| Famous risk takers do not come much bigger than | | | | reduced the size of his business debt and merged |
| Trump | | | | several of his business interests into a publicly held |
| With his billion dollar fortune, his monster hit TV show | | | | company, which itself was forced to seek bankruptcy |
| "The Apprentice", his sprawling business empire and | | | | protection. |
| one of the most valuable apartments in New York | | | | A new and more successful career |
| City Donald Trump appears to be on top of the world. | | | | Trump shows that famous risk takers can win big as |
| But it was not always this way. At his lowest point | | | | well as lose big. Trump's business empire currently |
| Trump (sometimes known as "the Donald") was facing | | | | includes: |
| personal bankruptcy with personal debts of $900M, | | | | - Real estate |
| while his business was declared bankrupt with debts | | | | - Restaurants |
| of $3.5Bn. | | | | - Travel |
| One risk too many for Trump leads to bankruptcy | | | | - A university |
| As soon as he finished university Trump went to work | | | | - Casinos |
| in his father's real estate business. After serving his | | | | - Television. |
| apprenticeship he was given his first big project - the | | | | Trump is the executive producer of the hit show "The |
| renovation of an 1,200 unit apartment complex. Within | | | | Apprentice" as well as its star. He has also played |
| 12 months he had completed the project and the | | | | himself in cameo roles in movies and comedy shows. |
| newly renovated building was fully occupied. Trump | | | | Trump puts his success down to being willing to take a |
| went on to build his real estate empire, with several | | | | risk. He was once quoted as saying, "I like thinking big. I |
| assets bearing his name. | | | | always have. If you're going to be thinking anyway, you |
| Down, but not out | | | | might as well think big." |
| By 1990 though, Trump was forced into bankruptcy | | | | Conclusion |
| when he could no longer meet interest payments on | | | | When you play for high stakes you stand to lose |
| his loans. Although Trump was forced to sell some | | | | everything, but that does not have to be the end of |
| assets and give up control of one of his buildings, he | | | | the game. If you keep your wits about you, you can |
| retained control of several casinos and other buildings. | | | | recover from even the biggest failure. Here is Trump's |
| This, however, was not the end of his business career. | | | | own take on this: |
| As Trump himself said: "Anyone who thinks my story | | | | What separates the winners from the losers is how a |
| is anywhere near over is sadly mistaken". Within four | | | | person reacts to each new twist of fate. |
| years he had almost cleared his personal debt, | | | | |