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Bethan McKernan
Dec 11, 2015
A few weeks ago i100.co.ukwrote about how a sliver of information about Donald Trump's finances had resurfaced since he launched his bid to become the Republican presidential nominee.
One of Trump's biggest boasts during the campaign so far is that he is a self-made man. But an article in the National Journal unearthed the following:
Had the celebrity busiÂnessÂman and ReÂpubÂlicÂan presÂidÂenÂtial canÂdidÂate inÂvesÂted his evenÂtuÂal share of his fathÂer’s real-esÂtate comÂpany inÂto a muÂtuÂal fund of S&P 500 stocks in 1974, it would be worth nearly $3 bilÂlion today, thanks to the marÂket’s perÂformÂance over the past four decÂades.
If he’d inÂvesÂted the $200 milÂlion that ForÂbes magazine determÂined he was worth in 1982 inÂto that inÂdex fund, it would have grown to more than $8 bilÂlion today.
Trump puts his own net worth at $10 billion, but Bloomberg values him at $2.9billion and Forbes at $4.5 billion.
The London Review of Books wryly remarked that if Trump had "spent his career finger-painting", he'd have more money.
Which got us to thinking: Trump has made negative money in a long and probably very stressful career. What other paths could he have gone down since 1974 that would arguably have been more fulfilling, and at least made him a buck or two?
1. Hairdresser/beauty therapist
Hairdressers are reportedly some of the happiest workers on earth. And you know the Donald would get a kick out of helping people achieve his own signature comb over/fake tan look.
2. Marriage counsellor
Always full of sound advice.
3. Construction worker
That wall on the border with Mexico isn't going to build itself.
4. Impressionist
Maybe not of the movements of people with physical disabilities, though, like he's doing here.
5. Professional sports player (well, he could try)
Trump reportedly dreamed of playing major league baseball when he was young. It's not like he doesn't own enough sports facilities to practise now, though.
6. Military strategist
Donald famously dodged military service because of a knee problem. But his sophisticated analysis of the current issues in the Middle East is 'beautiful, secret, foolproof'.
7. Professional hunter
He'd have to go live in the woods. But we're probably OK with that.
8. Doctor
Trump's attitude towards the West African ebola crisis also showed a thorough grasp of the ethics and complexities of public health.
9. Child carer/teacher
He loves kids! Look!
10. Zoologist
Trump could have been first to discover this little guy.
11. Artist
We couldn't find any pictures of Trump finger-painting. But we did find Paint with Trump, the results of which you can see here.
FYI, Donald: if you feel like ending the nightmare that is your presidential bid early, it's never too late to pursue your dreams...
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