I really, really dislike Donald Trump, mostly because of his dreadful show, but this story has softened my attitude. Not so much that I’ll watch his show, but I won’t scream at the television about the state of entertainment when I see it advertised, as if Donald Trump is somehow responsible for the reality television phenomenon. Trump is buying Ed McMahon’s house, which was slated for foreclosure, and lis etting him stay in it:
Mega-developer and TV personality Donald Trump has agreed to buy Ed McMahon’s Beverly Hills house for an undisclosed amount and allow McMahon to continue living in it. Details of the deal are still being ironed out.
“I don’t know the man, but I grew up watching him on TV,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with The Times.
McMahon, 85, was facing foreclosure within two weeks on his Beverly Hills home of 18 years. The aging television icon, who was Johnny Carson’s sidekick for three decades, defaulted on $4.8 million in mortgage loans with Countrywide Financial Corp. He said in interviews that he was unable to work because of a neck injury that occurred about 18 months ago.
Trump said he stepped in because helping McMahon “would be an honor.” His plan is to buy the home from the lender and lease it back to McMahon.
“When I was at the Wharton School of Business,” Trump said, “I’d watch him every night. How could this happen?”
The Don is no fool. While the house was initially listed at $7million, but dropped to $4.6million, no matter what The Don pays he’ll get more than that value out of the good publicity given him. Donald previously offered to help Ed and his shopaholic wife Pamela out, but reports suggested the offer was for publicity and not genuine. While Donald is probably only doing it for publicity, help is help no matter the motive.
I also think it is an incredibly kind thing to do. As a lover of antique furniture I often go to sales where the home owner if forced to move for varying reasons, and they always seem so sad. At 85 it seems only right that Ed McMahon keeps his home, even if he does have severe debts.
Another man has had a serious role in this, who perhaps deserves more kudos than Donald Trump. Ed McMahon’s listing agent Alex Davis flew to New York this past weekend to personally appeal to Donald to help out his client. This goes above and beyond the call of duty. He obviously caught The Don at a good time – his son announced today that another little Trump will soon be joining the empire.
Ed McMahon is shown at the Simpsons Movie on 7/24/07. Credit: John Cronise/ WENN. Donald Trump is shown at the Sex and The City premiere on 5/27/08. Credit: WENN.
Awesome! This is just so completely Awesome! Maybe the Donald and Ed will strike up a profound friendship now. Maybe Donald and Milania will name the new baby Ed, Ed Trump, HA!
Hahahahah!
My eyes are all teary from the sheer goodness and purity of Donald’s big, generous heart. Is that yellow thing on his head a halo? It should be.
Glad Ed McM gets to keep his house, that’s the important thing here.
I grew up with Johnny and Ed too… this was really a generous thing for Donald Trump to have done. I felt so sorry for the way things have gone for Ed – sure his wife (and her spending habits) probably had a lot to do with it – but hindsight is 20/20 and it seemed too late for Ed to be able to fix this. I’m glad Donald Trump has a heart
You guys have got to quit putting these kinds of items on here because this is two days in a row I’ve burst into tears at work. Yesterday the Depp/ Farrell/ Law thing, and today the Donald.
Amazingly kind and generous. I’m not a huge Ed fan, but no 85 year olds should be homeless, even if it’s mostly their fault they’re in that condition.
I’m a suspicious person but even if it is slightly less than altruistic I think it’s lovely. Now someone needs to help Ed find a credit counselor or someone who can help them (or his wife if she is the sole problem) budget and avoid this again. Because with no behavior changes this is just a band-aid solution. And if his wife refused to live within their budget Ed needs to kick her out – that would prove she did not care for him enough to stop.
I think it’s a great deal on both parties. Ed keeps his home until he’s dead, and Donald can do what he likes with the house once Ed is gone. Works out great for both of them, except for the young gold-digging bride. Oh dear, where will she live once Ed is gone. I doubt Donald doesn’t give a @#% about her. There are great trailers for rent all over the U.S.A., but she’ll need to get a job first. By-the-By, who pays his other debts…credit cards, divorce lawyers, loans from friends and banks, etc.?
😆 @ golden halo!! Thats hilarious!
I seriously doubt that The Donald is doing this out of pure compassion, but it is still a lovely thing to do & I loathe him slightly less.
Donald Trump Didn’t Buy Ed McMahon’s House to Help Him Out!
Don’t kid yourself, people. Donald Trump does not do shit unless there’s a lot for him in it. He’s not saving Ed McMahon’s ass, he’s investing in something that has value and will bring profit for him. Trump is a sneaky bastard and has great sense of seeing value where other people can’t see it.
Um, Angie, I think most people do actually realise that this ‘selfless’ act came from the empire-building, bargain-hunting, PR-loving, stony-hearted megalomaniac that is the Donald.
However, should he be lurking and wanting to reward a random poster with a financial token of thanks for bigging him up, my earlier comment is 100% sincere.
Publicity Stunt or not..this is the best thing he’s done in a while!
sassyandfabolous.blogspot.com
It was the hair’s idea…Donald just goes along with whatever it tells him to do.
Oh please. Donald is slated to make a very tidy profit from this house and he gets all the warm fuzzies for letting Ed stay in the house – at least until Ed defaults on his lease.
So it’s a win win. Ed gets to keep his house and Donald gets to profit. I still think it’s an awesome gesture, no matter who profits.
You’ve got to be kidding, lease the house? How much will he charge if he bought the house. If Ed can’t make the mortgage payments how is he going to make the lease payments? Get real the only person the Donald looks out for is himself
I don’t usually reply to posts but I will in this case. Good stuff 🙂
Joel, good point. I think any blurp out of the FDA in regards to OPTR in the briefing documents that can be seen as negative may reduce share price before the panel. I may short right before the B.D>’s are released and hedge with calls.