Business & Money • Real Estate

Fred Trump

Fred Trump was an American real estate developer and businessman known for building and managing housing in New York City, especially in Brooklyn and Queens.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Fred Trump was an American real estate developer and businessman known for building and managing housing in New York City, especially in Brooklyn and Queens. He was the father of Donald Trump and Maryanne Trump Barry, and he played a major role in the family’s real estate business.

Early life

Fred Trump was born in New York City to German immigrant parents. He began working young and later entered the construction and real estate business.

Real estate career

He developed housing in New York City, including apartments and single-family homes, and later built housing for military personnel and middle-income families.

Trump family business

Fred Trump helped establish the family’s real estate holdings and was later associated with The Trump Organization. His business became the foundation for the career of his son Donald Trump.

Family life and legacy

He was the father of Donald Trump, Maryanne Trump Barry, and other children. His business success and family prominence made him a notable figure in American real estate history.

Key facts

Fred Trump built and managed large numbers of residential units in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens.
He was born in New York City in 1905 and died in 1999.
He was the father of Donald Trump, who later became the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
Sources describe him as a wealthy and influential real estate developer in 20th-century New York.
Fred Trump is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through his connection to Donald Trump, whose political and business actions have had significant effects on Canada-U.S. relations.

🍁

Canadian context

Fred Trump is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through his connection to Donald Trump, whose political and business actions have had significant effects on Canada-U.S. relations, trade, and cross-border coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Fred Trump?

Fred Trump was an American real estate developer and businessman best known for building housing in New York City and for being Donald Trump’s father.

What was Fred Trump’s full name?

His full name was Frederick Christ Trump.

When was Fred Trump born?

He was born on October 11, 1905.

When did Fred Trump die?

He died on June 25, 1999.

What was Fred Trump known for in business?

He was known for developing residential housing in New York City, especially in Brooklyn and Queens, and for building a substantial family real estate business.

How is Fred Trump connected to Donald Trump?

Fred Trump was Donald Trump’s father and helped shape the family business that Donald later expanded.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump
Supports: Basic biographical details: full name, birth and death dates, occupation, and family relationship to Donald Trump.
Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fred-Trump
Supports: Biography, birth and death information, and his role as a major New York City real estate developer.
Horatio Alger Association — https://www.horatioalger.org/members/detail/fred-c-trump/
Supports: Career overview, early work, housing development, and scale of his real estate holdings.
BBC News Mundo — https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-internacional-46777507
Supports: Family background and identification as the son of German immigrants.
Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump_Jr.
Supports: Family context showing Donald Trump as one of Fred Trump’s children and the succession of the family business.