Former United States President Donald Trump has built a self-styled reputation as an ultra-wealthy businessman with a vast real-estate portfolio.
But now, the properties and businesses emblazoned with his name face an unprecedented threat, following a ruling against him in a civil fraud case last month.
On Monday, Trump faces a deadline to post his bond, after Judge Arthur Engoran ordered him to pay a total of $454m for inflating his wealth to fraudulently secure loans and business deals.
If he fails to meet the cut-off date, New York Attorney General Letitia James could start to seize Trump’s assets, including his estates and other properties.
Trump has portrayed the effort as yet another “political witch hunt” meant to derail his 2024 presidential ambitions. James’s office has, in turn, suggested Trump is attempting to evade a public assessment of his much-vaunted personal wealth — with critics long arguing he is only worth a fraction of what he claims.
Earlier this week, Trump’s lawyers even told a New York appellate court that it was “not possible” for the former president to pay the bond in time.
But on Friday, a possible lifeline emerged: Trump Media, which hosts the social media platform Truth Social, entered into a last-minute merger with a wealthy shell company, likely to increase Trump’s wealth.
It remains unclear whether the merger will be enough to head off the looming deadline. Here’s all you need to know about Trump’s present financial woes — and what his outlook is as he prepares to post bond.
