Trump’s Legal Bills Revealed: How Much He Spends and Where the Money Comes From
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
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As Donald Trump resumes his time in the Oval Office, he will set historical precedents. He’ll be one of only two presidents to serve in non-consecutive terms — Grover Cleveland is the only other — and the only Commander-in-Chief to take office as a convicted felon.
Trump’s legal battles are infamous, including 34 felony convictions, with the most recent cases dominating headlines leading up to the election. All of these court cases require money — a lot of it. The amount owed, as well as the ways the Trump camp has paid, will likely continue to drive news coverage.
Frankly, there’s no one tidy answer to this. Better questions might be: How much does he owe, and to whom?
Hundreds of Millions Owed in Various Lawsuits
Though Trump has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by several women, one of the most recognizable and outspoken is the writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump has maintained his innocence, with pointed remarks about Carroll on his various social media platforms.
In a protracted legal battle involving two court cases — Carroll I and Carroll II — Carroll sued him for defamation and sexual battery. Juries awarded Carroll more than $88 million in damages across the two cases.
Another notable case involves Trump, his sons, and former aide Allen Weisselberg. They were accused of fraudulently reporting the value of their properties to lower their tax bills or improve loan terms. On February 16, 2024, a judge ruled that Trump is on the hook for $355 million, plus interest. However, the case is now on appeal.
Millions Owed to Lawyers
These cases are far from the end of Trump’s legal troubles. They include the hush money case involving Stormy Daniels in Manhattan, the election subversion case in Fulton County, Georgia, and the federal election subversion and stolen classified documents cases brought by the Department of Justice under Special Counsel Jack Smith.
To say Trump has hefty legal fees would be an understatement. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates his legal costs exceed $100 million.
How Is He Paying for This?
Trump fundraised off his 34 felony charges in the New York hush money case, branding himself as the “outlaw president.” Money from his supporters has helped cover some of his legal expenses. However, the Brennan Center also reports that campaign entities, including the freestanding political action committee (PAC) Make American Great Again (MAGA) PAC and the Save America PAC, have been instrumental in funding his legal fees.
Save America PAC, a “leadership PAC” designed to support other candidates, began funding Trump’s legal costs in early 2021. Since MAGA PAC was technically no longer a campaign committee, Trump’s team exploited a loophole in campaign finance law to direct PAC funds toward legal expenses. By early 2024, MAGA PAC had contributed $30 million, while Save America PAC added another $70 million.
As if that wasn’t complicated enough, another entity soon came into the mix. When Save America PAC began running low on funds in early 2024, Trump’s team redirected online donations to the PAC. A joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee also prioritized sending money to Save America PAC — a common practice in political fundraising, though it has drawn scrutiny for potentially blurring the lines between campaign support and personal legal expenses.
So, What Happens Now?
Some of Trump’s legal woes may ease as he takes office again, with Jack Smith dismissing charges ahead of the inauguration. These are unique times in American politics, and only time will tell how his legal challenges evolve.
Editor’s note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on GOBankingRates.com.
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