President Donald Trump was asked a fairly straightforward question about how his personal fortune had grown by nearly $3 billion since he returned to the White House.  His answer turned into a lecture about the stock market, as he claimed he barely pays attention to his own money before suggesti ng that the interviewer could have made billions, too, if he had simply invested in stocks. For a president leading a country where millions of Americans struggle with rising costs, the exchange offered a remarkable glimpse of how disconnected Trump’s view of personal wealth can be. U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) During an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” correspondent Ross Douthat, Trump brushed aside questions about his growing fortune, suggesting his financial gains were nothing unusual because the stock market was rising for everyone.  But Forbes estimates that Trump has added about $2.7 billion to his net worth since winning the 2024 election, largely through cryptocurrency ventures and other business dealings that have benefited from his return to political power.  Police Branded Ohio Man a Mass Shooter, Then Buried Evidence Pointing to Someone Else While He Sat in Jail for 141 Days, Lawsuit Says ‘Get Off of Me!’: Men Pin Grocery Store Customer to the Ground at Gunpoint Over Alleged $6 Sandwich Theft His response to questions about the money also revived criticism that he understands little about the financial pressures facing ordinary Americans. Douthat began by asking about a Forbes report detailing Trump’s financial gains. “There’s a Forbes story that said that your net worth — maybe it’s changed with the stock market recently — but your net worth went up by $3 billion,” Douthat said. “Well, so did everyone’s,” Trump interjected. When Douthat clarified that he meant the president’s return to office, Trump seemed eager to take control of the conversation. “Okay, you’re ready? So here’s —” Trump began. But Douthat pushed back on the suggestion that everyone was enjoying the same financial gains. “Everyone’s — my net worth did not go up by three billion, for the record,” he said. “Well, you should have had stock,” Trump replied. “I should have — I should have had stock,” Douthat responded. “You should have had stock. Excuse me, So — I devote, I devote —” Trump continued, before Douthat returned to the original question: “How did it go up by $3 billion?” Trump then offered an explanation that did little to address the underlying question. “Well, let me explain. I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care. I make — I have a lot of money, far more than I ever thought I’d have. And I guess it’s gone up. I don’t even know. I have a son who’s a very straight, good guy. He watches over money. I don’t even talk to him about it. He watches. He gives — they gave my money — I have a lot of cash, I’ve had a lot of cash long before I came in here. I don’t take a salary, you know?” Trump has complained that Americans fail to appreciate his decision to forgo his $400,000 presidential salary. At an October event promoting a government services website, he again brought up the subject, saying, “I don’t take my salary. Do you believe? No other president, they think that no other president has ever served without receiving their salary.” He later grumbled, “Do I get thanks for it? None. Nobody ever says, ‘Thank you very much, sir.’ Oh boy, oh boy.” The complaint came as his fortune continued to grow by billions, leaving critics with another reason to question whether Trump understands the difference between his financial circumstances and those of ordinary Americans. “Don’t take a salary but you definitely used other ways to enrich yourself and family,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “America’s Biggest Criminal.” One added: “This is crazy work.” Another person weighed in, saying: “I think this may actually be the most out-of-touch moment any politician has ever had in American political history.” The Forbes figures offer a different picture from Trump’s suggestion that his fortune simply grew alongside everyone else’s. The publication estimated his wealth at approximately $7 billion in September, making him roughly $2.7 billion richer than when he won the 2024 election. Cryptocurrency ventures accounted for a substantial portion of those gains. Trump’s family launched World Liberty Financial during the 2024 presidential campaign. His sons Eric and Donald Jr. are among its co-founders. The venture expanded after Trump won the election. According to Forbes, it generates substantial revenue through cryptocurrency token sales and other digital asset-related business. Trump also launched his $TRUMP meme coin just three days before taking office, creating another lucrative revenue stream. A financial disclosure released in July showed approximately $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency-related income for 2025 alone. That included $635 million in royalties from the company issuing his meme coin and more than $500 million from token sales connected to World Liberty Financial, CBS reported. The figures have fueled questions about potential conflicts of interest. The Trump administration has supported easing regulations on the cryptocurrency industry. Critics have also pointed to foreign financial connections involving his family’s business ventures. Trump has repeatedly dismissed those concerns, arguing that everyone benefits from the stock market. During a July exchange with reporters, one journalist asked what message his financial gains sent to Americans struggling to make ends meet, according to Mediaite. “Well, I don’t get involved in my personal — we have funds that run my money,” Trump replied. When another reporter suggested he was “profiting off the presidency,” Trump again turned to the stock market. “Because the stock market is going up. Everybody is profiting. If you have a 401k…how’s your 401k doing? It’s about up 85%. ‘Thank you, President Trump!’ So we’re all profiting,” Trump said. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has denied that the president’s business dealings create conflicts of interest. “There are no conflicts of interest,” Kelly told CBS News, adding that Trump’s critics were recycling what she called a “same, tired narrative.” Trump Brushes Off Question About Getting Nearly $3 Billion Richer, Then Scolds Reporter for Not Being As Smart with Money As He Is ...read more read less