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documents both from from public sources and confidential disclosures. These included "mortgages and deeds, probate records, financial disclosure reports, regulatory records and civil court files," for publicly available documents and private records such as "bank statements, financial audits, accounting ledgers, cash disbursement reports, invoices and canceled checks."
259:
The book presents allegations that Trump engaged in aggressive tax avoidance strategies, including declaring significant losses in his businesses to offset his tax liabilities over many years. These practices, while possibly legal, call into question the accuracy of Trump's portrayal of his financial
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that wrote a 14,000-word exposé that revealed Trump’s many fraudulent business practices and tax schemes and refuted the former
President's claims of self-made wealth and entrepreneurial accomplishments. The story is among the longest ever published by the paper and involved over 100,000 pages of
296:
Critics have also noted the thoroughness with which the book explores the complicated father-son relationship between Fred and Donald Trump, emphasizing how this dynamic shaped Donald's business practices and eventual rise to the presidency. The detailed reporting, bolstered by confidential tax
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The book reveals that Trump inherited the equivalent of over $ 400 million from his father, Fred Trump, directly contradicting Trump’s public narrative that he built his real estate empire from a small loan. Trump’s financial history is marked by a series of failed business ventures, including
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The book details how Trump relied on licensing his name for various businesses and taking on large amounts of debt, often with minimal personal financial risk. Many of these deals led to lawsuits and financial entanglements that he was able to sidestep, often without fulfilling the loans.
27:
162:’s wealth and fortune and how they were used as a financial leverage for his son. It also challenges the long-standing narrative that Trump built his empire from a modest loan, instead revealing that he inherited the equivalent of over $ 400 million from his father.
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The book has received overwhelming positive critical reception, especially for its investigative depth. It is praised as a standout among books about Donald Trump, with a meticulous and gripping narrative that delves into his financial history.
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for up to eighteen years. In subsequent television interviews, Craig identified herself as the reporter who had received a portion of Trump's 1995 tax records in her mailbox from an anonymous sender, who was later revealed to be
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The more penetrating argument that
Buettner and Craig make is that he’s a lousy businessman who only got as far as he did because of a series of lucky breaks that “could paper over a litany of failure and still fund a lavish
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on
September 17, 2024. The book would draw on over twenty years’ worth of Trump’s confidential tax information, including the tax returns he tried to conceal, alongside business records and interviews with Trump insiders.
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Craig and
Buettner demonstrate how Trump, despite receiving substantial financial backing, repeatedly lost money on ventures, only to be bailed out by luck or the efforts of others. He was able to use the television show
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in 2019 “for an exhaustive 18-month investigation of
President Donald Trump’s finances that debunked his claims of self-made wealth and revealed a business empire riddled with tax dodges." They also shared the 2019
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also reported how the book details “how Trump suffered major losses, such as the closure of multiple casinos, and tax records show that his businesses lost more than $ 1 billion between 1985 and 1994.”
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played a crucial part in reviving his public image as a successful businessman during a period when his real financial situation was far from robust. The show, with the help of
158:’s inherited wealth, financial and business practices alongside providing insights into his many claims on being a self-made man. The book also delves into Trump’s father
256:, airlines, and real estate projects. Despite this, the authors allege that he was repeatedly bailed out either by family support or fortuitous financial deals.
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documents and business records, is seen as a major strength of the book, giving readers an inside look into Trump's financial dealings over several decades.
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gave his son “almost endless collateral for loans, connections in banking and politics, and a reliable wellspring of cash to pursue dreams and fame.”
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noted that it demands to be read, offering a definitive examination of the myth of Trump as a self-made billionaire.
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365:"Donald Trump Tax Records Show He Could Have Avoided Taxes for Nearly Two Decades, The Times Found"
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to rebrand himself during financially difficult times, ultimately leading to his political ascent.
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Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump
Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created The Illusion of Success
343:, labelled the book as lies and claimed the book was "a desperate attempt to interfere" in the
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276:, rebranded him, helping him monetize his persona despite mounting financial difficulties.
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had reported a loss of $ 916 million in 1995, which could have allowed him to avoid paying
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On
February 22, 2024, Craig announced that she would be publishing a book titled
558:"Donald Trump's financial failures are stunning. 'Lucky Loser' has the receipts"
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159:
130:
409:"Times Report: Trump Wealth Largely Based on Tax Scams and Bailouts From Dad"
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430:"David Barstow, Susanne Craig and Russ Buettner of The New York Times"
583:"Donald Trump Was 'Black Hole' for His Dad's Money: New Book Author"
16:
2024 book about Donald J. Trump by Russ
Buettner and Susanne Craig
533:"Lucky Loser review – how Donald Trump squandered his wealth"
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published an article co-authored by Craig, which stated that
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On
October 2 2018, Craig and Buetner were among the three
630:""Lucky loser:" New book details how Trump got rich"
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383:"Tax documents are 'important window' into Trump"
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8:
457:"New York Times Wins Two George Polk Awards"
147:. It was published on September 17, 2024 by
19:
508:"How Donald Trump Learned to Pass the Buck"
25:
18:
345:2024 United States presidential election
220:Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting
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7:
238:in collaboration with her colleague
605:"Donald Trump's Many Lucky Breaks"
506:Nazaryan, Alexander (2024-09-18).
455:Polk, Eileen (February 19, 2019).
14:
556:Mclean, Bethany (2024-09-17).
1:
266:alleges that Trump’s role on
603:Cassidy, John (2024-09-23).
254:Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino
581:Palmer, Ewan (2024-09-18).
531:Delong, Brad (2024-09-26).
678:
628:Peck, Emily (2024-09-17).
407:Drum, Kevin (2018-10-02).
339:Trump’s campaign advisor,
139:investigative journalists
227:for Political Reporting.
202:investigative journalists
31:Cover Page of Lucky Loser
24:
662:Books about Donald Trump
236:Penguin Random House LLC
149:Penguin Random House LLC
89:Penguin Random House LLC
306:, the book reveals how
657:2024 non-fiction books
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218:, went on to win the
180:On October 1, 2016,
562:The Washington Post
486:Peguin Random House
482:"ABOUT LUCKY LOSER"
303:The Washington Post
21:
512:The New York Times
461:The New York Times
371:. October 2, 2016.
369:The New York Times
291:The New York Times
284:Critical reception
207:The New York Times
182:The New York Times
80:September 17, 2024
389:. October 4, 2016
225:George Polk Award
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634:. Retrieved
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63:Donald Trump
20:Lucky Loser
264:Lucky Loser
232:Lucky Loser
651:Categories
636:2024-09-17
614:2024-09-26
589:2024-09-21
585:. Newsweek
567:2024-09-17
542:2024-09-28
517:2024-09-26
415:2024-09-22
393:2021-03-04
351:References
308:Fred Trump
176:Background
160:Fred Trump
154:It covers
131:nonfiction
71:his family
67:his wealth
260:success.
85:Publisher
77:Published
491:29 April
387:NBC News
313:Newsweek
247:Synopsis
133:book by
51:Language
632:. Axios
59:Subject
54:English
466:20 May
440:20 May
436:. 2019
335:life.”
69:, and
37:Author
234:with
129:is a
103:Pages
493:2024
468:2021
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
