The two briefly spoke over each other during the exchange before Trump appeared to suggest that “everyone’s” net worth had surged by an equivalent amount. Douthat, however, quickly clarified that his personal net worth had not skyrocketed by nearly $3 billion.
‘I devote almost no time to my net worth’
Trump went on to further dismiss longstanding concerns that he’s profited from his time in the Oval Office. Presidents usually divest their stock holdings and place them in a blind trust managed by an independent trustee before taking office, but Trump didn’t do so when his second term began.
“I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care,” Trump told Douthat. “I have a lot of money, and far more than I ever thought I’d have. And I guess it’s gone up. I don’t even know.”
Without naming him, Trump brought up his son, Eric, saying he’s a “very straight, good guy” who manages his finances. “I don’t even talk to him about it,” the president said.
Trump added that he believes it would be difficult to tell his adult sons to pause all business dealings during their father’s second term. “It’s all computer generated,” Trump said. “I have no idea what the hell they’re buying.”
According to Forbes, Trump’s net worth swelled to $7 billion as of mid-September. Just over one-third of that fortune rests on crypto sales made from stablecoins, among other digital assets. Real estate investments and the Trump Media & Technology Group [NASDAQ: DJT] — the parent company of Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social — account for another large portion of his net worth.
Trump has also maintained financial stakes in companies heavily involved with the AI buildout, alongside oil and gas companies. The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan watchdog, released a report on Oct. 1 indicating that by the end of 2025, Trump held between $2.9 million and $9.5 million in companies spearheading data center construction and supplying equipment for the AI buildout.
A late October analysis carried out by Democratic lawmakers on the Joint Economic Committee — a joint House and Senate panel tasked with analyzing the U.S. economy — also indicated that Trump’s estimated oil and gas stock holdings have increased to $81.6 million, a 43% increase from the end of 2025.
