This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst 2006. If you'd pick Donald Trump as the most annoying money personality, be sure to vote for him.
A leading contender for the most annoying money personality crown for decades now, consummate self-promoter and real estate mogul Donald Trump is also the producer and star of the reality television show, The Apprentice, from which comes his widely imitated catchphrase, "You're fired."
Trump, also known as "The Donald," a nickname given to him by his former wife, Ivana Trump, is recognized by his usual squint, pursed lips, and that distinctive comb-over, which has been the subject of humor by many comedians, and it's a nominee in another category of the Best & Worst 2006.
Known throughout the 1990s for his much publicized financial difficulties and a high-profile and messy divorce from wife Ivana, he'd already begun a lifelong habit of naming things after himself. Besides Trump Tower and Trump Plaza, there are also such things as a Trump menswear collection, bottled water, vodka, a magazine, an ice cream parlor, and Trump University, a business school founded in 2005.
Not only does Trump reportedly receive $3 million per episode of The Apprentice, but he also headlines the Learning Annex's Real Estate Wealth Expos, for which he reportedly receives $1 million per one-hour seminar. In addition, he's a professional wrestling fan, often appearing ringside at WWE Wrestlemania events, and for the 2004 Emmy Awards he appeared in coveralls and a straw hat, singing the Green Acres theme along with actress/talk show host Megan Mullally.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
12-04-2006 @ 10:24PM
Chris said...
The Donald: greatest salesman ever! He even believes his own stories. Easy to get wealthier when your family started out with a 200 mill net worth. (His father). Which depending on what you read , he may have increased or decreased in amount.I have a hard time understanding why "people live and breath his wisdom". He has made far to many financial mistakes. And, why people equate his "brand trump" as a good thing also escapes me.
12-06-2006 @ 11:59AM
Danny said...
Yes, Self-Promotion 101. It is interesting, though, what they DON'T show us...which is...an almost certain insecurity that The Donald and other big wigs have. Oscar Wilde wrote, "Passion is Pain," so I wonder what fears these guys are covering up. For example, for them to "feel" sexy, money and power gives 'em a rush. But, did you notice the'll never appear shirtless or where they might look "less" to others, only where they'll "look" superior. Take for example Trump...he's always in a position at the top of the food chain, at the center of attention. Have you ever seen him in a room with Sheik So and So or Crown Prince Such and Such, whose net worths and power in their lands dwarfs his? It's all about being happy with what we have. If you're the biggest fish in one place, you don't have to worry as much about being the big fish in another. But, as long as you're comparing yourself with others, and what you think you're missing, you'll always wonder what might be better. Exhibit A: the ambitious kiss-ass wanna be's who need to "impress" The Donald on The Apprentice. P.S. Don't mean to single out The Donald. The same may be said for many who are worshipped and idolized. They may be worthy, but more so remain an image to others rather than the others' innate qi (life force).
12-09-2006 @ 10:07AM
Horace Alexander said...
For the life of me I can not understand why anyone would follow the teachings of Donald Trump! Trump is a sick man and nothing but a two bit used car salesman! 905 OF HIS VENTURES ARE FAILURES! The only women that he will hook up with him are gold diggers who are too stupid to argue with him. Can you imagine being seen with that comb over, what a fool, its tragic--he is a moron!
12-11-2006 @ 9:30AM
Sam Valencia said...
Any billionaire that files bankruptcy to avoid paying creditors should go to prison.
That's where Trump really belongs behind bars!
Sam
12-14-2006 @ 11:12PM
Ken said...
Sam is right on. The Donald only talks about his successes; not his failures. Bankruptcy is just "gaming the system" so it's not a failure in his view. Why anybody would embarass themselves to appear on his show, why anybody would pay him good money to give them worthless advice at a seminar, and why anybody would buy any of his pointless books is beyond me. You might as well get your financial advice from Paris Hilton. Her money came from the same place as Donald's: her daddy.
12-15-2006 @ 1:28PM
Lauren said...
I agree with Horace any women that would give ''The Donald'' the time of day has to be a Gold Digger, and you know all his friends quietly agree..
12-17-2006 @ 9:06AM
GEORGE AND JOAN HESNAN said...
HE IS THE PITS..OF ALL PITS..FRM THE MIN HE OPENS HIS MOUTH PEOPLE JUST WANT TO PUKE. HE IS THE BEST BRAGGER IN THE WORLD OF COURSE..HE WHO BLOWS HIS OWN HORN..YA KNOW..IF HE DOESNT DO IT WHO ELSE WILL. AS FAR AS THE WIVES GO..WELL THIS ONE HAS IT (FALLING OUTTA HER CHEST)..COVER UP FOR GODS SAKE..WE ALL KNOW SHE HAS BOOBS AND MORE BOOBS..SO WHAT..TELL HER TO LEARN THE ENGLISH LANG FIRST OF ALL..OR GO BACK TO WHEREVER SHE CAME FROM..THE HILLS OF NO-MANS COUNTRY..FROM SOM SHACK UP IN THE HILLS. THE ONLY GOOD ONE I THINK IS THE ONE FROM GA. THAT MARLA MAPO OR SOMETHING..HOHO
12-17-2006 @ 3:59AM
sonny rosenberg said...
An egotist of the worst order.
12-19-2006 @ 3:43PM
Brenda Lomax said...
I DO NOT KNOW DONALD TRUMP,ONLY THROUGH THE MEDIA.I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT HIS MONEY AND FRANKLY,I DON'T CARE.BUT FOR HIM TO GIVE TARA CONNER ANOTHER CHANCE,HAS REALLY PUT A BLACK EYE ON THE MISS U.S.A. PAGEANT.NO ONE ELSE HAS ACTED THE WAY SHE HAS AND GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT!!SHE IS HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD BECAUSE OF THE SASH SHE WEARS AND SUPPOSED TO BE A ROLE MODEL. DONALD TRUMP DECIDING TO GIVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE SURE WAS A WRONG JUDGEMENT CALL!!
12-20-2006 @ 9:08AM
Karen said...
P L E A S E! The Donald's most recent WORST... Hey lets allow our teen role model a "second chance" to be a total screw up, and personify everything we don't want our little girls doing! Lets send them a message that its ok to be a wild child, you might even get to be Miss America! I wonder what he really wispered in her ear yesterday? LMBO! This one takes the cake! He's gotta be the WORST!
12-21-2006 @ 10:19AM
terr beatus said...
donald trump is so far out of reality. he cant take critisism. example- rosie odonnells comments. then he calls her a fat pig. he never smiles. always serious. he is sickening to listen too. who cares how successful he thinks he is. the apprentice is so dumb. he has those kiss asses doing tasks that no moron would do.donald is the typical boss that you hate. in one word i would describe him as a prick. period
12-21-2006 @ 7:46PM
Pete said...
Rosie regarding Trump.....You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got an invitation to one of his seminars in my town. I filed it under G. Garbage.
12-21-2006 @ 12:34PM
laura said...
Hooray for Rosie ! It's easy to be rich when you're born rich !!! Even then he had to seek bankruptcy help , At least Rosie earned her money the good old fashion way by WORKING..
12-22-2006 @ 11:17AM
Rick English said...
"THE DON" REALLY IS SHOWING HIS TRUE COLORS THIS TIME
AROUND. HOW TRIVIAL CAN ONE GET. ROSIE IS EPITOME OF
A LOW-CLASS IGNORANT BLOW-HARD. I HAD GIVEN TRUMP THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. ALL DOUBT IS REMOVED. HE IS AS
BOORISH AS SHE. TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER SENSELESS RAVING
PUTS HIM ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH HER...TWO KIDS ARGUING ON THE PLAYGROUND. EXECUTIVE ACTION...
I THINK NOT!
12-25-2006 @ 9:31AM
JB said...
Trump is a good guy. He is successful and it is bad to see people that are not successful try to talk him down.
12-26-2006 @ 10:35PM
Tatiana said...
Trump is NO good guy. Any success he has, he's earned on the backs of other people and their money. Do not mistaken wealthy opportunists for legitimate business people! There is a big difference and I suspect Trump never learned this in his studies at the Wharton School of Business.
12-27-2006 @ 8:25AM
Kryptoss said...
Everyone forgets that they do this for the shows they represent. It's free publicity by getting the media to view these quips because it gives Rosie and Donald what they are hoping for, better TV ratings.
12-28-2006 @ 9:35AM
J. Regan said...
Not only did Donald's daddy give him the millions to start out with, but he also introduced him to a good friend of his in the business world, i.e. - Lee Iacoca, who was CEO of Chrysler Corp. We could all use a nice start in life like that, right ?
12-28-2006 @ 10:36AM
Richard said...
These posts reveal more about the people sending the comments than the postings concerning the celebrities they are sniping at.
Forget the old adage; because Money really does buy happiness. Research shows this be true. Those earning less are less happy, more subject to be victims of crime, and in general more dissatified with their lives. Other things like the quality of life also improves when padded with copious stacks of the flat green stuff.
I know very little about the "Donald" (I don't care for the title either), but I do know that his money did not come from the backs of others as one of the bloggers posted.
There is far too much money for that to happen and his employees are far too well paid. This vast amount money comes from him being smart enough to recognize the great big deals that others have left on the table. To say anything else is being completely disengenuous.
As an alternate, many of the high paid and greedy American CEO's get their money by simply controlling a board of directors that vote for huge salaries, stock options and special payouts that are often not incentive based. Money that sometimes comes primarily from the cash invested by the stock holders of the companies.
Donald Trump gets his money the hard way. He earns it.
Congratulation to all of these guys that are the subjects of this blog. I'll bet they all are much happier than most of the rest of us.
Also remember that if you really hate these celebrities that are being blogged, don't buy their books and change the channel when they come on tv.
12-28-2006 @ 11:05AM
Bunny said...
the Donald ought to count his blessings and I don't hear about him giving to the poor or even helping out.I live from pay check to pay check and Im 62 yrs old. I've worked all my life. I've just recently been able to buy a little house.Have him come and tell me how to make millions before I drop dead.Maybe
I could even help other single females that I work with. the rich get richer and the poor get kicked in the ass. that says it all. Angry! (YOU BET)!