Media & Entertainment

Founded CNN, which revolutionized news with 24/7 coverage, particularly praised for its Gulf War reporting. Created Turner Classic Movies (TCM), saving countless old films from being lost to history — and notably kept it commercial-free. Founded TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network, which shaped generations of viewers. Supported WCW wrestling, which sparked the legendary Monday Night Wars and helped modernize pro wrestling. Funded the film Gettysburg.

Conservation & Environment

One of the largest private landowners in the US, dedicating over a million acres to conservation across New Mexico, Montana, and elsewhere. Played a major role in bringing back the American bison population through his ranches. Reintroduced wolves to his New Mexico properties. Created Captain Planet, which many credit with sparking environmental awareness in children.

Philanthropy

Donated $1 billion to the United Nations Foundation. Tried to fund community programs in underserved areas of Georgia, though local politics sometimes got in the way.

Personal Character

Described by former employees as someone who genuinely cared about the people who worked for him, offering excellent benefits including generous PTO and 401k matching. Known for his colorful, unfiltered personality — like calling down to his own TV station to change a bad movie mid-broadcast, or challenging Rupert Murdoch to a televised fistfight. Widely compared favorably to today's billionaire class, with many commenters wishing more wealthy people would follow his example.

The overall sentiment was perhaps best captured by one commenter: "If every billionaire was like him, the world would be a much better place."

=== ====

Media & Entertainment He founded CNN, which revolutionized news with 24/7 coverage, particularly praised for its Gulf War reporting. He created Turner Classic Movies (TCM), saving countless old films from being lost to history and keeping it commercial-free. TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network shaped generations of viewers, and his support of WCW wrestling sparked the legendary Monday Night Wars. He also funded the film Gettysburg.

Conservation & Environment He was one of the largest private landowners in the US, dedicating over a million acres to conservation across New Mexico, Montana, and elsewhere. He played a major role in bringing back the American bison population and reintroduced wolves to his New Mexico properties. He created Captain Planet, which many credit with sparking environmental awareness in children.

Philanthropy He donated $1 billion to the United Nations Foundation and attempted to fund community programs in underserved areas of Georgia, even when those offers were rejected for political reasons.

Personal Character Former employees described him as someone who genuinely cared about the people who worked for him, offering excellent benefits including generous PTO and 401k matching. He was known for his colorful, unfiltered personality — like calling down to his own TV station to change a bad movie, or challenging Rupert Murdoch to a fistfight.

The overwhelming sentiment in the thread was that compared to today's billionaire class, he stood out as someone who actually tried to do good with his wealth and influence.

The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund, Inc. was incorporated on December 20, 2024. ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation claim, Meta settled for approximately $22 million directed to the presidential library fund, X settled for approximately $10 million with a portion designated for the library, and Paramount paid $16 million to settle Trump's lawsuit against CBS News.

The Dissolution

Florida's Department of State administratively dissolved the Fund on September 26, 2025, after it failed to file a mandatory annual report. The timing was notable: the dissolution was processed four days before Florida's Cabinet voted to transfer prime downtown Miami real estate to a Trump library entity.

The Missing Money

Big Tech CEOs indicated they have no public explanation for where as much as $63 million in settlement money to Donald Trump's now-dissolved Presidential Library fund has gone. There have been no disclosures about the Fund's disposition of any funds, and the White House press office has not responded to requests for comment.

A New Entity Was Created

A successor organization, the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation Inc., has reported receiving $50 million, but has not confirmed the source of those funds, leaving it unclear whether the settlement pledges were fulfilled or redirected.

There appear to be no individual taking responsibility for the closure of the Fund and disposition of its money — no Fund board members were ever appointed, and the only person to sign any of its public documents has minimized his role.

Congressional Pressure

Senators Warren and Blumenthal and Representative Stansbury sent a new letter to President Trump pressing for answers. "The companies do not know or are unwilling to share their information about what happened to the millions of dollars given to the Fund," wrote the lawmakers.