Donald Trump reportedly used a bail bondsman after being arrested at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, paying $20,000 of his bond set at $200,000 and taking out a loan for the rest of it. The fact that the former president resorted to such a measure has sparked questions on social media about the state of his finances.

    • raptir@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Honest but unpopular answer? He might believe he can make more money holding on to the $180k. It’s the same reason why I would take a 2% car loan even if I had enough to buy the car outright. I can make more than 2% just keeping that money in a mutual fund.

      • xantoxis@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s not so much that this would be a valid (if boring) financial strategy.

        It’s the fact that Trump is actually a terrible fucking businessman. To the extent that he makes any money at all, he makes it by borrowing money and resources and then never giving back anything in return. And he STILL lets casinos go bankrupt. He’s completely incompetent, which makes it hard to believe he would take the valid (if boring) strategy of reinvesting the 180k.

      • doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        That’s possibly what he’s thinking, but making back 20k on 180k (11%) before his trial ends seems like a bit of a tall order. Especially for someone who’s business accumen is a bit suspect. Not necessarily impossible, depending on how long the trial takes.

        Of course he may just feel that keeping the capital fluid is a more prudent decision right now. Or he’s broke. No way to be sure ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    • TheDude@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Because he will use other people’s money rather than his own at every chance he can get.

      • DLSchichtl@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I’m surprised they trust him enough to front the money, honestly. They aren’t getting that money back. Ever.

          • takeda@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            If he feels that he really goes to jail I don’t think he will care about 2024 anymore. And he doesn’t have to leave in his own plane. He still has people who are willing to help him.

            In any case I’m sure the bondsman is also his fan and probably wouldn’t even mind losing the money.

              • takeda@kbin.social
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                1 year ago

                I think we are greatly underestimating him. The fact that he still isn’t in jail shows that he isn’t that dumb (I don’t believe in luck). In fact playing dumb is what helped him get out of many difficult situations.