Trump says he gets ‘no credit’ for taking $0 presidential salary — Biden made $1.6M, Obama $3.2M. But does he really work ‘for free’?

"I waived it. I'm the only president that ever waived it," he said. "We've had wealthy presidents before. In the history of our country, there's never been a president that waved his salary. I'm the only schmuck. I get no credit for it."

He added that it's no small amount: "It's still a couple of million bucks. It's not peanuts."

The salary of the U.S. president is $400,000 a year — meaning a full term adds up to seven figures.

However, critics were quick to challenge one part of Trump's claim: that he's the only president to forgo a salary. The New York Times reported that both "John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover donated theirs to charity because they were among the wealthiest to serve in the role (2)."

But the story doesn't end there.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump shared a screenshot of a post by Bo Loudon, a 19-year-old social media influencer (3). The post listed the "total amount of taxpayer $ the past 10 Presidents took as salary," claiming: "Trump: $0.00 Biden: $1.6 Million Obama: $3.2 Million W Bush: $3.2 Million…" going back to Richard Nixon.

While Loudon did not cite a source, the figures for Barack Obama, Joe Biden and George W. Bush appear to be based on the current $400,000 annual presidential salary — which took effect during Bush's presidency. Obama and Bush each served eight years, earning $3.2 million, while Biden's four-year term totaled $1.6 million.

As Trump highlighted his zero salary, supporters echoed the message. "Our President works for free," one post read (4).

Critics, however, argue the focus on salary misses the bigger picture, noting the amount is small compared to a billionaire's broader financial interests

"Trump has made billions exploiting his power as president. Why would he need a salary? That's peanuts," wrote economist Peter Schiff, who supported Trump during the 2024 election (5). "He gives up his tiny salary as a publicity stunt to create the false impression that he's not in it for the money."

Schiff did not specify what he meant by "exploiting his power." But reports have suggested Trump's wealth increased during his current term. For example, Forbes reported in September 2025 that his net worth rose by roughly $3 billion in a single year (6).

To supporters, Trump's decision reinforces his image as a wealthy outsider who didn't need government pay. To critics, it underscores concerns about the blurred line between political power and private business interests.

Regardless of where you land, one point is widely supported by data: the wealthy rarely build their fortunes on salary alone. According to Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data, higher-income taxpayers derive a significant share of their income from business and investments, while wages make up the bulk of earnings for lower-income households (7).

Here's a look at three assets that the wealthy often use to build — and protect — their fortunes.

The asset that made Trump rich

Real estate has long been a cornerstone of wealth-building in the U.S. — an area Trump himself knows well.

Before politics, Trump made his fortune in real estate — and the asset class remains a powerful tool for building and preserving wealth, especially during inflationary times. That's because property values and rental income tend to rise along with the cost of living.

Unlike some other investments, real estate doesn't need a roaring stock market to deliver returns. Even during downturns, high-quality properties can generate rental income — offering a dependable stream of passive cash flow.

As Trump told Steve Forbes back in 2011, "I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times (8)."

Today, you don't need to buy a property outright to benefit from real estate investing. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you'd like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

As of November 2025, Arrived has already paid out more than $19 million in dividends to over 900,000 registered investors.

Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Over nearly four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.

With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to the same multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital.

Here's the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.

A time-tested safe haven

Building a fortune isn't about putting all your eggs in one basket. Diversification is key — and according to Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, there's one effective diversifier that tends to get overlooked by many investors: gold.

"People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio," he told CNBC last year. "When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier."

Long viewed as the ultimate safe haven, gold isn't tied to any single country, currency or economy. It can't be printed out of thin air like fiat money, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to pile in — driving up its value.

Despite a recent pullback, gold prices have surged by more than 45% over the last 12 months.

Other prominent voices see further potential. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently said that in this environment, gold can "easily" rise to $10,000 an ounce.