Page 12 - [George_Ross,_Andrew_James_McLean,_Donald_J._Trump(BookFi)

P REFACE

’VE SPENT 50 YEARS as a lawyer, business advisor, and deal nego-
Itiator for real estate tycoons at the top of the world’s toughest real
estate market—New York City. I’ve represented or negotiated with
great real estate minds like Harry Helmsley, Sam LeFrak, Bill Zeck-
endorf, and Donald Trump. It’s been my good fortune to spend many
of the best years of my career as Donald’s right-hand man.
These days most people know me best from the TV show, The
Apprentice, where Carolyn Kepcher and I help Donald make tough
decisions about whom to fire and whom to keep. The show has been
fun, but most of my work for Donald over the past 25 years has been
in the world of real estate. I have been an advisor, negotiator, and
lawyer on many of his biggest and most successful real estate invest-
ments, including the acquisition and renovation of the GM building,
Trump Tower on 5th Avenue, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and my per-
sonal favorite, 40 Wall Street.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to acquire a
great deal of knowledge and experience in real estate investing,
which I hope to pass on to you in this book. For example, during a
10-year period from 1956 to 1966 when Sol Goldman and Alex
DiLorenzo Jr. became two of the biggest property owners in New
York, I personally bought 702 individual properties on their behalf. I
have been intimately involved in many of New York City’s most
spectacular projects, such as the Chrysler Building and the St. Regis

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