Donald Trump, who had stated that he would forgo his presidential salary, received approximately $2.4 billion in total income in 2025, according to Forbes’ calculations. Cryptocurrency projects accounted for the largest share of this growth. The publication included operating revenue and asset sales in its estimate, so it should not be equated with the President’s personal net income.
Briefly about the main points
- Forbes has estimated Trump’s total earnings for 2025 at approximately $2.4 billion.
- The figure was more than three times higher than the estimated revenue for 2024.
- Cryptocurrency projects reported revenue of over $1.4 billion in their tax returns.
- There is no public confirmation that Trump’s salary was paid during his second term.
- The estimated assets of $7 billion are not the same as annual revenue.
What did Forbes take into account in its assessment?
Forbes’s analysis was published on 15 July 2026. The publication based its findings on financial disclosures, securities and bond documents, and court records.
According to the Forbes methodology, the figure was more than three times higher than the estimated $760 million for 2024. The calculation included business revenues and proceeds from the sale of assets; therefore, it does not show how much money Trump received personally after expenses, taxes and liabilities.
The President’s salary and the practice of donations
The US President receives a salary of $400 thousand per year. During his first term, Trump donated these funds to federal agencies: in April 2017, the White House announced that the donation for the first quarter had been directed to the National Park Service.
Trump also said that he would not take a salary during his second term. Business Insider reported in September that The White House did not publicly disclose where these payments were directed. This practice is not unique: the presidential library Herbert Hoover confirms that Hoover and John F. Kennedy donated the President’s salary to charity.
Cryptocurrency has become the largest source of revenue
Reuters reported on 30 June that Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure statement shows more than $1.4 billion in income from cryptocurrency projects. Almost $800 million of this sum relates to World Liberty Financial.
Over $520 million came from the sale of tokens, with a further $250 million coming from the sale of business shares. Approximately $635 million came from the $TRUMP meme coin. Forbes also included traditional sources of income, such as the Mar-a-Lago club and international brand licensing agreements.
Court awards and other sources of funding
The organisation Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has calculated that $86.5 million in payments were made to settle legal disputes in 2025. However, CREW’s analysis includes a caveat: according to the declaration, in all but one case, the funds were channelled to other recipients.
Therefore, this entire sum cannot be presented as money that the president kept for himself. According to the Associated Press, the book *Save America* raised nearly $1.9 million — significantly less than the cryptocurrency venture.
Assets, income and the dispute over a conflict of interest
On 21 September, Forbes estimated Trump’s fortune at $7 billion — approximately $2.7 billion more than at the time of his victory in the 2024 election. However, during 2026, this estimate fell by $300 million.
Net worth reflects the approximate value of assets less liabilities, whilst cash flow records the funds received over a specific period. An increase in a company’s value does not mean that the owner receives the same amount in cash.
According to Reuters, the White House denies any conflict of interest and states that the business is run by Trump’s children. The President, however, remains a beneficiary of the business, whilst ethics experts point to the risks of combining public office with private financial interests.
