Donald Trump's private plane, cars, and other lavish vehicles
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Donald Trump thinks he's not a flight risk. Here's why
Donald Trump has mocked the idea that he's a flight risk as he prepares to surrender himself to authorities in his latest legal battle. Read on for the full story, and to discover why Vladimir Putin also gets a mention from the former POTUS.
All dollar amounts in US dollars.
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Flight risk?
After indicting Trump earlier this month, Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis (pictured) has set his bond at $200,000 (£156.5k). Trump has since announced that he will turn himself in at Fulton County Jail, Atlanta, this coming Thursday, where he will face charges relating to his alleged efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
But in a post on his social network Truth Social, Trump has suggested the bond shows Willis clearly considers him a flight risk – and he's joked about his plans to jump bail.
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Flight risk?
"The failed District Attorney of Fulton County (Atlanta), Fani Willis, insisted on a $200,000 Bond from me," Trump wrote. "I assume, therefore, that she thought I was a 'flight' risk – I'd fly far away, maybe to Russia, Russia, Russia, share a gold domed suite with Vladimir, never to be seen or heard from again."
The picture shows Trump and Putin at a summit in 2017.
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Trump's "tremendous" transport
Trump didn't leave the matter there. Referencing his beloved Trump Force One private jet, he added: "Would I be able to take my very 'understated' airplane with the gold TRUMP affixed for all to see. Probably not, I'd be much better off flying commercial – I'm sure nobody would recognize me!"
Trump has shown off a variety of flash vehicles when travelling to and from trials since his first indictment in March. As he prepares to travel to Atlanta this week, read on for a closer look at Trump's "understated airplane" and discover the cars, helicopters, motorbikes, and other vehicles in his multi-million dollar transport collection.
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Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
'Trump Force One' is the informal name of Trump's private Boeing 757-200 jet that he bought from the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011.
Trump was quick to revamp the plane’s interiors according to his famously extravagant taste in décor, spending a staggering $100 million (£83.2m) on lavish leather seating, a gold silk-upholstered master bedroom, and a spacious bathroom with its own 24-carat gold sink.
Courtesy The Trump Organization via trump.com
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
Entering at the back of the plane took you through to a galley kitchen. If you're wondering what kind of meals the former POTUS liked to eat on board, it seems his menus weren't quite as luxurious as the interior design. According to CNN, photos have shown Trump tucking into Big Macs and KFC meals while flying, although he apparently went to the trouble of plating them up and using a knife and fork.
Courtesy The Trump Organization via trump.com
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
Like all the trimmings inside Trump Force One, the seatbelts onboard were plated in 24-carat gold. The first-class leather sleeper seats were fitted with an audio-visual system that would update passengers on their journey.
Courtesy The Trump Organization via trump.com
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
The plane also contained a dining area and main lounge, both fitted with a TV.
The lounge (pictured) apparently boasted "the sound system of a top Hollywood screening room" and a multiplex movie system that could store around 1,000 films and 2,500 CDs, all available on demand throughout the cabin. An interactive touchscreen enabled Trump to control "all rooms wirelessly from anywhere in the plane".
Courtesy The Trump Organization via trump.com
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
An onboard guest room contained yet another home theatre system, as well as a mohair divan that could be converted into a full-size bed for long journeys. But Trump's own bedroom (pictured) was even more luxurious, containing "yards and yards of elegant gold silk" on the cabin walls, as well as a custom headboard, comforter, and pillows embroidered with the Trump family crest.
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Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
Once he became president, Donald Trump didn’t have much use for his airliner and it was put into long-term storage at New York Stewart International Airport (pictured). Planning on staying in office until 2024, the then-president neglected to maintain Trump Force One. And so, after losing the election in 2020, Trump couldn't satisfy his wish to leave the White House on his private jet: it was unsuitable for flight after an engine had been removed.
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
In March last year, Trump announced plans to replace the original Trump Force One after the plane he was travelling on was forced to make an emergency landing en route to Miami. "Before becoming the greatest President of all time, I traveled the Country in my plane, known as Trump Force One," he shared in an email.
"I have a very important update on my plane, but I need to trust that you won’t share it with anyone: my team is building a BRAND NEW Trump Force One. The construction of this plane has been under wraps – not even the fake news media knows about it – and I can’t wait to unveil it for everyone to see."
Donald Trump/Truth Social
Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
In July 2022, Trump broke some news about his prized plane: "Now it has been completely modernized and renovated, and looks GREAT, all done in the Great State of Louisiana, and coming back to the skies in the Fall of 2022, or maybe sooner. Get ready!" Trump added a link to a video with sped-up footage of the refurbishment.
Trump may have ditched his plans for a brand-new plane, but the revamped aircraft is still staggeringly opulent. The former POTUS revealed his new and improved private jet during his first campaign rally in Waco, Texas, using it as the backdrop to his speech.
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Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
At the rally (pictured), Trump Force One cut an impressive figure on the tarmac at Waco Regional Airport. Afterwards, a number of journalists accompanied Trump on the flight back to Palm Beach, Florida, giving them the chance to check out its new furnishings. British tabloid The Daily Mail has reported that the jet has "a brand new sound system" – one of Trump's favourite features onboard – with speakers that run down both sides of the cabin. "See all the speakers", Trump said. "All those speakers are amazing, truly surround sound."
As well as the new speakers, Trump Force One has been refitted with cream leather furnishings (complete with the Trump family crest), 24-carat gold air vents and seatbelt buckles, and velvet on the walls. It has 43 seats, a bedroom, a guest suite, a state room, a conference room, and a gallery.
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Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
So how much did the refurbishments cost? Although we know the original plane cost $100 million (£83.2m), Trump didn't reveal how much he'd spent on the upgrades, telling The Daily Mail that it would be wrong to boast about the money when so many people were struggling. "A lot of money", he said. "These finishes are expensive.
"I think... it makes a fantastic impression on people because we're gonna make our country great and you'd like to show equipment that's great. It's all part of everything."
Trump's presidential bid is still a work in progress, but there's little doubt he has a plane fit for a president. "You look at the cockpit," he told journalists. "There's nothing in the cockpit [of Air Force One] that this one doesn't have. I said just put the best." And there's another hint that Trump designed the plane with a second campaign in mind...
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Trump Force One, Boeing 757-200
The upgraded jet may have retained its original red, blue and white paint job, but a significant change has been made to its tail. The letter 'T' that previously decorated the back of Trump's aircraft has been replaced with an American flag – making this plane an undeniable symbol of his presidential campaign.
Now read on to explore the other modes of transport in Trump's extensive fleet...
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Cessna Citation X jet
Another Trump-owned aircraft is this 1997 Cessna Citation X, which became a famous sight on the 2016 campaign trail. The private jet is more compact than his Boeing 757-200, with a cabin height of five feet and seven inches – eight inches shorter than Trump himself – and room for nine passengers.
This one doesn’t come with a private shower onboard but is kitted out with "top of the line interiors" according to the Trump Organization, while its exterior is emblazoned with the signature Trump Crest. The Cessna was grounded for a short period in 2016 as the licence expired, but Trump manoeuvred his way out of any legal difficulties by selling the jet – to himself.
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Three Sikorsky S-76 helicopters
Why have one helicopter when you can have three? Trump has Sikorsky S-76 choppers based in New York, Florida and Scotland ready for use at guests’ convenience at his private clubs in the areas. The bold exteriors show the aircraft as unmistakably belonging to the former president, and one of the choppers underwent a $750,000 (£624.5k) redecoration in the early 2010s that saw its interiors decked out with 24-carat gold-plated hardware.
In November 2020 one of the Sikorskys was put up for sale, but it’s unknown whether Trump found a buyer. The average asking price for a helicopter of that age is between $1.4 million and $1.6 million (£1.2m-£1.3m).
Felix Goetting (GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html> or GFDL 1.2 <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html>), via Wikimedia Commons
Trump Shuttle
Donald Trump may have splashed millions of dollars on high-end aircraft over the years, but in 1989 he tried to turn the tables and make a business out of his love of flying. Always on the lookout for a money-making opportunity, Trump raised $365 million (£303.9m) to purchase flailing airline Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, which he renamed 'Trump Shuttle'.
The fleet consisted of 21 Boeing 727s and $1 million (£832.3k) was spent on refurbishing each plane, but within 18 months the company was haemorrhaging funds. After the venture lost $128 million (£106.5m), Trump decided to ground his airline for good.
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Trump Shuttle
In 1992, the planes that made up the Trump Shuttle fleet were bought by US Airways, which was later absorbed into American Airlines. Trump had reportedly refurbished the planes to resemble his casinos, with leather seats, expensive wood veneer, and fake marble basins. All this despite the fact they only flew between Boston, New York, and Washington DC – meaning some journeys were as short as 45 minutes.
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Trump Princess
A year before snapping up Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, Trump set out to conquer the oceans when he bought a superyacht from the Sultan of Brunei, who'd recently purchased the boat from Arabian business mogul Adnan Khashoggi. The yacht cost Trump $29 million (£24.1m) – equivalent to about $73.3 million (£61m) in today's money.
Trump worked his décor magic and added a pool on the yacht's sun deck, as well as a cinema, a disco, a sauna, and even an elevator that travelled between the five decks. He renamed his rejuvenated yacht "Trump Princess". The yacht’s helipad was also replaced by a giant 'T' for 'Trump', which helped to drive renovation costs up to $10 million (£8.3m). Trump Princess was then sold to Prince Al Waleed of Saudi Arabia in 1991 for around $19 million (£15.8m). It was renamed 'Kingdom 5KR'.
Courtesy Oliver Yacht Design
Trump Princess II
After the completion of Trump Princess in 1989, Trump set his sights on another ocean project: Trump Princess II. Designs were drawn up by Jaime Oliver of Oliver Yacht Design, and the boat was set to be "not only… the largest yacht in the world, but at the same time, the most beautiful", according to Trump.
Courtesy Oliver Yacht Design
Trump Princess II
At 128 metres (420ft) long, the superstructure would have had plenty of room for entertaining, featuring multiple pools and dining areas. But just a couple of months into the project Trump Princess II was scrapped. The steel structure that was set to become the world’s fanciest yacht is rumoured still to be at the Dutch Amels Makkum facility, where it's reportedly used as a bike storage space.
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Rolls-Royce 1956 Silver Cloud
Now for some seriously suave automobiles that would make most car aficionados drool. Trump’s 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is believed to be one of the first luxury motors bought by the billionaire, as well as one of his most treasured possessions. The timeless car would likely sell for between £20,000 and £90,000 ($23.9k-$107.9k) on the classic car market, depending on its condition.
Rolls-Royce Phantom
A fan of this luxurious automaker, which also made the engines that powered Trump Force One, Trump went on to acquire a 2010 Rolls-Royce Phantom. He sold the car at auction with an autographed car manual in January 2021.
The car had an estimated price of $300,000-$400,000 (£250.2k-£333.6k), but the actual sold price hasn't been made public. Trump still has the 2015 Phantom model, which is likely to have cost him around $500,000 (£417.1k). The priciest of Trump’s cars, the Phantom is the crown jewel in the former president’s high-class array of vehicles.
Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Mercedes SLR McLaren
In 2003, Mercedes released the SLR McLaren supercar, and auto enthusiast Donald Trump was quick to snap up one of the sleek two-door models.
In his 2004 book Think Like a Billionaire, the monied business mogul highlights his love of the German carmaker: "My favorite car is a Mercedes. I've had one for a long time, and it's reliable, elegant, and sturdy all at once. I have no complaints about my Mercedes. It's never disappointed me. The cars are not temperamental, and they make my life easier. Mercedes cars are also great because they are classy without being ostentatious."
Read more about the products Donald Trump loves
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Maybach limousine and a S600 saloon
Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump’s love of Mercs didn’t stop at just one car. The deluxe Mercedes-owned Maybach limousine and the 2015 S600 saloon are also believed to be among his collection.
The most souped-up version of the S600 is the Guard model, which can withstand gunfire and explosions, and even comes with a sealed oxygen system in the event of a gas attack.
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1997 Lamborghini Diablo
Can you be a luxury car lover without owning at least one Lamborghini? Donald Trump was once the owner of a Diablo, which is one of the Italian carmaker's most celebrated autos as it was the first to reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour.
After Trump sold his 1997 model, it changed hands several times before eventually landing on eBay in 2016, where it reportedly sold for $460,000 (£383.7k).
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2007 Ferrari F430 F1 Coupe
Another Italian carmaker that really gets Trump’s motor going is Ferrari, and in 2007 the billionaire treated himself to a brand-new F430 F1 Coupe.
The brilliant red sportscar was sold within four years and, after passing through several owners, it went under the hammer again in 2017, when it sold for $240,000 (£195k). The Ferrari previously owned by Trump was most recently sold at auction in January 2021. It had an estimate of $400,000 (£333.6k) to $600,000 (£500.5k), but like his Rolls-Royce Phantom its final selling price hasn't been revealed.
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Trump Series Cadillac
Trump’s relationship with all-American car manufacturer Cadillac stretches back to 1988, when he collaborated with the company to create a deluxe Trump Series limo line. This Allanté convertible is an example of the gold editions in the range, and one was allegedly gifted to Trump as part of the deal.
On receiving his car Trump reportedly remarked: "You can see the kind of quality there is. We left nothing out. I’m very honored that they built me the first one and, frankly, I deserve it." Other sources suggest that Trump’s father Fred was actually the first recipient of one of the golden Cadillacs, which came with gold-plated metallic accents and Italian leather interiors.
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Tesla Roadster
Perhaps a surprising addition to Trump’s fuel-guzzling array of sportscars is a Tesla Roadster, a fully electric, zero-emission vehicle celebrated for its eco-friendly credentials.
The particular model could just be hearsay, as there aren’t any photos of the former president driving the car and it’s difficult to imagine Trump, who stands at six foot two inches tall, squeezing into the compact, low-slung vehicle. But back in 2015, his campaign did tell The Washington Post that a Tesla was one of two American cars in Trump's collection.
24-carat gold Orange County Chopper
Gold and emblazoned with the word 'TRUMP', this personalised Orange County Chopper certainly fits Trump's favoured aesthetic.
Trump was gifted the 24-carat motorcycle by Paul Teutal Sr, star of TV show American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior, in 2012 while Teutal was taking part in Trump's reality show Celebrity Apprentice. Teutal rode the bike up a red carpet in Trump Towers before presenting the vehicle to its new owner.
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