How Fred Trump Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Fred Trump—a timeline of influence.

Frederick Christ Trump Sr. (1905-1999) was an American real estate developer and businessman known for building and managing affordable housing in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens. He faced controversy over discriminatory rental practices. He is most notably the father of Donald Trump, the 45th U.S. president. Trump's business acumen and real estate empire significantly influenced his son's career and approach to business. He was a major figure in shaping New York City's housing landscape after World War II.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1976: Trump sets up trust funds for his children and grandchildren

In 1976, Trump set up trust funds of $1 million for each of his five children and three grandchildren, which paid out yearly dividends.

1982: Trump appears on Forbes 400 list

Trump appeared on the initial Forbes 400 list of richest Americans in 1982 with an estimated $200 million fortune split with his son Donald. That same year, Fred sold two Norfolk towers and some Hampton Roads military housing, the latter for $8–9 million.

1985: Horatio Alger Award

In 1985, Fred Trump received the Horatio Alger Award for "distinguished Americans," presented by Ruth Peale.

1985: Biography repeats fabrication

In 1985, Jerome Tuccille's biography of Donald Trump repeated Fred Trump's fabrication that he was born in New Jersey and erroneously stated that his middle name was Charles.

1987: The Art of the Deal Allegations

In 1987, Donald Trump's 'The Art of the Deal' alleged that Fred Trump was born in New Jersey and was the son of an immigrant from Sweden, further perpetuating false claims about his origins.

Trump: The Art of the Deal

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1989: Advice to Donald Regarding Marital Affairs

In 1989, while Donald was married to Ivana, Fred Trump reputedly lectured Donald that he could "have a thousand mistresses" but should avoid getting caught in a single extramarital affair.

1992: Subsidiary Setup to Funnel Finances

In 1992, Fred and Donald Trump established a subsidiary to channel Fred's finances to his children.

1993: Biography asserts Fred was a philanderer

In 1993, Harry Hurt III's biography of Donald Trump asserted that Fred Trump was a philanderer, leading to him being known as the "King of Miami Beach".

1993: Shares of Trump's estate estimated

In 1993, the anticipated shares of Trump's estate amounted to $35 million for each surviving child. Most of his buildings were transferred to two grantor-retained annuity trusts under his and his wife's names.

1995: Transfer of assets via annuity payments

Between 1995 and November 1997, about two-thirds of Trump's assets were given to his four surviving children, who bought the remaining third via annuity payments.

November 1997: End of asset transfer via annuity payments

Between 1995 and November 1997, about two-thirds of Trump's assets were given to his four surviving children, who bought the remaining third via annuity payments.

1997: Apartments acquired

Trump's four surviving children acquired apartments in 1997.

1998: Promissory notes transferred to Trump Organization subsidiaries

In 1998, a year before Fred's death, while he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and his son Robert had power of attorney, the promissory notes from the 1982 sale were transferred to limited liability companies connected to Trump Organization subsidiaries.

June 25, 1999: Death of Frederick Christ Trump Sr.

On June 25, 1999, Frederick Christ Trump Sr. passed away. He was known as an American real-estate developer and the father of Donald Trump.

August 7, 2000: Death of Mary Trump

Fred Trump's widow, Mary, died on August 7, 2000, at age 88, also at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Her and Fred's combined estate was then valued at $51.8 million.

December 2003: Sale of apartments reported

In December 2003, it was reported that Trump's four surviving children would sell the apartments they acquired in 1997 to an investment group led by Rubin Schron, priced at $600 million.

May 2004: Sale of apartments occurs

In May 2004, the sale of apartments by Trump's four surviving children to an investment group led by Rubin Schron occurred.

2004: Collective assets sold for 16 times their value

In 2004, the collective assets, valued at $41.4 million in 1997, were sold for over 16 times this value, avoiding hundreds of millions of dollars in gift taxes.

February 2017: Israeli newspaper asserts racism inheritance

In February 2017, a liberal Israeli newspaper asserted that both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu had inherited racism from their fathers.

October 2018: Reported lack of significant financial contributions to charities

In October 2018, The New York Times reported in an exposé on Fred Trump's financial records that they had found no evidence that he had made any significant financial contributions to charities.

October 2018: New York Times exposé on Fred and Donald Trump's finances

In October 2018, a New York Times exposé on Fred and Donald Trump's finances revealed that Fred created 295 income streams for Donald and concludes that the latter "was a millionaire by age 8", receiving $413 million from Fred's business empire over his lifetime, including over $60.7 million in loans, which were largely unreimbursed.

2018: Opined criminal contributions

In 2018, Jonathan Chait, writing for New York magazine, opined that many of Fred Trump's contributions to Donald were by definition criminal in nature.

2018: Psychological profile asserts Fred was anti-Semitic

In 2018, Justin A. Frank's psychological profile of Donald Trump asserted that Fred Trump was anti-Semitic.

2018: The New York Times Report on Family Finances

In 2018, The New York Times reported that Fred and Mary Trump provided over $1 billion to their children, evading over $500 million in gift taxes.

2019: Outstanding promissory notes as of 2019

In 2019, promissory notes were apparently outstanding.

2020: Fact-checking company conclusion

In mid-2020, the fact-checking company Logically concluded that there was a lack of clear evidence that Fred Trump was a Nazi supporter.

2020: MeidasTouch cited empty wagon quote

In mid-2020, the political action committee MeidasTouch cited the "empty wagon" quote from Fred Trump's Horatio Alger Association speech, arguing that Donald Trump squandered the fortune he inherited. Also in 2020, Mary L. Trump claimed in her book that Donald dismissed and derided Fred when he began to succumb to Alzheimer's, and asserted Fred was a high-functioning sociopath.

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man

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2021: Donald's disparaging remarks about Germans

In 2021, according to a book about Donald Trump's last year as president, Donald spoke disparagingly of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, using a slur and referring to his father as "the biggest kraut of them all."

2023: Media Outlets Highlighted Fred's Arrests

Following Donald Trump's arrest in New York in 2023, some media outlets pointed out that his father, Fred Trump, had been arrested twice.

2023: $1 million in 1976 equals $5.3 million in 2023

In 2023, $1 million in 1976 equals $5.3 million.

2023: Inflation adjustment of 2018 amount

In 2023, the $413 million Donald Trump received from Fred's business empire in 2018 equates to $483.6 million, and the $60.7 million in loans equates to $163.9 million.

2024: Donald's claim about father's advice

During his 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump said that his father had told him to never say "Nazi" or mention Hitler.

2024: Article Claims Denial of Emotional Nourishment

In 2024, an article in Clio's Psyche claimed that Fred Trump denied Donald of "basic, life-affirming emotional nourishment", resulting in Donald's "absence of moral responsibility".