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Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s business fumbles

By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 6, 2015, 6:07 PM ET
Companies are abandoning Donald Trump after his derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants.
Companies are abandoning Donald Trump after his derogatory comments about Mexican immigrants.Photograph by Darren McCollester—Getty Images

With each passing day, Donald Trump manages to garner more attention. And companies are now cutting ties with the real estate mogul and presidential hopeful due to unsavory comments he made regarding immigration. Trump’s Miss America pageants won’t be broadcast by Univision (it’ll be shown by Reelz instead). And Macy’s has halted sales of his menswear line. And the list goes on.

But the severed partnerships with Univision and Macy’s are certainly not the only business flops Trump has endured over the years. Here’s a look at five.

1. Trump Casinos

Las Vegas Economy Roars Back To Life
The Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas is viewed from The Venetian Las Vegas on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Photograph by George Rose — Getty Images

Trump Casinos have been struggling in recent years. At the end of June, news hit that its Atlantic City casino would be shuttering for a decade to cut costs and save on taxes, amid larger challenges for the former East Coast gambling town. Trump formerly ran Trump Taj Mahal, the Trump Plaza, and the Trump Marina. Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for bankruptcy in 2014; this was its fourth time. “Other than the fact that it has my name on it—which I’m not thrilled about—I have nothing to do with the company,” Trump said.

2. Trump Mortgage

Donald Trump New York City Press Launch For Latest Venture Trump Mortgage LLC
Donald Trump during Donald Trump New York City Press Launch For Latest Venture Trump Mortgage LLC at Trump Tower in New York City in April 2006.Photograph by J. Kempin — FilmMagic/Getty Images

Donald Trump launched Trump Mortgage in 2006, with a glamorous press conference. As Trump told CNBC, “I think it’s a great time to start a mortgage company … who knows about financing better than I do?” The outfit shuttered after just a year-and-a-half in business. It wasn’t such great timing after all. The real estate market came on hard times by 2007. And to add insult to injury, the man Trump selected to run the mortgage business, E.J. Ridings, apparently lied on his resume about his credentials.

3. Trump Airlines

Donald Trump  Plane  Shuttle
Trump Shuttle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 8, 1991.Photograph by David A. Cantor — AP

Trump launched Trump Airlines, with flights going from New York City to Boston, D.C., and Orlando. But the company didn’t stay aloft for long. The airline failed to become profitable. Trump got out of the venture in 1992. “It worked out well for me…. I ran an airline for a couple of years and made a couple of bucks. The airline business is a tough business, [but] I did great with it,” he said in retrospect.

4. Trump: The Game

TRUMP
Donald Trump launches the new Parker Brothers board game, Trump the Game, during a news conference at Trump Tower in New York on Aug.18, 2004.Photograph by Jim Sulley — AP

Trump even had a board game, a Monopoly-like game launched in 1989, which was ultimately discontinued. He put out an updated version tied to “The Apprentice” in 2005. That one was put on ice, too. As the rebooted game’s tagline proclaimed, “Parker Brothers and Donald Trump are challenging consumers to determine whether they have the brains and the brawn to be the next Donald Trump.” Apparently, not enough were interested.

5. Trump Vodka

Donald Trump
Developer Donald Trump holds a bottle of his new line of vodka as he arrives for the Trump Vodka launch party at Les Deux on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)Photograph by Danny Moloshok — AP

Trump started selling vodka under his name despite not drinking himself. The “super premium” liquor hit shelves in 2006 and was reported to have halted production in 2011 due to a lack of interest. Trump had big plans for the beverage. He said it would be “a major player in the vodka arena” because of its quality and packaging.

There are more failed Trump businesses. He sold steaks, ran a travel search engine, and published a magazine.

For more on Trump, check out Fortune’s interviews with the winners of “The Apprentice.”

About the Author
By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

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