Former President Donald Trump has made headlines once again, this time for his inclusion in the prestigious list of the world’s top 500 billionaires following a lucrative deal involving his media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, and its social media platform, Truth Social.
According to reports from CNN, Trump Media announced its plans to go public on Tuesday, marking Trump’s debut in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Bloomberg estimates Trump’s net worth surged by $4 billion in just one day, bringing his total wealth to $6.5 billion.
The completion of the merger between Trump Media and Digital Media Acquisition reportedly translates to billions for Trump. As the chairman and primary shareholder of the new company, Trump holds a 58% stake, providing him with a substantial windfall.
News of the merger sent shares of Digital World soaring by approximately 21%, with continued buying activity throughout the day, resulting in a 39% increase in share price.
At current prices, Trump’s stake is valued at around $4 billion. However, there are restrictions in place preventing Trump from selling or borrowing against the value of these shares for months.
This development comes on the heels of a significant reduction in fines imposed on Donald Trump by a New York appellate court, slashing the penalty from nearly half a billion dollars to $175 million. This move has been described as a lifeline for the presumptive Republican candidate in the upcoming US elections.
Trump’s entry into the top 500 billionaires list underscores the financial impact of his business ventures and marks a significant milestone in his post-presidential career.
With his media empire poised for growth and legal challenges being mitigated, Trump’s influence in both the business and political spheres shows no signs of waning.