Accountants say Trump might have as little as $30 million scattered across ... trends now
Accountants said former President Donald Trump could have as little as $30 million readily available spread across hundreds of bank accounts.
Forensic accountants Mark Gottlieb and Bruce Dubinsky, joined by University of Las Vegas Nevada tax law expert Francine Lipman, told The Daily Beast Trump likely has access to $30 million to $100 million after reviewing his 2020 tax returns.
While Trump often touts himself as a billionaire, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $3.2 billion, the accounting experts suggested the value is mostly derived from assets that he cannot easily access.
Gottlieb, who also serves as a tax law expert in Manhattan, said that a lot of Trump's income in 2020 appeared to be 'phantom income.'
'As phantom income, he can't touch it, feel it, smell it, or use it,' Gottlieb told The Daily Beast.
Donald Trump could have access to as little as $30 million despite his $3.2 billion net worth
In reviewing Trump's 2020 tax returns, Gottlieb said the documents showed an impressive $10.6 million earned in interest income, but very little in the form of dividends or other forms of earnings.
And about $9.74 million of the interest income comes from entities controlled by Vornado Realty Trust, where Trump is a minority member and has no control over his stake.
'The self-proclaimed billionaire only earned an actual income of around a million dollars,' Gottlieb told the Daily Beast. 'But for his wages as president and his dividends from those inaccessible partnerships, Trump's actual income that year was more like $500,000 or $600,000. Not a lot of money for a billionaire.'
Lipman echoed the conclusion, adding that the money spread around hundreds of entities meant Trump is effectively unable 'to put money from [his] left pocket to his right pocket.'
'It looks like he's got around half a million in interest income that he can actually touch. Not
