11. The Plaza Hotel, New York City
The Plaza Hotel is not just another Trump property. It is a historical and cultural landmark that appeared in stuff from the novel The Great Gatsby to Princess Diaries to Home Alone 2. Bought by Trump in 1988 for $407.5 million, the hotel was not an economic purchase, however. According to the billionaire, he regarded it as a masterpiece the likes of Mona Lisa.
With its costly renovations and a growing debt, the plaza’s separate units were sold as condominiums to cover those costs. The massive debt was forgiven, though, and it was purchased by CDL Hotels International and Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal in 1995. Later, The Plaza changed owners a few times over.
Its present owners Sahara India Pariwar wanted to auction the hotel in spring of this year, but the event was cancelled amidst the rumors of some Saudi royal willing to pay $352 million for Trump’s Mona Lisa.
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