Displaying his trademark bluster, 2016 GOP presidential candidate and real estate mogul Donald Trump today declared that his net worth was in excess of $10 billion, up from the $8.7 billion number he cited at his campaign kickoff in June.
Today's announcement was tied to Trump's Personal filing of Financial Disclosure (PFD) forms with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), a requirement for all presidential candidates.
INBOX: Donald Trump files personal financial disclosure with FEC pic.twitter.com/aFL2dlkL9q— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) July 15, 2015
But Trump's statement is a masterpiece, a self-made testament to the man himself -- not unlike one of his buildings. Take, for instance, the braggadocio of the opening paragraph:
This report was not designed for a man of Mr. Trump's massive wealth. For instance, they have boxes once a certain number is reached that simply state $50 million or more. Many of these boxes have been checked. As an example, if a building owned by Mr. Trump is worth $1.5 billion, the box checked is “$50,000,000 or more.”
"Watch, listen, and learn. You can't know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity." Donald Trump"— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2015
Next, the statement switches to all capital letters to emphasize Trump's reported wealth.
His debt is a very small percentage of value, and at very low interest rates. As of this date, Mr. Trump's net worth is in excess of TEN BILLION DOLLARS.
In the end, you're measured not by how much you undertake, but by what you finally accomplish!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2015
After reporting his 2014 income as $362 million and trumpeting his success in the stock market, the statement takes a swipe at NBC over Trump's television show, The Apprentice, another pointed parry in the battle between man and network:
NBC/Universal renewed, at the upfronts this year, The Apprentice (for a 15th season), but Mr. Trump decided to turn them down in order to run for President of the United States. NBC was not happy. During the 14 seasons of The Apprentice, Mr. Trump was paid $213,606,575.
Statement on Relationship with NBC- A photo posted by Donald J. Trump (@realdonaldtrump) on Jun 29, 2015 at 1:14pm PDT
Trump has been making headlines recently not only for his poll numbers and his ire directed at immigrants, but for waxing poetic over the escaped drug kingpin Joquain "El Chapo" Guzman.