Trump — who has $4 billion — is now asking other people to donate to Helene relief

02 October 2024

Former President Donald Trump, who is one of the wealthiest men in the United States, is sending money to Hurricane Helene victims. The catch? The actual relief funds are coming from other people.

The Independent reported that the ex-president recently put his name on a "Trump-authorized fundraiser" on crowdfunding site GoFundMe in order to send money to victims of the catastrophic storm that recently ravaged the Southeast. As of Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe campaign has brought in roughly $3.8 million, far outpacing its initial goal of $1 million.

“With so many across the Southeastern U.S. facing challenges after the storm, President Trump is on the ground in communities to see the aftermath firsthand,” the fundraiser's description reads. “All donations will be directed to help those most affected by Hurricane Helene. Any level of generosity will go a long way for your fellow Americans who are suffering.”

Some of the top donors to the GoFundMe include real estate investor Steve Witkoff and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia), who each donated $500,000. Bass Pro Shops, hedge fund manager William Ackman, Florida attorney Dan Newlin and UFC president Dana White each donated $100,000. Celebrity makeup artist Christopher Drummond donated $25,000, and pro-Trump singer Kid Rock donated $20,000. However, Trump's name is noticeably absent from the list.

The ex-president is wealthier than all of the celebrity donors to his fundraiser. Loeffler is the wealthiest, with her household having roughly $800 million in net worth when taking into account both her investments and those of her husband Jeffrey Sprecher, the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. Witkoff and White each have approximately $500 million in total wealth.

Meanwhile, Forbes estimates that Trump has roughly $3.9 billion in net worth when taking into account all of his real estate holdings and his shares in Truth Social. His real estate portfolio is worth roughly $1.1 billion according to Forbes, which includes his Manhattan skyscrapers like Trump Tower, 1290 Avenue of the Americas and Trump Park Avenue, among others. His four Florida homes are worth $95 million collectively, which includes his $19 million Mar-a-Lago estate.

Trump's stock in Trump Media & Technology Group (or TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social) is his most valuable asset, with the Independent pegging his stake at roughly $1.7 billion. The six-month period in which the former president was barred from selling off some of his shares under the agreement he signed before TMTG went public ended in late September, though as of Wednesday he has not yet indicated any plans to sell.

Recently, Trump traveled to Valdosta, Georgia to attack President Joe Biden's administration over its response to Hurricane Helene. Despite Biden declaring a federal emergency in the affected states, freeing up federal money for displaced residents and sending thousands of federal personnel and high-water rescue equipment, Trump argued Biden's response was inadequate due to him not being present on the ground.

Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have countered that they will travel to the site of the disaster once they have assurance from local authorities that their presence will not divert critical resources from first responders. Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp lauded Biden for his immediate offer of federal aid to the Peach State.

“[Biden] just said, ‘Hey, what do you need?’ And I told him, you know, we got what we need,” Kemp said. “We’ll work through the federal process. He offered and if there’s other things you need just to call him back directly, which, I appreciate that.”

Click here to read the Independent's report in full.

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