Chatting With the Trump Brothers

This morning I interviewed two pretty well known brothers, the Trump brothers, Eric and Donald Trump Junior. It was my first time meeting Eric. I have known Donald Trump Junior and Ivanka after meeting Donald Trump Senior well over five years ago. They're a terrific family.

I must admit, if my sons grow up with the work ethic that these two have, I would be thrilled. They are very down to earth. No sense of entitlement. In fact, they're just the opposite. Having one of the most famous dad's on the planet has probably made them even more conscious of the world's perception of them. Clearly the Trump family is doing something very right because they're doing very well and each kid is contributing to the real estate empire.

In fact, the Trump Organization just completed a highly publicized project here in the United States in Chicago. They built the second largest concrete-reinforced structure in the world. It's a 1,350 foot building, the largest completed since the Sears Tower at 92 stories. It houses 486 luxury residential condominiums and according to Eric was sold at the right time, just before the credit crunch unraveled.

Donald Junior has been overseeing another huge project for the Trump Organization, the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Dubai. It's a 62 story hotel and residential building that they are developing in conjunction with Nakheel, a world renowned developer for larger than life projects like Palm Islands. It is expected to open in the summer of 2009 and so far the per square foot cost on average is going for, get this, $3,000 dollars per square foot!!!! Is that unbelievable? To put it in context, New York City real estate, which is one of the most expensive in the country, is closer to on average $1,000 a square foot. Hard to believe in today's climate but so far Donald Junior says it's exceeding expectations.