Trump’s Business Empire Is Worth at Least $1.2 Billion Since He Left Office

(Bloomberg) — Former President Donald Trump values his business empire at a minimum of $1.2 billion, a federal document released Friday showed, as he cashed in from speaking engagements and ventures such as digital trading cards after he left office.

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His empire generated at least $282 million over 2021 and most of 2022, according to the 101-page financial disclosure report filed with the Federal Election Commission as he campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Exact figures are difficult to ascertain — both because many of Trump’s holdings are in illiquid real estate assets and because federal disclosures require reporting only in broad ranges, with the top one over $50 million. There were 19 assets Trump valued in that range, including his golf clubs in Virginia and Turnberry, Scotland.

Still, the filing showed that Trump, who highlighted his business experience during his first White House campaign, remains a wealthy man and has found ways to profit from his political career during his post-presidency. He made as much as $1 million from selling the digital trading cards featuring cartoon images of him in superhero poses.

The value of his holdings in Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., the parent company of his Twitter-like Truth Social website, was $5 million to $25 million. Trump owns 90% of the company, which is seeking regulatory approval to be acquired by the blank-check company Digital World Acquisition Corp.

Trump didn’t disclose those who paid him more than $5 million in speaking fees. In 2016, he criticized his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for earning millions for giving speeches to corporate clients such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc., payments she made public. Candidates are required to disclose any source paying them $5,000 or more during the filing period.

Trump listed debts totaling at least $225 million. That included mortgages of more than $50 million he took on Trump Tower in New York and Trump National Doral in Florida in 2022 from Axos Bank. He paid off at least $165 million in debts, including loans from Deutsche Bank on Trump Tower and the former Trump International Hotel in Washington, which he sold.

Melania Trump, who made little outside income while she was first lady, has also fared well after leaving the White House. She reported between $1 million to $5 million through royalties from her modeling career and from a line of

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Owners of small businesses say they feel left out of B.C.’s budget

When Alper Tasdurmaz opened his Turkish-style bakery in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood in 2018, business was good. So good, in fact, he was able to open another location along Broadway.

But a series of unfortunate events followed: the COVID-19 pandemic, rapidly rising costs associated with running a business, and the construction in front of his second shop have created significant challenges.

That’s why he and many other small business owners were disappointed when B.C.’s budget came out on Tuesday. 

“All the budget goes to some other places but not any part of it to the small and medium business,” he said. “It was really frustrating.”

Chris Jones, who owns and operates two restaurants in Victoria, B.C., says he, like Tasdurmaz, would have liked to see something in the budget offering relief to businesses that are still recovering from pandemic losses while simultaneously experiencing increased costs. 

He said food prices are up 11.4 per cent and passing that cost on to customers wouldn’t work. 

“There’s going to be a threshold of sticker shock for our consumer where 11.4 per cent on a $17 plate of food is $2,” he told On The Island host Gregor Craigie. “Increasing our menu prices $2 per year is not sustainable.”

The budget focused heavily on rebates and tax credits to address affordability for individuals and families.

But, Tasmaduraz says, he pays taxes too, and his business is his livelihood. 

“We are helping the economy too in B.C., but we cannot get any supports from the local government.”

Increased carbon tax a particular concern

Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce CEO Cory Redekop says the chamber had previously asked the province for help lowering the costs associated with doing business in B.C. 

“The rising costs we are all seeing in our personal lives are also hitting our small businesses, and making it harder and harder to for them to succeed,” Redekop said in a press release.

“This budget missed an opportunity to underpin B.C. small businesses as they head into a time of economic headwinds.”

Of particular concern, according to the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, was the increased carbon tax.

Beginning April 1, the carbon tax will increase by $15 per tonne annually, until it hits $170 in 2030. This applies to the purchase and use of fossil fuels — which Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Fiona Famulak said will hit small businesses hard. 

“This is going

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