How much money President Trump and his family have made - Planet Money Recap

Podcast: Planet Money

Published: 2026-01-14

Duration: 31 minutes

Guests: David Kirkpatrick

Summary

Donald Trump and his family have reportedly made nearly $4 billion from various ventures during his presidency, with significant gains from international deals, merchandise, and cryptocurrency.

What Happened

David Kirkpatrick from The New Yorker discusses how President Donald Trump and his family have made almost $4 billion during Trump's presidency. Kirkpatrick highlights that during Trump's first term, the family refrained from foreign deals due to potential conflicts of interest, but in the second term, they fully engaged in international business, leading to substantial financial gains.

Trump's financial situation was precarious before his second term due to declining income from licensing and endorsements and significant legal challenges. However, within six months of starting his second term, his financial standing improved dramatically, largely attributed to business deals that likely wouldn't have occurred without his presidency.

The podcast examines specific ways the Trump family has capitalized on the presidency, including the sale of merchandise like Trump sneakers and Bibles, which brought in $27.7 million. They also found a way to use campaign funds for personal legal defense, generating an additional $100 million.

Another significant source of income was Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, which contributed $25 million to the family's earnings. Lawsuits against media companies and media deals added another $91 million to their coffers.

In the hospitality sector, properties like Mar-a-Lago and international hotel projects in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf collectively brought in $271 million. The Trump Organization's ventures in the Persian Gulf were particularly lucrative due to favorable terms that are unlikely to have been offered if Trump were not president.

Cryptocurrency investments have also been a major revenue stream, with NFT sales and a stablecoin project with the UAE generating hundreds of millions. The Trump family has profited from crypto ventures by leveraging the president's name to instill trust in these assets.

The podcast concludes with a broader discussion on how Trump's financial gains during his presidency compare to those of past U.S. presidents and other world leaders, noting that Trump's level of personal profit while in office is unprecedented in the U.S.

Key Insights