Donald Trump is NOT a Billionaire. Estimated Net Worth: $200 Million

[ahem] Now, this is not certain.  But it’s based on lots of ongoing investigations by “reliable sources,” as the saying goes.  If these allegations are true, then THIS is why Donald Trump is refusing to release his tax returns.  It’s has nothing to do with Trump spewing out his usual arrogant “it’s none of your business!” 

And it isn’t because he’s trying to hide a few more jillion-dollar bank accounts in the Cayman Islands, as the conventional wisdom would have it.

Nope.  The swaggering multi-billionaire has no billions.  He inherited a billion dollars, and instead of parlaying it into his own $20 billion business empire — as he constantly brags — his billion dollar inheritance has dwindled to $200 million.

It’s like Steve Martin’s old joke about “How I converted $100,000 worth of real estate into $25 cash.”  Except in Trump’s case, it’s no joke.  Donald Trump is a fraud.  After decades of living a billionaire lifestyle — and an endless parade of business failures and bankruptcies — The Donald now has about 20% of his inheritance left.

And this is why Trump has now “reluctantly” decided to start accepting PAC money after all.  Behind his swagger and super-confidence, he’s secretly shouting “Help!  I need money!  Pleeeeease?!?!?”

From the linked article:

“The reality of Trump’s business career is that he is not so much a great businessman but somebody who has figured out how to make money by convincing people that he is one…

The particulars of his day-to-day message, to the extent he has one, barely matter. His entire appeal rests on the bedrock of his identity as a successful entrepreneur. The vast wealth Trump claims to have amassed allows him to supposedly fund his own campaign, escaping the influence of fundraisers who control his opponents. His alleged deal-making skill explains why he will be able to improve every trade deal, solve every legislative impasse, and finesse every diplomatic conflict. Trump’s endlessly repeated proposition is that he will take the skills that made him so rich and generously use them to make the country rich. Without that, he’s just a dumber version of Pat Buchanan.”

Busted!