# Donald Trump: How did such a nutcase get so rich? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903 "2015-06-30T21:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/21 "2015-07-02T00:59:59Z")
A good article detailing the background of the Trump family. > **[How the Trumps struck Klondike gold: Donald's grandfather gave birth to...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200169/How-Trumps-struck-Klondike-gold-Donalds-grandfather-gave-birth-familys-glittering-empire-seedy-restaurant-catering-loose-moralled-men-women-seeking-fortune.html)** > > Thousands of miles from the Trump Tower, Donald's grandfather, Friedrich Trump carved out an opportunistic fortune that gave rise to the family's empire, known today the world over. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/22 "2015-07-02T01:42:50Z")
Trump reminds me of Pete Helms, the character played by Eddie Albert in the movie “Head Office”. Helms tells another person, while flying over the city in his helicopter, “I came here with just $43 million in my pocket,” he spreads his arms, meaning the entire city, “Now I own all this!” Of course, at the end of the movie, Helms gets his comeuppance, just as Trump has, and will again. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/23 "2015-07-02T05:41:57Z")
I also forgot to mention that he used eminent domain and other tools of state violence and government favors to get sweet deals on seizing land from little old ladies and families to use in his developments. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/24 "2015-07-02T06:44:17Z")
Also, a lot of his nuttiest comments are crowd pleasers among a certain set. Presumably he thinks this run for office will leverage his brand. Plenty of gullible people are susceptible to bravado. He may be a nut or he may be calculating. Or both I suppose. I’m honestly not sure how this could be determined. We don’t have decades of experience with Presidential candidates who run for commercial rather than political reasons. It’s a recent development. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/25 "2015-07-02T07:41:04Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > “I came here with just $43 million in my pocket,” he spreads his arms, meaning the entire city, “Now I own all this!” 😃 There’s a somewhat similar line I heard somewhere, pretty sure it was from a (real) commencement speech at some business school or another. Rich guy goes “I used to head down to the junkyard, buy crooked nails for 1 cent each, straighten 'em out, and resell 'em for 2 cents. Did that, sixteen hour swifts, day in and day out, seven days a week… Until, one day, my uncle passed away and I inherited 500 million dollars.” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/26 "2015-07-02T15:07:32Z")
Speaking from the Right… does ANYBODY think Trump believes a word he’s saying? There’s not a chance in Hell he’s actually anti-abortion. There’s not a chance he actually wants to keep illegal aliens out of the country (who do you think is doing all the real work on the buildings he puts up? Who do you think empties his wastebaskets?) And there’s very little chance he’s actually running for President, let alone that he’d win. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/27 "2015-07-02T16:58:42Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Speaking from the Right… does ANYBODY think Trump believes a word he’s saying? > > There’s not a chance in Hell he’s actually anti-abortion. There’s not a chance he actually wants to keep illegal aliens out of the country (who do you think is doing all the real work on the buildings he puts up? Who do you think empties his wastebaskets?) And there’s very little chance he’s actually running for President, let alone that he’d win. I could say the same thing speaking from the left. Yet he currently polls in 2nd place behind Jeb. US politicians typically aim for 50.01% (speaking figuratively). Trump can do just fine with 10% or even 5% support. Heck if 1% idolize him and 30% respect his business skills it’s a total win for his brand. I honestly don’t know whether he’s a nutcase or not. I tend to think that blowhards are phonies but who knows what lies beneath the mask? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/28 "2015-07-02T17:03:28Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I could say the same thing speaking from the left. Yet he currently polls in 2nd place behind Jeb. Quite so… and 4 years ago, Herman Cain was briefly a top contender in the polls. So was Michelle Bachman. So was Rick Perry. But in the end, they all tanked, and the GOP Establishment candidate won going away. Right now, Trump’s standing is due solely to name recognition. He can’t and won’t climb higher in the polls. And I don’t think he’s truly running anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/29 "2015-07-02T17:48:19Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Speaking from the Right… does ANYBODY think Trump believes a word he’s saying? I do. Nobody running for president believes _everything_ they’re saying (unless they’re really good at self-delusion) but I’ll bet he believes in a lot of it. > [@](#): > > There’s not a chance he actually wants to keep illegal aliens out of the country (who do you think is doing all the real work on the buildings he puts up? Who do you think empties his wastebaskets?) If there were no illegal immigrants, then the pay scale for these jobs would rise, and some people who are currently unemployed/underemployed or on welfare would do them. People did these jobs before illegal immigrants flooding the country. > [@](#): > > And there’s very little chance he’s actually running for President, let alone that he’d win. I think there’s virtually no chance that he could win. The problem a guy like him has (in addition to the shallow name recognition driven base on his support that you note in your next post) is that if he’s the first choice of (let’s say) 15% of Republicans, then of the remaining 85% he’s not even in the top 10 choices. So he can’t rise above where he is as the field gets narrowed down, as another candidate might. A more conventional candidate can pick up the voters who supported of other candidates when they fade in the polls or drop out of the race. But that doesn’t mean _Trump_ thinks he has no chance to win. As noted previously, a lot of rich and famous people tend to be surrounded by sycophants and in general have an inflated view of their own talents and popularity, and frankly Trump seems worse than most in this regard. I’m guessing he knows that the odds are against him - as they are against almost all candidates at the outset - but rates them a lot higher than you and I rate them. So I guess he’s thinking he can do OK by himself even if he loses (though so far that’s not been working out too well for him) and if he hits the jackpot and wins then all for the better. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/30 "2015-07-02T18:04:47Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Also, chance. The idea that skill, intelligence, and “work ethic” are the main promotors of economic success rather than starting equity and pure chance is not supported by data, it’s just a lie that successful people tell ourselves. Well…Try sitting on your ass doing nothing and see how successful you become. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/31 "2015-07-02T20:41:42Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Well…Try sitting on your ass doing nothing and see how successful you become. You may be confusing necessary and sufficient conditions. Or not: Christy Walton is fantastically successful, or rich anyway. She is the richest woman in the world. Alice Walton, Jacqueline Mars, Forrest Mars and John Mars follow similar money making strategies. [http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/](http://www.forbes.com/billionaires/list/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/32 "2015-07-02T22:39:33Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Well…Try sitting on your ass doing nothing and see how successful you become. Are you serious? If I inherit 10 million dollars and just invest it in conservatively my income would still be for greater than what the salary is of what most people call successful. Of course if _I_ sit on my ass and do nothing I would not be successful. Even with getting off my ass and doing many things I’m not successful; I’m just not that type of person - but that’s another story. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/33 "2015-07-02T23:25:51Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > In addition to the valid points made by many posters above, it’s also worth noting that many celebrities and rich/famous people tend to have a lot of eccentricities. IMO a lot of this has to do with the fact that they tend to be surrounded by sycophants and to be shielded from the impact of societal opinion. As a result, any eccentricities and/or self-aggrandizing tendencies that others might suppress (whether consciously or subconsciously) are enabled to flourish. > > I imagine this accounts in part for Trump’s persona and mindset. There is actually a label for this, “acquired narcissism syndrome” (or similar variants). > **[THE YEAR IN IDEAS: A TO Z.; Acquired Situational Narcissism (Published 2001)](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/09/magazine/the-year-in-ideas-a-to-z-acquired-situational-narcissism.html)** > > Psychiatry Prof Robert B Millman explains his definition of acquired situational narcissism as it affects celebrities, often damaging their personal relationships; photo (The Year in Ideas) (S) ---
**Author:** ![filmstar-en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@filmstar-en](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmstar-en)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/34 "2015-07-02T23:34:25Z")
Trump does seem an unlikely candidate. But then the US Presidential elections do throw up some surprising candidates. Reagan seemed very unlikely, but proved to be skilled enough at learning his lines and keeping to his script. Movie Star, Preppy, Cowboy, College Professor…Tycoon? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/35 "2015-07-03T01:21:55Z")
Reagan was an established politician and labor leader who won two elections for governor of California before he ran for president. It’s not like he walked off a movie set and onto the campaign trail. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/36 "2015-07-03T04:29:03Z")
Trump has always been arrogant and brash, but it’s really just in the last ten or so years that he became a caricature of himself. I remember 15-20 years ago, he was more of a libertarian who sounded more like a Clinton Democrat than anything else. I think he really started to spiral down when he latched on to the “birther” movement. His “feud” with Rosie O’Donnell was another tipping point. For a week, you couldn’t turn on the television without hearing him boast of “taking the cash from her fat ass pockets.” ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/37 "2015-07-03T04:57:24Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > … > One detail that always stuck in my head was that at one point Trump needed to make a loan payment or go into serious default on a loan, I forget whether the loan was on one of his AC properties or not. Fred Trump, the father, walks into the Taj and buys $30 million of casino chips, and walks out with them. Donald Trump then makes a $30 million payment on the loan. The NJ Casino Control Commission made a lot of harrumphing noises, because this kind of thing isn’t allowed, but ultimately they did nothing. > > This kind of shit is why Las Vegas would never let Trump in. > > PS, this was in 1990, before the 1991 events mentioned in the Wiki article. What is the reason for doing it like this, as opposed to just giving or loaning the money to his son? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/38 "2015-07-03T05:05:35Z")
In his book [The Psychopath Test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Psychopath_Test), Jon Ronson demonstrates that many successful businessmen, politicians and military leaders display traits associated with psychopathy. The inability to relate to or empathize with other people opens up a lot of time and energy to focus on what we generally understand to be “success.” I don’t know if Donald Trump is a psychopath, but if he were, it would explain kind of a lot. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/39 "2015-07-03T05:18:20Z")
> [@syncrolecyne](#): > > Trump has always been arrogant and brash, but it’s really just in the last ten or so years that he became a caricature of himself. I remember 15-20 years ago, he was more of a libertarian who sounded more like a Clinton Democrat than anything else. I think he really started to spiral down when he latched on to the “birther” movement. > > His “feud” with Rosie O’Donnell was another tipping point. For a week, you couldn’t turn on the television without hearing him boast of “taking the cash from her fat ass pockets.” Which, of course, was all bluster - he never sued because she could afford the lawyers to grind his hamburger. (She once gave her $10M Target endorsement cheque to charity). In an open lawsuit, all his finances would be open to discovery. Given that casino trick, I doubt the distinction “technically I didn’t go bankrupt” would matter to a jury. Note too, a lot of that dispute was one-sided. O’Donnell was commenting on the Miss Whatever who was accused of entertaining men and women in her hotel room. She tearfully confessed her “we all have our personal demons” and Trump “forgave her” and recanted his firing of her. (As Jon Stewart said 'We all have our personal demons, yes. The difference is my personal demons would pay to watch your personal demons".) O’Donnell merely commented on the hypocrisy of a guy who was divorced several times and cheated on his wife and went bankrupt lecturing someone else on morality and “forgiving” them. It appears she hit a nerve with Trump, who launched into an escalating series of tirades about her being a “degenerate”. The looney-tunes music was playing in the background even back then - he was trying to insult someone for being lesbian without explicitly coming out and trump-eting the homophobia. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2015, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903/40 "2015-07-03T05:42:13Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > What is the reason for doing it like this, as opposed to just giving or loaning the money to his son? I wasn’t familiar with the anecdote but a gift or an interest free loan of that size would have tax implications. (Admittedly, so would that stunt: IANAL and this certainly isn’t legal advice.) Also, there might be an advantage to putting that sort of revenue on the books of the firm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-how-did-such-a-nutcase-get-so-rich/723903.md?page=3)