Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa October 2013 | Page 12

MASTER INVESTOR
to take on a project of this magnitude and see it
through. The deal cemented Trump’s reputation
as a major force in the real estate industry and
provided the foundation for other even bigger and
more impressive deals.
Ross remained in touch with the Trumps and
when, in 1995, he considered retirement, Trump
invited him to join the Trump Organization. The
rest, as they say, is history.

Trump’s 40 Wall Street Building
What may be referred to as “the greatest real
estate deal done – ever”, Donald Trump’s most
successful deal, the 40 Wall Street building, will
be hard to beat.
Originally named the Manhattan Company
Building, the building comprised of 1.3 million
square feet of office space distributed over 72
storeys in what is arguably one of the best locations
in the world. Once the tallest building in the
world, it towers over the city and is landmark in
New York. In 1994, the building was leased by a
bank, but totally mismanaged, entirely vacant and
in state of total disrepair. After years of vacancy,
Trump purchased the property for $1 million,

invested more than $200 million in restorations,
and brought it to the peak of its original grandeur.
Today, the high profile tenants that occupy the
Trump building represent the pinnacle of New
York City in their international prestige and
power, and the building is the crown jewel in the
Trump portfolio.

Trump’s mistakes and successes
Ross notes that everyone makes mistakes, but
what is important it to learn from those mistakes.
For example, in the late 1980’s, Trump lost focus,
thinking that any business he touched turned to
gold. Indeed, the banks threw money at him:
when he asked for $60 million, they gave him
$80 million.
Ross believes that Trump should never have
bought an airline, which resulted him losing
substantial amounts money. By 1990, Trump had
hit the rocks and was more than $900 million
in debt. Trump had to rebuild his empire and,
although an expensive lesson, they learnt a great
deal from the experience.

The Apprentice
“The Apprentice” has been going for more than

10 years already and has proved to generate great
returns for Trump. Mark Burnett and Trump sell
each programme for $2 million per country and it
is dubbed into many languages.
Ross says “The Apprentice” offers many lessons
for investors and businessmen - from how to
dress, act and speak to how to control yourself
under pressure.

Where to next?
Ross says that at 85, he has no intention to retire.
As long as his mind is clear, he intends to make a
lot of money for charities. He has his own charity
for children suffering with cancer called St Judes.

Are the Trumps looking to invest in
South Africa?
Impressed with quality of property in South
Africa and the local investors, whom they regard
as open-minded and successful, the Trumps are
looking at opportunities in the country which may
fit into their investment approach of investing in
ultra-luxury properties.

RESOURCES
The Trump Organization