Just three months into 2025, President Donald Trump's net worth has dropped by $1.5 billion, according to Forbes estimates.Why It MattersTrump has built his political career based on his business acumen from his ventures, primarily in real estate. However, not all of Trump's business dealings have led to success.What To KnowAccording to Forbes, Trump's net worth decreased from roughly $6 billion to $4.5 billion from January 1 to March 11, 2025.Part of the reason Trump's net worth has been declining in recent years is that real estate, where the president made most of his money, has struggled amid high interest rates in the United States.Companies are also less likely to invest in real estate properties for office space as remote work continues to be popular in the United States. Retailers are also reducing their footprints as online shopping reigns supreme for many.After his first presidency, Trump profited from selling Trump-branded items to his supporters, including NFTs, Bibles, clothing, and shares of his social media platform, Truth Social.Trump's fortune also comes from his golf courses, mansions, winery, and a 1991 Boeing 757 nicknamed Trump Force One.However, some money has been held up in Trump's legal troubles. After New York Attorney General Letitia James accused Trump of lying about his net worth for business benefits, a judge ordered Trump to pay $454 million.Trump Media & Technology Group has dropped significantly in value, with a 22.3 percent decline in a single day late last year. That knocked Trump's stake in the company from about $5.9 billion to $4.6 billion.What People Are SayingKevin Thompson, a finance expert and the founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, told Newsweek: "The decline in Trump's net worth is really nothing more than a paper loss, driven by concerns over a possible recession and trade wars."I take 'net worth' with a grain of salt—especially when he has assets in outside trust accounts and holdings that aren't fully under his control. Real estate isn't exactly liquid and can be tough to value on any given day. As for his crypto and market assets, while he may have lost money there, the influence and notoriety he's gained have arguably added even more value to his brand."Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "While the last year has obviously been great from a political standpoint for the president, his net worth is another story. Real estate, which has long been a trademark of his famed wealth, has slumped as a financial market due to higher interest rates and, in some areas, less demand due to elevated costs."Likewise, Truth Social, his social media platform, has been on a roller coaster ride from a stock price perspective, as investors have questions about its long-term viability. As hard as it is to believe, being president could prove to be the better option if the other choice is dealing with business pressures from all sides as an owner."Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek: "Truth Social's stock has been bouncing around like a ping-pong ball, and it's not really based on traditional business performance. It's more about politics, feelings and hype. And, honestly, whatever random thing Trump tweeted...I mean, 'truthed'...that day.I also call it the 'up like a rocket, down like a rock' phenomenon where people only focus on the decline. Everyone talks now like, 'But did you see how much Tesla dropped?' completely forgetting it had doubled two months before that!"What Happens NextWhile Trump may have seen his net worth suffer in recent months, some financial experts feel he is still far out of touch with many Americans' financial realities."The bigger reflection here is that when Trump talks about 'a little bit of pain,' he doesn't fully understand what that means for everyday Americans," Thompson said. "For him, pain is a paper loss. For his constituents, it's losing a job, a home, or struggling to put food on the table. That's the real impact—and that's where the difference lies."