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You’re Fired
Background:
“There’s no arguing. There is no anything. There is no beating around the bush.
‘You’re fired’ is a very strong term.” Donald Trump
Real estate mogul Donald Trump is famous for the catchphrase “You’re fired,”
from his two-time Emmy-nominated competition-themed reality show “The
Apprentice” (began airing in 2004). As a reputable developer, Trump has built
such landmark estates as “Trump Tower,” “Taj Mahal Casino Resort,” “Trump Parc”
and “The Plaza Hotel.” He later expanded his business to areas like clothing,
food and beverages, magazines and recently, home furnishings. On screen, Trump
was seen with cameo roles in the miniseries “I’ll Take Manhattan” (1987), Home
Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, unaccredited), “The Nanny” (1996), Woody
Allen’s Celebrity (1998), Zoolander (2001) and Two Weeks Notice (2002).
Trump also stayed on the best-seller list for 32 weeks for his business book
“Trump: The Art of the Deal,” which sold over 3 million copies. Later, he
published other how-to books: “Trump: The Art of Survival,” “Trump: The Art of
the Comeback,” “Trump: Surviving at the Top,” “Trump: How to Get Rich,” “The Way
to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received,” “Trump: Think Like a
Billionaire : Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life,”
“Trump: The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received” and “Why We Want You to be Rich:
Two Men - One Message.”
Trump was previously married to Ivana Trump (1977-1992, has 3 children including
model Ivanka Trump) and Marla Maples (1993-1999, has 1 daughter). He is now the
husband of model/actress Melania Knauss (married in January 2005) and has a son
from the marriage. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. (first son from Ivana) and his
wife Vanessa are expecting their first child, who is due early summer 2007.
The Donald
Childhood and Family:
Born on June 14, 1946, in New York City, Donald John Trump is the son of
successful property developer Fred Trump (died on June 25, 1999) and Mary
MacLeod Trump (died in 2000). He is sometimes referred to as “The Donald,” the
nickname given to him by his first wife.
While attending the New York Military Academy, Donald earned academic honors and
actively joined the academy’s sports teams. He was also voted the “Ladies Man”
by his classmates. Continuing his studies, Donald attended Fordham University
before transferring to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
After graduating with a degree in Finance, he immediately joined his father’s
real estate company.
Donald was famous for his marriage with Ivana Trump, held on April 9, 1977. With
her, the real estate mogul has three children: Donald Trump Jr. (born on
December 31, 1977), Ivanka Trump (model, born on October 30, 1981) and Eric
Trump (born in 1984). The couple divorced in 1992 following Donald’s affair with
Marla Maples, whom he finally married on December 19, 1993. Donald, who has a
daughter with Marla (Tiffany Ariana Trump), divorced her in June 1999.
Donald married Slovekian model/actress Melania Knauss in January 2005 at a
lavish, star-studded ceremony. The couple has a son named Barron William Trump
(born on March 20, 2006).
Trump Dynasty
Career:
“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint,
and I just love real estate.” Donald Trump
In the father-owned Trump Organization, Donald Trump at first focused on middle
class rental housing. In the 1970s, he built a local reputation after taking
over the renovation job for Central Park’s Wollman Rink from the New York City
government, as well as turning the bankrupt Commodore Hotel to the luxury Grand
Hyatt, in exchange for tax concessions from the New York City government. At the
same time, he built the Trump Parc and The Plaza Hotel.
In 1983, Trump opened the 69-storey Trump Tower condominium and retail building
on Fifth Avenue, whose top 3 floors became his personal residence. With
approximately 30,000 square feet of space detailed in bronze, gold and marble,
Trump Tower is one of the most valuable apartments in New York City.
Trump also made an entrance in the casino business in Atlantic City and New
Jersey. Among his landmark installments in the gambling world is the Taj Mahal
Casino Resort. Briefly attempting the sports scene, the businessman purchased
the New Jersey Generals football club of the United States Football League (USFL)
in 1984. However, the league folded a few years later. His fame inevitably
brought him to the screen, where he appeared as himself in the miniseries “I’ll
Take Manhattan” (1987) and the children’s show “MMC” (1989).
Despite the success, in 1990, Trump was forced to file bankruptcy for over $2
billion in bank loans that he couldn’t pay. The effect of the recession soon
left him with a loss of over two-thirds of his net worth. Also in 1990, he tried
acting with a role in Ghosts Can’t Do It, which unfortunately brought in a
Razzie award for Worst Supporting Actor and a Razzie nomination for Worst New
Star. Four years later, the entrepreneur could be seen as Waldo’s Dad in The
Little Rascals (1994).
Trump, who sold his Trump Shuttle because of bankruptcy, purchased the Miss
Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants in 1996. Since then, he has
become the executive producer of the annual telecasts.
In 1998, Trump played the VIP Patron in the drama 54. Meanwhile, the executive
with a brash attitude and comb-over hairstyle continued making cameo appearances
as himself in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992, unaccredited), The Pickle
(1993, unaccredited), “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1994), “The Nanny” (1996),
“Suddenly Susan” (1997), Woody Allen’s Celebrity (1998), “Sex and the City”
(1999), Zoolander (2001), Two Weeks Notice (2002) and Marmalade (2004).
These performances apparently triggered his decision to produce and star in a
reality show, resulting in the competition-themed “The Apprentice” (began airing
in 2004). The series, in which 16 contestants compete for a position at one of
Trump’s companies and a $250,000 annual salary, was soon famous for Trump’s
catchphrase “You’re fired,” spoken in each elimination phase. “The Apprentice”
also gave Trump two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
and two Teen Choice nominations (one for Choice Reality/Variety TV Star, one for
Choice TV Personality). In 2004, Trump launched an “Apprentice” inspired
bi-monthly magazine titled “'Trump World.”
After Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts announced its debt restructuring (October
21, 2004), the real estate tycoon officially gave up his CEO position in the
resort company in May 2005. He expanded his business with the Trump University
(launched in 2005), the mortgage firm Trump Mortgage (launched in 2006), as well
as the food and beverage businesses Trump Buffet, Trump Catering and Trump Ice
Cream Parlor.
The host of the Trump Think Big Expo (June 15, 2006) has put his name on several
brands, including Donald J. Trump Men’s Collection (menswear), Trump Ice
(Bottled Water), Trump Magazine, Trump Golf (golf equipment) and Trump Vodka. He
is now planning to launch a home furniture collection named “Trump Home,” with a
full line of case goods and upholstery in traditional and contemporary styles.
The collection will be presented at the April 2007 High Point Market. Continuing
his property business, Trump will launch eight Trump International Hotels and
Towers.
Award:
