Trump sues airport.

[3point14]

He seems very good at persuading financial institutions to allow him to take risks with their money.

Yeah, but how? He's clearly lucked out at one point as he's a bit thick and has no interpersonal skills. He's probably an okay hustler and he lucked out on a hustle one time, but what was that?

I'm just wondering what it takes to turn a very average, petty-minded man of no more than average intelligence, at best, and a modicum of cunning into a businessman so rich he's idiotic enough to believe his own hype.

 

[Rincewind]

But that's the first thing I ever knew about Trump! Back in 1985 when I moved to NYC and saw the lobby of Trump Tower on 5th Ave, which he was proud of referring to as "world class," I knew he was a tasteless clown show.

Um... Third World?

Ah - I realised that could be seen as a dig at the Third World.

No offense to them intended...

 

[The Don]

Yeah, but how? He's clearly lucked out at one point as he's a bit thick and has no interpersonal skills. He's probably an okay hustler and he lucked out on a hustle one time, but what was that?

I'm just wondering what it takes to turn a very average, petty-minded man of no more than average intelligence, at best, and a modicum of cunning into a businessman so rich he's idiotic enough to believe his own hype.

I've had a quick squint at his Wikipedia page. It looks like he got a start with his dad which allowed him to build up a reputation as a reasonably sharp operator in the 70s and 80s.

By the time he was getting into deep trouble in the 90s, the banks were in so deep they had to take a significant loss.

 

[Rincewind]

I've had a quick squint at his Wikipedia page. It looks like he got a start with his dad which allowed him to build up a reputation as a reasonably sharp operator in the 70s and 80s.

By the time he was getting into deep trouble in the 90s, the banks were in so deep they had to take a significant loss.

That reminds me of a story I heard some time ago..

Somebody was introduced to the boss of a very large hotel, who turned out to be a young guy.

When asked how someone as young as him got such an important job, he replied, "Well, I came into the lobby one day, and my dad took a liking to me!"

 

[anglolawyer]

Yeah, but how? He's clearly lucked out at one point as he's a bit thick and has no interpersonal skills. He's probably an okay hustler and he lucked out on a hustle one time, but what was that?

I'm just wondering what it takes to turn a very average, petty-minded man of no more than average intelligence, at best, and a modicum of cunning into a businessman so rich he's idiotic enough to believe his own hype.

I have known not terribly bright people go a long way by having one big idea (which is actually a good one) and some feel for negotiation. Maybe he has that. One of his guiding principles is: there is always a bigger one (I heard him say it once and it stuck). I think it means 'I may be a total moron for buying this POS for 5 times what it's worth but there will be some even bigger idiot willing to buy it from me for more.'

That does not look like a recipe for success to me but I'm not stinking rich and he is appears to be.

 

[3point14]

I have known not terribly bright people go a long way by having one big idea (which is actually a good one) and some feel for negotiation. Maybe he has that. One of his guiding principles is: there is always a bigger one (I heard him say it once and it stuck). I think it means 'I may be a total moron for buying this POS for 5 times what it's worth but there will be some even bigger idiot willing to buy it from me for more.'

That does not look like a recipe for success to me but I'm not stinking rich and he is appears to be.

Sounds about right.

Mr Sugar, over here, is a similar example - he lucked out (or hustled well) got one good contract and all of a sudden he's a business genius (He's not, he's just a bit shouty). Oddly, both do the pointless apprentice thing.

 

[hgc]

All I long for is a new Trump/O'Donnell feud. There's nothing like a couple thoroughgoing idiots in the mud wrestling ring.

 

[anglolawyer]

Sounds about right.

Mr Sugar, over here, is a similar example - he lucked out (or hustled well) got one good contract and all of a sudden he's a business genius (He's not, he's just a bit shouty). Oddly, both do the pointless apprentice thing.

I have had many clients like Alan Sugar. I generally admire and respect them, as they have something I don't, and have a pretty good opinion of him. When he says he could start all over again with £200 down the market I believe him.

That does not apply to Trump who just seems to me like a vain, not very bright guy who talks and thinks big (useful asset the last one) but I don't exactly have a lot to go on so he may be a genius after all.

 

[Damien Evans]

Do you stop being Australian as soon as you get citizenship in the US or something?

You stop being Australian when you renounce your Australian citizenship, as Rupert Murdoch has done.

 

[Spindrift]

You stop being Australian when you renounce your Australian citizenship, as Rupert Murdoch has done.

FYI: You can have him back any time you want.

 

[Cleon]

There's lots.

Bad link. I'd love to see the evidence you have, AFAIK he never made it past Northeast Canada.

re Trump - He's not really very clever, is he? Dunning-Kruger writ large.

How does one end up that rich with that little understanding of how the world works?

You just need to be born to the right parents.

So it's relatively easy.

 

[3point14]

Bad link. I'd love to see the evidence you have, AFAIK he never made it past Northeast Canada.

Ah, you meant the USA not Continental America. I see now.

The link was this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_colonization_of_the_Americas

 

[Psi Baba]

A "historical structure" in Florida?
When did that happen?

 

[casebro]

I guess he controls much $$$$$ worth of real estate, but any clue of his actual net worth? Seems some of his corporations went bankrupt, IIRC.

 

[Belz...]

Is it like a reverse Dorian Grey ? The picture stays the same but the subject becomes unnaturally hideous ?

So... like a normal person, then ?

 

[Damien Evans]

FYI: You can have him back any time you want.

 

[Matthew Best]

"His toupee"? I'd always thought it was the over way around - he is the puppet of the toupee.

I got somefing to say to you about your spelling.

 

[The Don]

I guess he controls much $$$$$ worth of real estate, but any clue of his actual net worth? Seems some of his corporations went bankrupt, IIRC.

Many clues, but if the number comes out lower than he wants it to be, he sues you (hes seems to get involved in a lot of litigation over trivial matters so maybe he's a bully too)

Estimates of Trump's net worth have fluctuated along with real estate valuations: In 2013, Forbes put it at $3.2 billion. As early as 2005, however, New York Times writer Timothy L. O'Brien questioned the accuracy of the Forbes figure: He quoted a Forbes editor stating that the magazine "work[ed] hard to ensure the accuracy of its data but that it also [relied] on information provided by those whom it surveys" and that Trump would "constantly [call] about himself and [say] we're not only low, but low by a multiple." While the magazine put Trump's 2004 net worth at $2.6 billion, O'Brien's 2005 article references three unnamed business associates of Trump who "thought his net worth was somewhere between $150 million and $250 million."

After the publication of the article, Trump unsuccessfully filed a libel lawsuit against O'Brien; it was dismissed in 2009.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump#Net_worth

 

[The Don]

So... like a normal person, then ?

Nothing about "The Donald"'s appearance reminds me of a normal person

 

[Cl1mh4224rd]

Who keeps a painting of himself on his own wall? Is he that narcissistic that he has to keep on looking at an idealised version of himself constantly?

Trump lives in New York City. He likely doesn't spend a lot of time in that mansion. I suspect the painting is intended for others.