Trump earned over $2.2 billion last year selling Bibles, sneakers, crypto and more

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

President Donald Trump earned more than $2.2 billion last year through virtual asset ventures and personal brand businesses, according to his latest financial disclosure.

Trump reported total income exceeding $2.2 billion in his 2025 financial disclosure filed with the US Office of Government Ethics, according to the Washington Post and BBC on Tuesday (local time).

That figure is more than $1.6 billion higher than the roughly $600 million he reported in his 2024 disclosure, filed just before he returned to the White House.

The 927-page report lists a wide range of income sources, including virtual assets, real estate, licensing deals and branded merchandise sales.

Virtual assets were the single largest source of income. Trump, who has championed pro-crypto policies, reported earning approximately $1.4 billion from related ventures alone.

His personal brand businesses also generated substantial revenue. Trump reported $208,000 from sales of a Bible bearing his name, $1.8 million from a photo book titled "Save America," and $67,000 from Trump-branded sneakers and perfume.

A limited-edition guitar called the "America Eagle," marketed to his supporters, brought in an additional $36,000.

Income from past film and television appearances continued as well. Trump received an $86,532 pension payment from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists last year. He had a cameo role in the 1992 film "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York."

He also reported $86.5 million in damages from lawsuits filed against media organizations.

Real estate remained a steady source of cash. Trump National Doral, his golf resort in Florida, generated $122 million in revenue, while Mar-a-Lago, his private estate and members-only club, brought in $77 million.

First Lady Melania Trump was also listed in the disclosure, reporting $10.7 million from a contract for a documentary about her produced by Amazon.

The disclosure has reignited conflict-of-interest concerns.

Norman Eisen, who served as White House ethics counsel in the Barack Obama administration, told the Washington Post the disclosure represented "the largest use of the presidency for private gain in American history." He added that there had been "no precedent for a president seeking to monetize the White House while stakeholders are willing to pay enormous sums at the same time."

The White House flatly denied the allegations. Press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement that "the president and his family have not and will not be involved in any conflicts of interest," dismissing the claims as "baseless."

Trump himself, speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One that day, attributed his wealth increase to a rising stock market, saying Americans "should be thanking me" for the appreciation in their retirement assets.

The Washington Post's analysis of the disclosure found that stock investment gains accounted for only a small share of the increase, concluding that the expansion of Trump's virtual asset ventures and personal brand businesses were the primary drivers of his wealth growth last year.