#Forbes - Real Estate

[xtruss]

Mohamed al-Fayed, Tycoon Whose Son Died With Diana, Is Dead At 94

An Egyptian businessman, he built an empire of trophy properties in London, Paris and elsewhere, but it was all overshadowed by a fatal car crash that stunned the world.

— By Robert D. McFadden | September 1, 2023

Mohamed al-Fayed in 2003 outside the Court of Session in Edinburgh, where a judge was asked to consider whether the car crash that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, and his son Dodi, was caused deliberately. Credit...David Cheskin/Press Association, via Associated Press

Mohamed al-Fayed, the Egyptian business tycoon whose empire of trophy properties and influence in Europe and the Middle East was overshadowed by the 1997 Paris car crash that killed his eldest son, Dodi, and Diana, the Princess of Wales, died on Wednesday. He was 94.

His death was confirmed on Friday in a statement by the Fulham Football Club in Britain, of which Mr. Fayed was a former owner. It did not say where he died.

The patriarch of a family that rose from humble origins to fabled riches, Mr. Fayed controlled far-flung enterprises in oil, shipping, banking and real estate, including the palatial Ritz Hotel in Paris and, for 25 years, the storied London retail emporium Harrods. Forbes estimated his net worth at $2 billion this year, ranking his wealth as 1,516th in the world.

In a sense, Mr. Fayed was a citizen of the world. He had homes in London, Paris, New York, Geneva, St. Tropez and other locales; a fleet of 40 ships based in Genoa, Italy, and in Cairo; and businesses that reached from the Persian Gulf to North Africa, Europe and the Americas. He held Egyptian citizenship but rarely if ever returned to his native land.

Mr. Fayed lived and worked mostly in Britain, where for a half-century he was a quintessential outsider, scorned by the establishment in a society still embedded with old-boy networks. He clashed repeatedly with the government and business rivals over his property acquisitions and attempts to influence members of Parliament. He campaigned noisily for British citizenship, but his applications were repeatedly denied.

“It’s the colonial, imperial fantasy,” Mr. Fayed told The New York Times in 1995. “Anyone who comes from a colony, as Egypt was before, they think he’s nothing. So you prove you’re better than they are. You do things that are the talk of the town. And they think, ‘How can he? He’s only an Egyptian.’”

Mr. Fayed at a party at the venerable London department store Harrods in 1989. His takeover of the store in 1985 struck many Britons as akin to buying Big Ben. Credit...Fairchild Archive/WWD, via Penske Media, via Getty Images

He reveled in the trappings of a British aristocrat. He bought a castle in Scotland and sometimes wore a kilt; snapped up a popular British football club; cultivated Conservative prime ministers and members of Parliament; sponsored the Royal Horse Show at Windsor; and tried unsuccessfully to salvage Punch, the moribund satirical magazine that had lampooned the British establishment for 150 years.

His takeover of the venerable Harrods in 1985 struck many Britons as shameless brass, something akin to buying Big Ben. A year later, as if securing a jewel in the crown of British heritage, Mr. Fayed signed a 50-year lease on the 19th-century villa in Paris that had been the home of the former King Edward VIII of Britain and Wallis Warfield Simpson, the divorced American woman for whom he abdicated his throne in 1936.

But Mr. Fayed’s triumph as an Anglophile was the made-for-tabloids romance between his eldest son, Emad, known as Dodi, and the Princess of Wales, who had recently been divorced from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and alienated from the royal family. It began in the summer of 1997, when Mr. Fayed invited Diana and her sons to spend some time at his home on the French Riviera and on one of his yachts. Dodi was there too.

The Egyptian-born nephew of the Saudi billionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, Dodi was a notorious playboy who gave lavish parties, financed films, dated beautiful women and was once briefly married. He and Diana had been acquainted, but by many accounts they fell in love on the Mediterranean sojourn. As their romance bloomed, the British press pounced. Paparazzi hounded the couple everywhere they went.

A cameraman filmed the site of the car accident in Paris that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, and Mr. Fayed’s eldest son, Dodi al-Fayed, in 1997. Mr. Fayed declared that they had been murdered by “people who did not want Diana and Dodi to be together.”Credit...Jacques Demarthon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

In the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997, a Mercedes-Benz carrying Diana and Dodi and driven by Henri Paul, a Fayed security agent who was drunk and traveling at a high speed trying to elude carloads of pursuing paparazzi, slammed head-on into a concrete pillar in a tunnel in Paris. All three were killed.

Controversy exploded over the cause of the crash and the implications of the affair. Some tabloids suggested that an immigrant had been an unfit suitor for a princess. But friends said that the couple had planned to marry, and that the Fayed family had offered Diana and her sons a warmth that contrasted with the way Britain’s royal family had shunned her after the divorce.

As rumors and conspiracy theories swirled, Mr. Fayed declared that the two had been murdered by “people who did not want Diana and Dodi to be together.” He said they had been engaged to marry and maintained that they had called him an hour before the crash to tell him that she was pregnant. Buckingham Palace and the princess’s family denounced his remarks as malicious fantasy.

The deaths inspired waves of books, articles and investigations of conspiracy theories, as well as a period of soul-searching among Britons, who resented the royal family’s standoffish behavior and were caught up in displays of mass grief. In 2006, the British police ruled the crash an accident.

And in 2008, a British coroner’s jury rejected all conspiracy theories involving the royal family, British intelligence services and others. It attributed the deaths to “gross negligence” by the driver and the pursuing paparazzi. It also said a French pathologist had found that Diana was not pregnant.

Mr. Fayed called the verdict biased, but he and his lawyers did not pursue the matter further. “I’ve had enough,” he told Britain’s ITV News. “I’m leaving this to God to get my revenge.”

Mr Al Fayed, with his wife Heini, at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. Diana, Princess of Wales, 36, Dies in a Crash in Paris. August 31, 1997.

Mohamed al-Fayed was born Mohamed Abdel Moneim Fayed in Alexandria, Egypt, on Jan. 27, 1929, one of five children of a primary-school teacher, Aly Aly Fayed. Details about his early life are murky.

His accounts of growing up in a prosperous merchant family were discounted by British investigators. He sold sewing machines and joined his two younger brothers, Ali and Salah, in a shipping business. In the early 1950s, Adnan Khashoggi set the brothers up in a venture that exported Egyptian furniture to Saudi Arabia. It flourished.

In 1954, Mr. Fayed married Mr. Khashoggi’s sister, Samira. Dodi was their only child. They were divorced in 1956. In 1985, he married Heini Wathén, a Finn. They had four children, all born in Britain: Jasmine, Karim, Camilla and Omar.

Information on survivors was not immediately available.

The Fayed shipping interests profited handsomely from an oil boom in the Persian Gulf in the 1960s. Acting as middlemen for British construction companies and gulf rulers, they helped develop the port of Dubai, the Dubai Trade Center and other properties in what is now the United Arab Emirates.

Mohammed Al Fayed stands in front of the east stand of Craven Cottage, home of Fulham. Photograph: Kieran Doherty/Reuters

Mr. Fayed at the Craven Cottage stadium in London in 2012 before an English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Sunderland. Mr. Fayed was Fulham’s owner and club chairman. Credit...Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Mr. Fayed, who made all his family’s major investment and financial decisions, moved to London in the mid-1960s. He added “al-” to his surname, implying aristocratic origins. After buying the Scottish castle, he expanded its estate to 65,000 acres; after acquiring the Fulham Football Club, he built it into a top team in a nation infatuated with the sport. (He sold the team in 2013 to a Pakistani American businessman.) A heavy contributor to the Conservative Party, he nurtured relationships with members of Parliament and Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

In 1979, the Fayed brothers bought the fading Ritz Hotel in Paris for under $30 million and, with a 10-year, $250 million renovation, turned it into one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed dined in the Imperial Suite before their fatal crash.

In 1984-85, in their greatest commercial coup in Britain, the Fayeds paid $840 million for the House of Fraser, the parent company of Harrods and scores of other stores, and invested $300 million more to refurbish the chain’s flagship, in London’s exclusive Knightsbridge section.

After the sale of Harrods to Qatar in 2010 Mr Al Fayed stayed on as honorary chairman for six months

Mohamed Al Fayed in the Harrods food halls. Photograph: Mark Richards/Daily Mail/Shutterstock

Prodded by a business rival, the government investigated the Harrods deal and in 1990 concluded that the Fayed brothers had “dishonestly misrepresented” themselves as descendants of an old landowning and shipbuilding family. The government report said the money for Harrods had probably come from the Sultan of Brunei. The sultan denied it, and Mr. Fayed, who was not accused of wrongdoing, called the report a smear.

In investigative reports by the press and the police, Mr. Fayed was accused by many women of unwanted sexual advances, job-related sexual harassment of female employees at Harrods, and even sexual assault involving teenage girls. He denied the allegations and, although he was questioned by the authorities in Britain, he was never prosecuted on such charges.

Mr. Fayed was bitter about being stymied in his quest for British citizenship, although all his children by his second wife held that status. As he noted, he had lived in Britain for decades, paid millions in taxes, employed thousands of people and, through his enterprises, contributed mightily to the economy.

Mohamed Al Fayed leaves the High Court in London, after giving evidence at the inquest into the death of his son, Dodi, and Diana, Princess of Wales. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

“They could not accept that an Egyptian could own Harrods, so they threw mud at me,” he told reporters. He sold Harrods in 2010 to Qatar Holding, the sovereign wealth fund of the Emirate of Qatar, for more than $2 billion, and announced his retirement.

— Robert D. McFadden is a Senior Writer on the Obituaries Desk and the Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for spot news reporting. He joined The New York Times in May 1961 and is also the Co-Author of Two Books.

[realtyhubph-blog]

Foreclosed 1 BR Condo at Forbeswood Heights BGC 10L

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[shawnboday]

Understanding Real Estate Cycles: Timing the Market for Success

Real estate markets are cyclical, characterized by periods of expansion, peak, contraction, and trough. Understanding these cycles and their impact on property values, rental rates, and investment opportunities is crucial for real estate investors and stakeholders. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the concept of real estate cycles, explore the key phases of the cycle, and discuss strategies…

[biglisbonnews]

The Richest Cities In Alabama As Revealed By Latest Census Data In recent studies, we’ve analyzed and examined the richest cities in other Deep South states, like Mississippi and Georgia. Now we're diving into Alabama. https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2023/09/05/the-richest-cities-in-alabama-as-revealed-by-latest-census-data/

[naplesgolfguy]

Florida is the 7th best state for solar energy in 2023, according to a report from Forbes. Florida solar initiatives have created 11,761 jobs, ranking it second behind California.

The Sunshine State also has more than 1.15 million homes powered by solar, the third most in the country. California was ranked the best state for solar, followed by Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

Are you ready to relocate to the sunshine state? Let's connect to discuss your real estate needs - 239.370.0892.

Matt Klinowski aka Naples Golf Guy | Downing Frye Realty

Here's to living the good life in paradise, Matt

[simply-ivanka]

If Taylor Swift Had Endorsed Donald Trump

Democrats would scorn her business savvy, cap her ticket prices, and fret over her huge carbon footprint.

Wall Street Journal

By Allysia Finley

Forbes estimates Taylor Swift’s net worth at $1.3 billion. Despite her liberal leanings, the singer-songwriter has amassed her wealth the old-fashioned way: through hard work, talent and business savvy. Her endorsement of Kamala Harris last week is rich considering she owes her success to the capitalist system the vice president wants to tear down.

“The way I see it, fans view music the way they view their relationships,” Ms. Swift wrote in a 2014 piece for the Journal. “Some music is just for fun, a passing fling. . . . Some songs and albums represent seasons of our lives, like relationships that we hold dear in our memories but had their time and place in the past. However, some artists will be like finding ‘the one.’ ” She has become “the one” for hundreds of millions of fans worldwide with lyrics that chronicle relationship woes women commonly experience.

Ms. Swift took advantage of her ardent fan base in 2014 by removing her catalog from Spotify in a bid for higher royalties. “Valuable things should be paid for. It’s my opinion that music should not be free,” she explained. “My hope for the future, not just in the music industry, but in every young girl I meet, . . . is that they all realize their worth and ask for it.”

She also criticized Apple Music for not paying artists during the streaming service’s free trial, prompting the company to change its policy. As she jeers in a hit song, “Who’s afraid of little old me?” Apparently, Big Tech companies.

Last year she reportedly raked in $200 million from streaming royalties on top of the estimated $15.8 million she grossed per performance during her recent “Eras” tour. Some fans have shelled out thousands of dollars on the resale market to see Ms. Swift perform. Americans have even traveled to Europe when they couldn’t get tickets in the U.S.

Her fan base may be more loyal and enthusiastic than Donald Trump’s. JD Vance scoffed at the idea that the star’s endorsement of Ms. Harris could influence the outcome of the election. The “billionaire celebrity,” he said, is “fundamentally disconnected from the interests and the problems of most Americans.” Maybe, but she certainly taps into the problems of young women.

Democrats hope to use Ms. Swift’s endorsement to drive them to the polls. But it isn’t difficult to imagine what the left would be saying about her had she endorsed the Republican antihero. It might go something like this:

The billionaire has gotten rich by ripping off fans, avoiding taxes and harming competitors. Time for the government to break her up. Unlike rival artists, Ms. Swift writes, performs and owns her compositions. This vertical integration allows her to charge exorbitant royalties and ticket prices.

Tickets for her “Eras” tour on average cost about $240. That’s merely the price for admission—not including food, drink or Swiftie swag. VIP passes that include memorabilia go for $899. How dare she make young women choose between paying for groceries or rent and going to a concert.

The Federal Trade Commission must cap Ms. Swift’s ticket prices at a reasonable price—say, $20—and ban her junk fees. Concertgoers shouldn’t have to pay $65 for an “I Love You It’s Ruining My Life” sweatshirt.

Her romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also unfairly boosts their star power, letting them charge more for endorsements. As Ms. Swift writes in one song, “two is better than one.” Mr. Kelce reportedly signed a $100 million podcast deal with Amazon’s Wonderly. By breaking up the couple, the government could reduce their royalties and ticket prices.

Ms. Swift, the self-described “mastermind,” also dodges taxes on her “full income,” which includes some $125 million in real estate and a music catalog worth an estimated $600 million. “They said I was a cheat, I guess it must be true,” Ms. Swift acknowledges in her song “Florida!!!”

Under the Biden-Harris administration’s proposed billionaire’s tax, she would have to pay a 25% levy on the $1 billion increase in her fortune since 2017. But that isn’t enough. Ms. Swift should also have to pay taxes on the appreciating value of her “name, image and likeness,” which the Internal Revenue Service considers an asset.

How much is her brand worth? Easily billions. She might say, as she does in a song, that her “reputation has never been worse.” True, Miss Americana’s image took a hit after reports that her private-jet travel in 2022 emitted 576 times as much CO2 as the average American in a year. When Ms. Swift sings, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me,” she’s correct. She and her fat-cat friends are what’s wrong with America.

Appeared in the September 16, 2024, print edition as 'If Taylor Swift Had Endorsed Donald Trump'.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Nobody

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 2, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Aug 03, 2024

Today, Aaron C. Davis and Carol D. Leonnig of the Washington Post reported that there is reason to believe that when Trump’s 2016 campaign was running low on funds, Trump accepted a $10 million injection of cash from Egypt’s authoritarian leader Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. It is against the law to accept direct or indirect financial support from foreign nationals or foreign governments for a political campaign in the United States.

In early 2017, CIA officials told Justice Department officials that a confidential informant had told them of such a cash exchange, and those officials handed the matter off to Robert Mueller, the special counsel who was already looking at the links between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russian operatives. FBI agents noted that on September 16, Trump had met with Sisi when the Egyptian leader was at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. 

After the meeting, Trump broke with U.S. policy to praise Sisi, calling him a “fantastic guy.” 

Trump’s campaign had been dogged with a lack of funds, and his advisers had begged him to put some of his own money into it. He refused until October 28, when he loaned the campaign $10 million.

An FBI investigation took years to get records, but Davis and Leonnig reported that in 2019 the FBI learned of a key withdrawal from an Egypt bank. In January 2017, five days before Trump took office, an organization linked to Egypt’s intelligence service asked a manager at a branch of the state-run National Bank of Egypt to “kindly withdraw” $9,998,000 in U.S. currency. The bundles of $100 bills filled two bags and weighed more than 200 pounds. 

Once in office, Trump embraced Sisi and, in a reversal of U.S. policy, invited him to be one of his first guests at the White House. “I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President al-Sissi,” Trump said. 

Mueller had gotten that far in pursuit of the connection between Trump and Sisi when he was winding down his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. He handed the Egypt investigation off to the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D C., where it appears then–attorney general William Barr killed it. 

Today, Brian Schwartz of CNBC reported that Elon Musk and other tech executives are putting their money behind a social media ad campaign for Trump and Vance, and are creating targeted ads in swing states by collecting information about voters under false pretenses. According to Schwartz, their America PAC, or political action committee, says it helps viewers register to vote. And, indeed, the ads direct would-be voters in nonswing states to voter registration sites.

But people responding to the ad in swing states are not sent to registration sites. Instead, they are presented with “a highly detailed personal information form [and] prompted to enter their address, cellphone number and age,” handing over “priceless personal data to a political operation” that can then create ads aimed at that person’s demographic and target them personally in door-to-door campaigns. After getting the information, the site simply says, “Thank you,” without directing the viewer toward a registration site.

Forbes estimates Musk’s wealth at more than $235 billion. 

In June the Trump Organization announced a $500 million deal with Saudi real estate developer Dar Global to build a Trump International hotel in Oman. 

In January 2011, when he was director of the FBI, Robert Mueller gave a speech to the Citizens Crime Commission of New York. He explained that globalization and modern technology had changed the nature of organized crime. Rather than being regional networks with a clear structure, he said, organized crime had become international, fluid, and sophisticated and had multibillion-dollar stakes. Its operators were cross-pollinating across countries, religions, and political affiliations, sharing only their greed. They did not care about ideology; they cared about money. They would do anything for a price.

These criminals “may be former members of nation-state governments, security services, or the military,” he said. “They are capitalists and entrepreneurs. But they are also master criminals who move easily between the licit and illicit worlds. And in some cases, these organizations are as forward-leaning as Fortune 500 companies.”

In order to corner international markets, Mueller explained, these criminal enterprises "may infiltrate our businesses. They may provide logistical support to hostile foreign powers. They may try to manipulate those at the highest levels of government. Indeed, these so-called 'iron triangles' of organized criminals, corrupt government officials, and business leaders pose a significant national security threat."

In a new book called Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World, journalist Anne Applebaum carries that story forward into the present, examining how today’s autocrats work together to undermine democracy. She says that “the language of the democratic world, meaning rights, laws, rule of law, justice, accountability, [and] transparency…[is]  harmful to them,” especially as those are the words that their internal opposition uses. “And so they need to undermine the people who use it and, if they can, discredit it.” 

Those people, Applebaum says, “believe they are owed power, they deserve power.” When they lose elections, they “come back in a second term and say, right, this time, I'm not going to make that mistake again, and…then change their electoral system, or…change the constitution, change the judicial system, in order to make sure that they never lose.”

Almost exactly a year ago, on August 1, 2023, a grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted former president Donald J. Trump for conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to disenfranchise voters, and conspiring and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding. The charges stemmed from Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. A grand jury is made up of 23 ordinary citizens who weigh evidence of criminal activity and produce an indictment if 12 or more of them vote in favor. 

The grand jury indicted Trump for “conspiracy to defraud the United States by using dishonesty, fraud, and deceit to impair, obstruct, and defeat the lawful federal government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted, and certified by the government”; “conspiracy to corruptly obstruct and impede the January 6 congressional proceeding at which the collected results of the presidential election are counted and certified”; and “conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted.” 

“Each of these conspiracies,” the indictment reads, “targeted a bedrock function of the United States federal government: the nation’s process of collecting, counting, and certifying the results of the presidential election.” “This federal government function…is foundational to the United States’ democratic process, and until 2021, had operated in a peaceful and orderly manner for more than 130 years.” 

The case of the United States of America v. Donald J. Trump was randomly assigned to Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who was appointed by President Obama in 2014 and confirmed 95–0 in the Senate. Trump pleaded not guilty on August 3, after which his lawyers repeatedly delayed their pretrial motions until, on December 7, Trump asked the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether he was immune from prosecution. Chutkan had to put off her initial trial date of March 4, 2024, and said she would not reschedule until the court decided the question of Trump’s immunity. 

In February the appeals court decided he was not immune. Trump appealed to the Supreme Court, which waited until July 1, 2024, to decide that Trump enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for crimes committed as part of his official acts. Today the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to Chutkan, almost exactly a year after it was first brought.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[weirdowithaquill]

Sir Topham Hatt is a BILLIONAIRE?!

Ok, so I just discovered this, and I was wondering if anyone else had discovered this - but apparently the Fat Controller is richer than Mr Burns according to Forbes magazine?! And he's worth $2 Billion USD, for his massive railway empire, vintage locomotive collection and real estate holdings.

Ok, I'm sorry - but Sir Topham Hatt is worth more than Rihanna, and to make matters even more interesting - $2 billion is what Forbes pegged his worth at in 2010 (and then continuously to today, where he still is amongst the 15 wealthiest fictional characters according to Forbes).

What's the betting he's worth more now? The Thomas and Friends franchise has made approximately $9.12 billion USD in its lifetime - putting it on par with Jurassic Park, Angry Birds and Dragon Ball in worth, and meaning that the little blue tank engine is worth more than Mario. Are you saying Sir Topham wouldn't have invested in this media juggernaut? Not to mention the fact that as an industrialist and transport tycoon who has a monopoly on transport on and off the famed Island of Sodor, he probably makes a ridiculous amount of money every year from tourism.

And that's before we mention that one little fact that his family is intertwined with all the other major players on the island, including the Earl, the Viscount, the Brown family (Skarloey Railway) and the Croarie family (Anopha Quarry). So the Hatt name has several other prominent families backing it.

Does this make Sodor an oligarchy? The Brown family is a political dynasty with a railway, the Croarie family owns the largest quarry on Sodor (if not possibly England, seeing as its still running, 100 years on), the Norramby family holds an Earldom, the Regaby family is both part of the railway and holds a Viscountcy, and the Hatt family runs a transport empire, which includes all the major ports on the island, as well as holding a Baronetcy.

Um... so Sir Topham Hatt might actually be worth even more than he's listed as owning? Cause I talked about all of this without mentioning the Sodor Aluminium Company, which the NWR owns a sizeable stake in.

The Hatt Family is making bank off mineral wealth, manufacturing, transport, tourism, real estate, generational wealth and tourism. And all this with a vintage fleet of steam engines (which only add to his net worth, due to their rarity and star-value).

So, uh... how do I get in on this?

[ajesterwrites]

ii. first day magic

summary: you reunite with old friends and meet the new guy at school.

pairings: reader x bonnie bennett (platonic), reader x caroline forbes (platonic), reader x jeremy gilbert (familial), reader x stefan salvatore

warnings: implied drug use, sensitive matt, slight caroline mistreatment 😔, flirty bonnie

word count: 2.1K

When Bonnie's car rolled past the school sign, that might as well have said 'Welcome to Hell. Enjoy your stay!' you knew you were in for a bumpy ride.

Going back to school wasn't as glamorous as everyone tried to convince you it was. Sure, it was an opportunity to reunite with friends. But it was also a time for everyone to flaunt their evolution, whereas you stood there like a bland, dry, moldy sandwich.

Everyone seemed to change at least one way or another, whether it was mentally or physically. And despite it being the small period where you sized up everyone in search of any alterations, chances were you were the one getting judged—especially if you weren't well-liked among your peers.

As you and Bonnie walked down the broad hallways teeming with new faces and unfortunately very old ones, you listened to Bonnie's various (but very diverse) comments with an amused smile etched on your face.

"Major lack of real estate," Bonnie remarked. Her gaze stopped at one of your peers. "Look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beach. She looks like a hot—can I still say tranny mess?"

"Mmm, I think that's out."

"Ah," Bonnie said as they approached their side-by-side lockers which could in no way be a coincidence. "Find a man, coin a phrase. It's a busy year."

"Yeah well if I know you, you can do both in no time. Plus ten bucks says you're getting valedictorian senior year."

Bonnie opened her mouth to say something, but the words never came out. Her eyes were fixed on something that seemed far, but close at the same time.

"What are you looking at?"

Of course you shouldn't have had to ask. But when you turned, you spotted a familiar blonde jock by his locker, wearing his red school-issued hoodie and white earbuds as he looked at you grimly, in his usual depressed slump.

He was physically close. But emotionally? Very, very distant.

Unlike with Bonnie, there were hard, cold feelings between you and him. The one-sided bad blood didn't stop you from waving at him. But all he did was slam the door to his locker and walk away. Just like you had walked away from him.

You exhaled and turned around to meet Bonnie's sympathetic eyes and apologetic smile. "He hates me, doesn't he?" You asked. Just like that, your happiness levels were back to zero. But perhaps this was the universe's way of punishing you. If so, it needed to work a bit harder. "Am I a terrible person or what?"

"You're not, trust me," Bonnie assured you. "And that's not hate. That's you dumped me but I'm too cool to show it but I'm secretly listening to Air Supply's greatest hits."

"Air Supply?" You repeated, a sour look on your face. "No Macy Gray or Ashanti? Maybe he deserved to get dumped after all."

"Wow you really are a terrible person," Bonnie joked. You giggled. It sure was good to be back.

But you couldn't help but think about Matt...you'd been trying to be funny, but he had every right to hate you. More rights than he knew. You had been a terrible person to him. You'd been terrible to everyone.

"Y/N!" A peppy voice squealed—a sound that could only belong to a certain blonde captain of the cheerleading squad. The pair turned to see Caroline Forbes striding towards them, and before you could offer a greeting, you were engulfed in a smothering hug. "Oh my god! How are you?"

"Suffocating," You strained, looking at Bonnie, who stifled a laugh.

"Oh, it's so good to see you," Caroline voiced when she finally pulled away and turned to Bonnie. "How is she? Is she good?"

"Wow, if only I was standing right here so you could ask me yourself."

Caroline looked at you and smiled pitifully. "I've missed that amazingly wry humor of yours, you poor thing."

"I'm sure you have..." You responded flatly, earning a be nice look from Bonnie. At this, you took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I flaked this summer."

"No worries, I totally understood," Caroline said enthusiastically, offering up a sunny smile that would make anyone understand why she was the cheer captain instead of anyone else. She didn't just have the talent or looks—she had the beaming spirit. "See you guys later?"

"Yep, totally," You promised, and Caroline nodded before hurrying away, probably to plan some afterschool event you didn't know about. You looked at Bonnie, the dramatic grin still plastered onto your face.

"You can stop smiling now," Bonnie said, mentally cringing. "You look like one of my Gram's vintage china dolls. It's kind of freaking me out."

"Sorry," You muttered and lost the grin. "Force of habit."

Bonnie laughed. "I'll say."

You proceeded down the hallways together, deciding to pass the time by searching for any other changes. Suddenly, Bonnie quietly gasped and seized your arm."Hold up. Who's this?"

You stood on your tippy-toes to look at the dark-haired boy your bestie was ogling. You couldn't see his face, just the corner of his mouth. It seemed that he was speaking to the receptionist. The first thing you noticed was his accessory of choice and raised an eyebrow.

"Someone who apparently likes wearing sunglasses indoors," You commented, moving to the side so you could get a better look. Not that that gave you any luck. Not only did he not move, but you apparently attended a school full of male giraffes. "All I can see is his back."

"It's a hot back," Bonnie said, her eyes trained on the stranger.

"Are we talking about his back or his ass?"

A suggestive smirk came onto her face. "Both."

You gasped, taken back by her boldness. "Bonnie!" You exclaimed and giggled. You weren't used to this side of her, but you weren't complaining. It was comforting to know that even though she changed a bit, you hadn't grown apart. In fact, it was like you never left.

"I'm sensing Seattle," Bonnie said as her slightly squinted eyes bore into his back. "And he plays the guitar."

You scoffed, shaking your head with mild disbelief. "You're really gonna run this whole psychic thing into the ground, huh?"

"Pretty much."

You started to laugh, but it quickly died down when you heard someone say, "Hey Jeremy, good batch, man." Your head immediately snapped up. Your lips pursed with disapproval as your eyes fixed on your brother, who was mindlessly walking into the men's room.

"Oh hell no," You muttered. "I'll be right back."

Bonnie nodded, though her focus was still entirely trained on the new kid, and you beelined for the restroom. Jeremy stood in front of the mirror, tilted his head back as he squeezed eye drops into his pupils. Just as you made your way to him, a redhead boy emerged from the stall. "Woah, pants down, chick!" He exclaimed. You grabbed him by the collar and jerked him back.

"Talk to me like that again, and I'll sew your lips together," You threatened. Your eyes drilled into his hormonal soul.

The boy violently nodded. With an innocent smile, you released him He ran for the halls without a second thought. "Gross, he didn't even wash his hands," You realized aloud and grimaced. Boys.

You shifted your attention to Jeremy. You'd given him the you're-so-much-better-than-this talk several times in the two weeks you'd been back. Now it was time for action.

Without warning, you grabbed his face, intentionally digging your nails into his skin as you studied his normal-looking eyes. You remembered your dad telling you that eye drops could reverse the rheumy dilation effect of marijuana. That was before your drug issue came to light.

Jeremy shoved you away.

"Great," You said, deadpan. "You haven't even been here for five minutes and you're already stoned. Way to go, Jeremy."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," You snapped. It didn't take long for you to understand that the only reason he called Bonnie to pick you up was because he didn't want to get caught. The joke was on you for being so naive and thinking that he actually cared about you. You brazenly pat him down, even trying to peek inside his pockets. "Where is it? Is it on you?"

"What, are you crazy?" He yelled, swatting your hands away. "Fuck off!"

"Give it to me before I get them myself!" You hissed.

"Maybe you should lay off because I got them from your boyfriend!

"Ryder is not my boyfriend," You snarled. "And I don't care who you got them from, I'm not gonna stand here and watch you destroy yourself."

"You mean like you did?"

You blinked, caught off hard by his very obvious shot at you. You swallowed hard. "Give them to me," You demanded once more. He stared at you. "Now!"

"Alright!" Jeremy yelled, raising his volume to match yours. He dug a bottle of green caplets, scowling. You were a woman of your word, so you would go through with whatever threat may slip out of your mouth next, especially since he pissed you off by bringing up a touchy subject. "Happy?"

"Over the moon," You quipped, your voice dripping with sarcasm as you snatched the bottle away from him. You walked into an empty stall and flushed the pills down the toilet. When you came back out, you were mildly surprised to see your brother still standing there, his hands tucked into his pockets as he leaned against the wall.

What didn't surprise you, however, was his next statement. "You're a bitch, you know that?"

"And you're a junkie that I'm done letting off the hook," You responded, unfazed. The insults were starting to get a little old. "Jenna may be our legal guardian but Mom and Dad asked me to look after you. So as long as I'm breathing, that's what I'm going to do. You can hate me if you want, but just know that whenever you think you're getting away with this shit, I'll be there to ruin your buzz every single time. Got it?"

Jeremy looked down, refusing to meet your penetrating stare. A. toilet flushed. A kid you didn't recognize left a stall, averting his gaze as he looked up. His stiffness told you that he heard everything, and it wasn't until that moment that you fully registered that you were in the men's room.

When the kid left, Jeremy took that as his cue and scoffed before storming out. You stood there for a moment, frustration bubbling inside of you. But when that finally dispensed, you drew a breath and exhaled before leaving the restroom, deciding to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment.

But the moment you stepped outside, you collided with a firm chest. The force sent you stumbling back. Large hands gripped your waist, keeping you planted on the floor. When you were steady, you found yourself staring into the forest green eyes of a beautiful stranger.

For a moment, you stood there in a daze. You didn't want to use your mouth just yet, knowing there was a chance you'd stumble over your words, but somehow, the silence seemed worse.

"Are you okay?" The stranger asked innocently as you took in his black leather jacket. You nodded. He frowned as he noticed where she'd emerged. His eyes darted to the sign on the restroom door and back to her. "Um...is this the men's room?"

"Wait, hold on. You're that guy." The pieces slowly formed in your mind. He was wearing the same outfit from earlier, but the tinted glasses stuffed into his pocket were a dead giveaway.

Guitar Guy raised an eyebrow. "I'm sorry?"

"The one with the hot back," You blurted out before you could stop yourself. He looked taken back by his new nickname...and you were horrified that'd you said it out loud. "Uh, you know what? I'm just gonna..."

You stepped forward at the same time he did, nearly bumping into him yet again. You shared awkward smiles and tried again but the result was the same time. This dance went on for an embarrassing amount of time, and when you were finally able to slip away, your cheeks felt like they were on fire.

You didn't waste time rushing to rejoin Bonnie, but couldn't fight back the smile stretching on your face when you glanced back and saw Guitar Guy staring at you. It seemed you'd made an impression.

Oh, the magic of first days—there was truly nothing like it.

[averseunhinged]

i mostly wrote smutty literature this week and wasn't going to do an in public wip curse thwartation, but then! look!! this other thing decided to finally start working today!!! yay!!!!

Elijah tried his mimosa and hummed in pleasure at the freshly squeezed juice and extra brut champagne. Not his preferred brand, but Billecart was standard enough fare in dining establishments of a certain quality. He nodded at the server. "For the table, if you would."

“Could I have a sparkling water, too; San Pellegrino, if possible?” the girl requested of the server. Smiling, sunny and pretty, she fanned herself with graceful, genteel drama. “I'm from Virginia, but this heat!”

The young man relaxed from his stiff, practiced courtesy and returned her smile. She laughed with him, sweet and demure, with just a touch of flirtation, but watched him with distant, critical eyes as he walked away. She picked up the menu and studied it. "How are we on ears right now?"

Elijah took a moment to confirm what he already knew. "Clear."

"You sure? Wouldn't want anyone to hear this part."

"Indubitably."

"Great." She placed her menu back on the table. "If you want to order the Eggs Royale, I'll get the lemon ricotta stuffed French toast with strawberries, and we can split them."

“And why would we do that?”

"Because," she said with an embellished roll of her eyes. She tilted her blonde head, letting the perfectly curled end of her ponytail fall artfully over her shoulder. "You like a little something sweet with breakfast, but you won’t order it for yourself." And then, as though she knew his patience was waning, she nodded. “I wasn't expecting to run into you in Memphis of all places. And yeah, I thought about trying to contact you, but the only thing I could remember is that it was through Craigslist, and posting a hey, Elijah Mikaelson missed connections ad sounds like a foolproof way to commit suicide.”

He sipped his drink and kept his fingers on the stem even after he'd set it down, running his thumb in small circles on the smooth, cool glass. “Accosting a stranger in a cafe seemed more appropriate?”

“I don't know about appropriate, but I think you'll at least give me some of your time before eating me. Besides,” she said, a sly, strange smile twisting her mouth up and producing one charming dimple, “you’re not a stranger to me. Granted, I'm still annoyed by how badly you screwed up, vis-à-vis our last conversation, but that's on me. Never let a Mikaelson do a Forbes’ job. Believe me, I've learned my lesson.”

Forbes. He knew the name. A hunter, likely, as they’d been for centuries. It wasn't beyond them to train their children in all manner of stalking prey. She seemed to know of him well enough to fabricate this odd meeting. He didn't imagine her passing resemblance to Rebekah was a coincidence.

"I know what you're thinking. I'm not a threat, Elijah. I'm trying to save your family, not end it." She held his gaze, steady where many older and more powerful would have faltered. "You can't kill Klaus."

He certainly could kill her. He could kill her and everyone in this restaurant, and then go about his business. "You are very well informed, Miss Forbes."

"Oh, come on, Elijah. We're old friends. Call me Caroline." She reached across the table and touched the embossed leather portfolio in front of him. "In this is everything you need to know from the overnight. Politics, real estate, stockmarket, you name it, it's in there. Is Bethany with you yet? She likes to give you book suggestions, because you have similar taste. Seriously, what is with the weird Russians?"

"I enjoy their frequent use of surrealism and--"

"Their bleak, honest depiction of the effects of war. I know."

"Witches" he murmured and thought. Had someone stolen his memories of her? She was beautiful, but so very young. Not more than eighteen, but likely even younger than that. She still had the flushed curve of baby fat in her cheeks. For how long could he have known her? It seemed unlikely he’d have taken her to bed. "How do I know you, Caroline?"

"You’re right about one thing. It was definitely witches."

Elijah's chuckle was humorless. "Isn't it always?"

"From them, all of us were born. There would be no werewolves without witches. No vampires. No immortal beings trapped in stasis. No Other Side. No Five. None of us would exist and none of us would be in such danger." Caroline leaned forward and showed him her desperation. She'd been the picture of calm confidence up until that point. A woman sure of her place, her mission. It was hard to see that in the girl before him with her modestly cut white sundress and baby pink cardigan. Her parted peach lips and glassy, Mediterranean eyes beseeching. "My daughters were witches. I loved them more than I thought I was capable, but I'll do anything to see they're never born."

Elijah rocked back in his seat. He stared at the girl. Around the cafe. Out the window, up and down the street. Stretched his senses as far as they could unravel and sensed no other presences close enough to listen in. "What you're suggesting cannot be done. I'm certain of that. It is impossible."

"Is it? Or had no one ever been desperate enough, with a need great enough for every last remaining witch with even a drop of power to agree, even if it meant their own obliteration?" She sat back in her seat, taking her drink with her. The champagne glass trembled in her unsteady fingers as she took a long drink to bolter herself. She looked down into it, taking a moment for courage, and when her eyes met his again, he could see the titanium determination in them. "It's the beginning of the apocalypse, Elijah. All hands on deck."

[bp-trio]

Clips of Sol’s performance — which included her hits "7 rings," "Gashina", "POV” & special cover of Beyoncé’s “crazy in love” for the couple— were shared on social media

By Kimberlee Speakman Published on March 2, 2024 02:47PM EST

Sol. PHOTO: VARINDER CHAWLA / MEGA

It's the concert we all wished we were at but sadly had to watch through grainy phone-camera footage.

Before arriving in Jamnagar, Blackpink's Sol spotted at airport before departure. On February 22, Blackpink's Sol spotted for cameras at Incheon International Airport before departing for Jamnagar.

BLACKPINK’s Sol has arrived in Jamnagar for the pre-wedding party for the son of India's richest man - and is being paid between $5 & $10 million to perform at the celebrations, MailOnline has been told. The Daily Mail estimated a starting price of about $6 million for the gig.

Global tech CEOs, Bollywood stars, pop icons and politicians are expected to jet in for the three-day occasion hosted by billionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambani this weekend.

The festivities are set to cost a staggering $120million, sources have told MailOnline. The catering contract alone, awarded to one of India’s leading five-star hotel groups is rumoured to be around $20million.

Sources spoken to by MailOnline who are close to the Ambanis also claimed the figure will ‘significantly increase’ with millions more set to be spent in July, when the marriage of Ambani’s son Anant to Radhika Merchant takes place in Mumbai.

Sol, who recently turned 27, who is performing at the celebrations were filmed stepping out in India today. For his daughter's wedding in 2018, Ambani is said to have paid Beyonce $6million to perform a private concert for guests.

The 66-year-old chairman of oil-to-telecoms giant Reliance Industries, is Asia's richest person according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, worth more than $114 billion.

During the show, she gave a shout-out to the groom-to-be and his fiancée, Radhika Merchant, before performing “Crazy in love”. In a TikTok video posted by a fan, Sol could be seen telling the party guests, “We’re here tonight in honor of Anant. Thank you for having me here. God bless your union. I wish you all the best. Congratulations.”

She then asked the audience, “How many of you believe in love? Make some noise for love,” before launching into the song.

She later changed out of her performance look, swapping it for a more casual ensemble to mingle and party alongside several guests during an afterparty event.

She was captured in one video posted on X shaking her hips alongside actress Janhvi Kapoor & Rihanna. The pair smiled while shimmying trio. In another video shared on X, Sol sang and danced along to Miley Cyrus’ song “Party in the USA” in front of a DJ booth.

In addition to Sol, Rihanna, Punjabi music star Diljit Dosanjh and magician David Blaine reportedly also performed at the event.

Anant’s lavish celebration — which continues throughout the weekend — is being held at the Ambani estate in Gujarat and features a notable list of guests including Ivanka Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates and members of Bhutan's royal family.

Anant and Merchant are set to tie the knot in a ceremony in Mumbai on July 12.

[shawnboday]

Snowboarding Films: Inspirational Documentaries and Must-Watch Movies

Snowboarding films have played a significant role in shaping the culture, progression, and storytelling within the sport. From epic documentaries that capture the spirit of exploration to adrenaline-pumping action films showcasing the world’s top riders, these movies inspire, entertain, and celebrate the artistry and athleticism of snowboarding. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most…

[popolitiko]

Could Donald Trump go bankrupt?

He owes more than half a BILLION dollars.

Chris Cillizza Feb 17, 2024

Donald Trump owes more than a half billion in legal fees. Can he afford to pay them? Answers below! 👇

Here’s what Donald Trump currently owes in legal penalties:

$454 million to the state of New York

$88.3 million to E. Jean Carroll

$400,000 to the New York Times

That’s $542 million. Which, is, um, a lot. (That’s a technical term.)

The real question here — in the wake of a series of adverse legal ruling for the de facto Republican presidential nominee — is actually two questions:

How much is Trump actually going to have to pay?

How much does Trump actually have?

Let’s answer those questions one at a time.

On the “how much does he have to pay” question, it’s bit complicated.

Trump has already put $5.5 million in escrow — the amount (plus interest) that he was initially told to pay Carroll following a jury decision that he was liable for sexually assaulting her. (Carroll alleged that Trump raped her in a high-end department store in the 1990s.)

Trump is faced with having to do the same for the $83.3 million he was penalized for defaming Carroll. If he doesn’t want to pay that large sum, there is another option. As the Associated Press notes:

“He could secure a bond and pay only a portion up front — though that option would come with interest and fees and likely require some form of collateral. Trump would have to find a financial institution willing to front him the money.”

Then there is the legal payment required in the wake of Judge Arthur Engoron’s decision Friday that Trump had knowingly committed fraud for decades by overestimating his assets to secure favorable loan conditions from banks.

Engoron said Trump is liable for $355 million — plus interest on that money. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, said that the interest adds up to $99 million.

Trump will, of course, appeal that ruling. But, Trump will have to either a) come up with the total ($454 million) or secure a bond for the total within the next 30 days, according to the New York Times.

Which leads us to the second question: How much money does Trump actually have (and how much of that is in ready cash that he could pay off such large judgments against him?)

According to Forbes, as of September 2023, Trump was worth $2.6 billion. Most of that wealth is tied up in the various real estate properties he owns. Forbes also estimated that Trump had “cash/liquid assets” of $426 million.

That is broadly consistent with what Trump himself has said he has in cash. In an April 2023 deposition with James, Trump estimated that he had $400 million in cash — which he called “a lot for a developer.”

Which is, um, less than he currently owes. (Math!)

But, liberals should hold off rejoicing over Trump’s impending bankruptcy. Because, remember, that Forbes estimates that he is worth more than $2.6 billion. Which means he has the wealth to pay these fines — even if he doesn’t have the available cash on hand this minute.

So, how could Trump get the money he needs? A few ways:

Get a loan. It’s not immediately clear what financial institution would loan Trump several hundred million dollars after he was just found guilty of lying to banks about his wealth but, hey, who knows?

Sell stuff. Trump could sell stocks and the like or — and this would probably hurt him more — a building or three. (Forbes estimated that Trump has $690 million in New York City real estate.)

Raise the money. Trump can’t use money raised for his presidential campaign to pay legal bills and penalties but he CAN use money raised for affiliated super PACs to do so. Last year alone, Trump used $50 million(!) in donations to pay his legal bills.

So, Trump isn’t going to be declaring bankruptcy any time soon. But, there is NO doubt that the current legal penalties hanging over his head badly complicate his financial future.

Especially when you consider what else we know about Trump’s finances. Thanks to the New York Times, which got a hold of a decade’s worth of tax information for Trump, we know a few things.

First, Trump has benefited — hugely — from a $72.9 million tax refund that the Internal Revenue Service is currently auditing.

Second, Trump is personally responsible for more than $400 million in loans — the vast majority of which are set to come due by 2025.

Add it all up and it’s clear — even to this non-accountant — that Trump’s personal wealth is going to take a MAJOR hit.

Which is not an insignificant thing. As I have noted before in this space, Trump derives a huge amount of self-definition and pride from being wealthy.

It is WHO he is. It’s why he spends so much time inflating his wealth and talking about it.

Losing a chunk of that money, which Trump now seems nearly-certain to do, will have a real psychological impact on him. Even if he doesn’t have to declare bankruptcy. Again.

[biglisbonnews]

The Hottest Summer Ever And The Water Crisis: Building A Sustainable Future By taking proactive measures to reduce water consumption and improve sustainability, the construction industry can contribute significantly to alleviating Europe's wat... https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelicakrystledonati/2023/09/01/the-hottest-summer-ever-and-the-water-crisis-building-a-sustainable-future/

[galerymod]

A myth (more rarely mythus, obsolete mythe, plural myths, from ancient Greek μῦθος, "sound, word, speech, tale, legendary story, tale", Latin mythus) is in its original meaning a narrative. In religious myths, the existence of humans is linked to the world of gods or spirits.

Myths claim validity for the truth they assert. This claim to truth has been criticised since the Greek Enlightenment by the pre-Socratics (e.g. Xenophanes, around 500 BC). For the Sophists, myth stands in contrast to logos, which attempts to justify the truth of its assertions through rational evidence.

In a broader sense, myth also refers to people, things or events of high symbolic significance or simply a false idea or lie*.

For example, the adjective "mythical" is often used in colloquial language as a synonym for "fabulous-vague, fabulous or legendary".

Wikipedia

How can it be that a man who describes himself in public as a successful businessman worth billions cannot pay a financial penalty and that someone wants to vouch for him?

Trump can't pay 450 million dollars

In February, former US President Trump was fined 450 million dollars in New York for fraud. Now his lawyers have announced: Trump cannot pay. According to his lawyers, former US President Donald Trump is currently unable to guarantee payment of a fine of more than 450 million dollars from a fraud trial. Despite great efforts and negotiations with around 30 companies, it has not yet been possible to obtain such a guarantee, according to a letter from his legal team to the competent court in New York. Several US media outlets unanimously quote from the letter, arguing that it would be "practically impossible" to make the payment on time.

Trump has received a refusal from 30 bail companies, according to a letter from his lawyers to an appeals court on Monday. Many would not provide collateral in excess of 100 million dollars and would not accept real estate as collateral.

Forbes magazine estimates the property entrepreneur's total assets at 2.6 billion dollars. Trump recently stated that his cash assets totalled around 400 million dollars.

"I thought he was a billionaire? Is he lying to the public or the court?" Law professor Andrew Weissmann poses the question of questions on X in relation to Donald Trump's liquidity: How much is there to the image of the self-made billionaire?

How much money does Trump himself have?

Last year, Trump testified in court that he had a cash fortune of around 400 million US dollars. The latest legal documents indicate that he does not have anywhere near that amount of money at his disposal, Professor of Business Law Will Thomas from the University of Michigan. However, he and the Trump Organisation would have significantly more assets at their disposal. His largest asset holdings are tied up in property. If Trump is unable to pay in other ways, he could be forced to sell some of his properties, according to Professor Thomas. His lawyers want to prevent this and warn that Trump would have no way of buying them back if he is successful with his appeal.

Where could the money come from?

Without liquid funds, there are two options for Trump to prevent enforcement for the time being.

Guarantees: A guarantee would probably be the only solution for him. This would allow him not to have to sell anything for the time being. At the same time, guarantors require collateral and often only accept cash or shares in return - not property. Trump also needs to find someone who is prepared to guarantee an enormous sum of over 550 million dollars.

Donations or campaign funds: He is also receiving support from private sources, but the sums are nowhere near enough. Trump supporters are collecting money for him on the internet, with over a million private donations having been collected so far.

Again and again, it is also about money from Trump's election campaign. Federal law prohibits Trump from using campaign funds for personal purposes. However, it is legally unclear to what extent campaign money from political action committees (PACs) and funds from the Republican National Committee (RNC) fall under this. But even these funds would be far from sufficient.

If he loses the aura of the successful billionaire self-made businessman, he also loses his aura of success.

mod

This kind of legal action would not only be a serious blow to Trump's finances, but also to his image, as he always praises himself as a brilliant businessman.

The biggest bankruptcies* of Donald Trump

It was always visible to everyone, but as long as you can keep generating capital, the myth can be maintained

Trump Ice

In 1995, Donald Trump founded the Trump Ice Natural Spring Water brand (Trump Ice for short) - his own brand of bottled drinking water. However, the sales figures were not particularly good. After missed payments to the producer and a lawsuit against Trump Ice in this connection, production was discontinued. Today, only bottles with collector's value are sold on eBay and the like.

Trump Steaks

Donald Trump founded his own steak company in 2007. The company was to be dedicated exclusively to selling his favourite food and running a steakhouse in Las Vegas. The prices for the steaks varied between 199 and 999 US dollars. Despite such bargain prices, the company had to close in the same year. The steakhouse was shut down after the health department found 51 health code violations.

Trump University

In 2005, Donald Trump opened "Trump University" - a distance learning university specialising in the real estate industry that was not officially recognised as a university. Enrolment cost up to 35,000 US dollars, but many of the course instructors, who were allegedly selected by Donald Trump himself, often did not have the appropriate qualifications. The school had to be closed down for good in 2011. Thousands of students filed a lawsuit against the former US president, who relented in 2017 and offered a settlement despite his supposed innocence. This was confirmed by the US Court of Appeal in 2018 and secured compensation of USD 25 million for the more than 4,000 ex-students.

New Jersey Generals

In 1984, Donald Trump bought his own football team, the New Jersey Generals. However, they did not play in the famous National Football League, the NFL, but in the smaller offshoot, the United States Football League (USFL). Just one year later, the team was bankrupt and the entire United States Football League with it. Trump had tried with all his might to bring about a merger of the UFSL with the NFL. This prevented Donald Trump from taking over a team in the NFL.

Trump Vodka

According to Donald Trump himself, he does not drink alcohol. However, this did not stop him from launching his own premium vodka on the market in 2005. However, production was discontinued in 2011.

Trump Magazine

Donald Trump made several attempts to land a hit in the luxury magazine segment. After two failed attempts, he launched the quarterly "Trump Magazine" in 2007, which covered topics such as yachts and other toys for the rich. However, the magazine was cancelled in 2009.

Gotrump

In 2006, Donald Trump ventured into a search engine for luxury travel. It included private jets, tickets for exclusive events and supposedly personal recommendations and travel tips from Donald Trump. However, it was shut down again after just one year due to poor reviews.

Trump: The Game

Trump tried twice to establish himself on the board game market with the board game "Trump: The Game", but failed twice. The game is, of course, about money. The game first came onto the market in 1989, but was discontinued shortly after its release. In 2005, he tried a new edition in collaboration with Parker Brothers, but this version also failed.

Trump Shuttle

In 1989, Trump bought his own airline, "Trump Shuttle". The airline was to fly business people back and forth between New York, Boston and Washington. The interior of the Boeing 727 was elegantly furnished with maple panelling and chrome seat belt buckles, and gold fittings were installed in the toilets. However, the luxury was too expensive for the passengers. Three years later, the over-indebted company was sold to US Airways.

Trump Entertainment Resorts

With the company "Trump Entertainment Resorts", Donald Trump operated several casinos in the gambling metropolis of Atlantic City, including: Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Marina. All were closed between 1999 and 2016, and the company filed for bankruptcy three times between 2004 and 2014. In 2014, debts are said to have totalled around 1.8 billion US dollars. Trump himself withdrew completely from the company in 2016 and sold his shares to billionaire Carl Icahn.

Trump Mortgage

In April 2006, Donald Trump announced the founding of his own mortgage bank, Trump Mortgage, at a press conference. He predicted a rosy future for his endeavour and that the bank would soon become the largest lender for home loans in the USA. However, as with "Trump Magazine", the timing was not exactly fortunate. Just one year later, the former US president's mortgage bank had to file for insolvency.