Former President Donald Trump’s personal wealth has surged significantly in recent years, even as his approval ratings reach historic lows. According to a financial estimate from early 2026, Trump’s net worth stands at approximately $6.5 billion, buoyed by diverse business ventures that include cryptocurrency sales, branded merchandise, and exclusive access to his social media platform, Truth Social.
In 2025 alone, Trump reportedly earned $2.2 billion from these activities. He has publicly framed his financial success as a patriotic effort, claiming on Truth Social that his investments have benefited the United States, not just himself. A recent post featured an AI-generated image of Trump trading Intel stock and asserted that he had made “hundreds of billions of dollars” on various holdings “for the U.S.A.”, a statement that experts suggest is an exaggeration.
This claim appears linked to the U.S. government’s 9.9% stake in Intel, which was valued at $8.9 billion upon acquisition in 2025 and has since increased nearly fivefold. The Biden administration characterized this growth as a benefit to American taxpayers, although many analysts and citizens question the direct impact on everyday expenses amid rising costs in essential goods and services.
Trump’s financial activities have attracted scrutiny due to ethical concerns over presidential stock trading. His June 2026 financial disclosure showed over 1,000 equity transactions within one month. A congressional report from August highlighted how Trump’s oil and gas investments gained nearly $16 million amid geopolitical tensions with Iran, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest relating to his administration’s policies favoring the energy sector.
While Trump’s trading behavior is uncommon for a sitting or former president, broader issues with lawmakers’ financial dealings persist. An investigation from 2022 revealed that nearly 100 members of Congress and their families engaged in trades linked to industries they oversaw legislatively. One notable example involved the wife of former Democratic Representative Alan Lowenthal selling Boeing stock just before a critical committee report, although Lowenthal denied involvement.
Public concern over such conflicts has led to efforts in Congress to restrict stock trading by elected officials, although current proposals exclude the president and vice president. Despite his growing fortune, Trump’s public support has declined, with a recent poll showing a 33% approval rating among registered voters—the lowest in his political career. However, 72% of Republican voters continue to back him, a decrease from earlier in the year but still a substantial base.
This divide underscores ongoing partisan loyalty amid debates over ethics, governance, and economic priorities as Trump’s financial portfolio flourishes while his political standing weakens.