Trump: How to Get Rich

12:30 P.M. I decide to have a slice of pizza for lunch, and I read a few of the letters that have come in. Here’s one from a young man in the Bay Area of San Francisco who writes, This letter is in appreciation for inspiring us in hard times. Please continue writing your books and influencing people to live their dreams. He’ll be happy to know that’s exactly what I’m doing, even as I eat my pizza and read his letter. Here’s another one from a family in Germany, who thinks I should run for president and invites me to stay at their home. A business proposal comes from a group in Wales who would like me to work on a housing development with them.

12:45 P.M. I call Brian Baudreau, my executive of security, and tell him I want to go over to Trump Place, my development along the Hudson River. We go over to the West Side and check out what’s going on with construction. We meet with Paul Davis, the CEO of the Hudson Waterfront Associates, and take a walk around. I get daily reports, but there’s nothing like seeing things for yourself. Paul has a big project on his hands, and he’s doing a terrific job.

I’ve encountered a lot of opposition from staunch West Siders about this development, but gradually they are beginning to see that these buildings will be an enhancement to their neighborhood. The West Side is thriving like never before, and even as an East Sider, I’ve got to admit that the West Side is a great place to be.

2:00 P.M. Back in the office, I start returning the twenty-two calls that came in. That’s another reason I don’t like to be out of the office too much—the backlog of calls can get out of hand. The first call I return is to United Cerebral Palsy, as I’m on the advisory board. One of the biggest perks of being financially successful is being able to be generous. I like giving money to good causes like United Way and the Police Athletic League. It really is a great feeling every time I can be of help, and, for the most part, that’s a private part of my life. Some of my charities are public knowledge, and some of them aren’t.

2:30 P.M. Robin Leach and his team are here for an interview. Robin is well known for a reason. We have a great time, and it’s a job well and quickly done.

3:15 P.M. I have a meeting with Carolyn Kepcher, executive vice president and director of Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff. We are building some magnificent villas on the grounds, and there are a lot of details to attend to. Fortunately, both of us are perfectionists, and our meetings never have to be long.

3:30 P.M. I take a call from David Schner, president of Leaders magazine. I’d been interviewed a few months back and we still keep in touch.

Craig Semandl, the director of Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles, calls in. He gives me an update on what’s happening, and we go over some details. I will visit California later this month to see the progress for myself. It helps to have people you can trust when you’re three thousand miles away.

This is something that still amazes me: Here’s another person requesting my autograph on the March 1990 issue of Playboy magazine, which featured an interview and a cover photo of me. To this day, thirteen years later, I receive several requests a month for my autograph on this issue, and, granted, the girl I’m photographed with is a beauty, but I never thought this interview would remain so popular with people who follow my career. I’ll have to reread it one of these days. Meanwhile, I sign the cover and it’s sent back to the owner, and I sign a few books that have been sent in as well.

I make a call to Tiffany, my youngest daughter, who is giving me an update on her latest activities. She has enough going on for five people. She must take after me. She is excited about her upcoming birthday and her plans to have a party aboard theQueen Mary in Long Beach, California.

I write a note to the Veterans of Vietnam of Ward 4CD of Valley Forge General Hospital. I am cochairman and builder of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and still continue to do what I can for these brave people.

4:00 P.M.  I take a call from Susan James, director of sales for Trump International Hotel and Tower on Central Park West. She has a great job—this is one of the most successful condominium towers ever built and the top-rated luxury hotel in New York City, all in one building. This is also where Jean-Georges Restaurant is located. All in all, it’s a gem, and I’m proud of it. It’s near Lincoln Center on Columbus Circle, and those of you who know architecture will find it interesting that Philip Johnson designed both this building and the State Theatre at Lincoln Center, home of the New York City Ballet. I’m sort of young to be considered historical, but some things point in that direction, and this building is one of those things.