Trump Parc, Trump's Castle and the Plaza Hotel.

Trump continued to diversify into other ventures such as an airline known as Trump Shuttle (formerly Eastern Airlines Shuttle). However, Trump was not immune to economic downturns within the real estate market. By 1990, it was estimated that his net worth had fallen to $500 million dollars. There were even some doubts as to whether or not his parent company (Trump Organization) would remain solvent. After shouldering a deficit said to be as high as $900 million, he was eventually able to supersede such financial doldrums and maintain his real estate empire.

Entrance into the Public and Political Spotlight

Donald Trump became a household name thanks to television programs such as The Apprentice (2004) and his popular catch phrase "You're fired!". While his foray into this world was limited, he developed a keen eye for politics. He expressed doubts concerning president Barack Obama as early as 2011 and he became famous for questioning the validity of his birth certificate. In 2016, Donald Trump announced his plans to run for the republican presidential candidacy. After overcoming others within the party, he was nominated to run against his democratic rival Senator Hillary Clinton.

While Mr. Trump continues to be associated with a fair amount of controversy, there is no doubt that he is one of the most recognizable figures within the United States today.