Benzinga - by Anthony Noto, Benzinga Editor.
Rumors flew today (Aug. 25) that former President Donald Trump sold Mar-a-Lago and the Zillow Group Inc (NASDAQ: ZG) listing had actor Brad Pitt as a contact for the property.
Newsweek tracked down Trump's third child, Eric, to make sure the Zillow information was bogus.
“Mar-a-Lago has absolutely not been sold nor will it ever be," Eric Trump told the publication. "This rumor is asinine."
What Happened: A Zillow listing for 1100 S. Ocean Boulevard (Trump's address) from Aug. 4 showed the property was sold for $422 million. It is now listed as "not currently for sale."
The last record on file for any transaction involving Mar-a-Lago is dated 1995. That's when Trump first bought the resort for $2 million.
And the fact that Pitt's name appeared on the "sold" listing, at least before it was removed, was a clue that the post was made in jest.
It's unclear whether a Zillow user or the company itself made the correction. The company acknowledged it may receive property data from "a third party, the homeowner or public records.”
The Express reported that the property was indeed transferred to an organization owned by Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
Don Jr. is currently listed as a "director" for the property.
Why It Matters: Along with a jam-packed calendar of court dates and legal proceedings comes a long list of fees that Trump must pay, so it's not unreasonable to wonder whether the 2024 Republican candidate is seeking liquidity.
According to an AP report earlier this month, Trump has paid close to $43 million in legal fees this year alone through campaign funds.
In April, Trump’s arrest and arraignment in Manhattan marked a historic first for a former president. Since then, he's been indicted three more times for both federal and criminal cases.
Just yesterday, Trump surrendered to authorities in Atlanta for 13 felony counts linked to his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election.
Rudy Giuliani — Trump's lawyer, confidant and alleged co-conspirator — is also saddled with a tremendous amount of legal debt and asked his famous client to assist in footing the bills.
What's Next: Each development in the Trump saga seems to give the 45th president a bump in one way or another. Expect Trump's publicly-traded company, Digital World Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: DWAC), to grab the interest of investors despite news of the recent arrest.
Also, Trump continued to dominate most election polls among Republican voters. This week's Morning Consult poll shows a 44-point lead against fellow GOP candidates.
With such a comfortable lead, he'll likely skip the second GOP presidential primary debate on Sept. 27 in Simi Valley, California, just as he did the first.
Now Read: Trump's Athletic Measurements Crack Up Newsrooms
Image: Shutterstock
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