Before becoming president of the United States, Donald Trump was widely recognized as a global businessman and entrepreneur, even branching out into a series of unexpected business ventures.
Many may be unaware that beyond his career as a New York real estate mogul, Trump was involved in an array of businesses. From the 1980s to the early 2000s, the Trump name became a recognizable brand across various industries, with projects ranging from steaks to a self-branded “University,” and even an attempt to create a professional football league to rival the NFL.
Mixed ownership strategy
Trump employed a mixed ownership approach to his more unusual projects, with varying levels of involvement. For instance, with Trump Steaks, Trump licensed his name, allowing the brand to operate independently without his involvement in production or distribution.
In contrast, some products under the Trump name were created more for promotion than commercial success, often designed to be exclusive items associated with his properties. For instance, Trump Ice, a bottled water brand, was distributed primarily at his hotels and select retail outlets.
Trump’s unique business ventures
Trump Steaks
In 2007, Trump launched Trump Steaks, a premium meat brand sold mainly through Sharper Image stores. However, the project was short-lived; sales were poor, and the product was quickly removed from shelves.
Trump Ice
Trump Ice, a bottled water line, was introduced in 2003 and sold across Trump-owned casinos, hotels, and some stores. Without nationwide distribution, the brand gradually declined, disappearing from the market around 2010.
Trump Vodka
Trump partnered with Drinks Americas Holdings to launch Trump Vodka, licensing his name for branding while leaving production and distribution to the company. Although Trump has stated that he does not drink alcohol, the product was branded as a luxury vodka line.
Trump University
Unlike many of his other ventures, Trump was closely involved with Trump University, a for-profit education company established in 2005. It provided courses on real estate, business management, and entrepreneurship through online programs and in-person seminars. In 2010, Trump University rebranded as Trump Entrepreneur Initiative to comply with legal requirements.
Trump: The Game
In 1989, Trump partnered with Milton Bradley to launch Trump: The Game, a board game inspired by Monopoly. Though initially unsuccessful, it was relaunched in 2004 following the success of Trump’s reality TV show, The Apprentice.