Earned through virtual assets and real estate…Trump reported income of ₩820 billion last year

₩78.4 billion from a virtual asset platform established by his sons

First asset disclosure after returning to power…₩300 billion from real estate

It has been revealed that former U.S. President Donald Trump earned an income of about $600 million (approximately ₩820 billion) last year through sources such as cryptocurrency and real estate.

According to Reuters and CNN on the 13th (local time), the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) released a report listing income Donald Trump received from cryptocurrency, golf clubs, licensing businesses, and other ventures.

The published data specify that Trump earned $57.35 million (about ₩78.4 billion) from tokens (blockchain-based assets) issued by 'World Liberty Financial' (WLF), a virtual asset platform established by his oldest son Donald Trump Jr. and second son Eric Trump in September last year. It is also stated that he owns tokens worth $15.75 billion (about ₩2.15 trillion) in this company.

The income Trump received from various real estate assets he owns was also included.

According to the report, three golf resorts and private club Mar-a-Lago in Florida, owned by Trump—Jupiter, Doral, and West Palm Beach—generated at least $217.7 million (about ₩297.7 billion) in revenue. Of these, the Doral resort alone had $110.4 million (about ₩151 billion) in revenue, the highest among them.

Additionally, he earned $5 million (about ₩6.8 billion) in license fees from business development in Vietnam, $10 million (about ₩13.6 billion) in business development fees from India, and $16 million (about ₩21.8 billion) in business license fees from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Trump also made money from selling his own NFT products. He earned $1.3 million (₩1.7 billion) from sales of the 'Greenwood Bible' created in collaboration with country singer Lee Greenwood, $2.8 million (₩3.8 billion) from the sale of the 'Trump Watch', and $2.5 million (₩3.4 billion) from the sale of Trump sneakers and perfume.

He generated income of $1.16 million (₩1.58 billion) from digital trading cards modeled after himself.

The income disclosed on this day is estimated as of last year; therefore, profit from his self-issued meme coin $TRUMP, launched shortly before his inauguration in January this year, was not included, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported that estimated fee revenue from $TRUMP is $320 million (about ₩437.6 billion), though the allocation method is not known.

Trump's meme coin has drawn controversy over potential conflicts of interest, as he can earn income directly through it while being in a position to set related regulatory policy.

Additionally, income, including interest and dividends, from investments managed by asset management firm Blue Owl Capital, Charles Schwab's treasury fund, and asset management company Invesco, is estimated to be at least $12 million (about ₩16.4 billion), according to Reuters.

Reuters' own calculation estimated Trump's total assets to be at least $1.6 billion (about ₩2.19 trillion). The disclosure also reveals income earned by Melania Trump, who received speech fees and NFT sales proceeds.

According to the report, in July last year, Melania received $475,000 (₩650 million) for a speech to a conservative LGBTQ+ group in New York, and about $217,000 (around ₩300 million) from her own NFT sales.

Soojin Choi, Hankyung.com Reporter naive@hankyung.com