The making of Donald Trump, Inc.

Whatever he does for a living, Donald Trump is above all a TV personality. He put his brand name on many products, but the most successful was entertainment and his personal branding itself.

How did Donald Trump develop his taste for TV performances, public relations, and rallies?

According to Donald Trump himself, when he was still a child, he went to mass every Sunday. Apparently, he was fascinated by Pastor Norman Vincent Peale's sermon. "I hated leaving the church and having the sermon end. That's how amazing it was."

Little Donald Trump was sent to a military school in New York. After graduating in 1964, he attended Fordham University and completed his studies at the Wharton School of Business.

You could say the President is unlucky in love because he's had several wives. Some might say, though, that this record is a successful one. What would Pastor Norman Vincent Peale think about that?

Trump was married to his first wife Ivana for over a decade, with three children, when he cheated on her with actress Marla Maples.

The divorce from Ivana and subsequent marriage to Marla were big media spectacles. Trump was a reality TV figure 'avant la lettre.'

Trump was married to actress Marla Maples for six years. He tried his hand at acting himself, too. The first film he appeared in was 'Ghosts Can't Do It' in 1989. There's also 'Home Alone 2,' 'Zoolander' and 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air', among others.

From his time as a businessman, there are all kinds of (curious) objects with his face or his name on them. Donald Trump promoted his brand on everything, from steaks that cost a fortune to bottles of water. Nowadays, none of these products can be found in stores.

As many other celebrities have done, like Beyoncé or Shakira for example, Donald Trump launched his own fragrance. The perfume became one of the worst selling fragrances in history and is no longer on the market. We suppose, however, that he did keep some bottles of his own perfume, so it would not be strange to assume that Donald Trump smells like his own fragrance.

This is probably a collector's item now because, like many other Trump products, it is no longer available in stores. The package consisted of a board game that showed, in a playful way, how to get rich by buying companies, houses, and other properties. Something like Monopoly. But it wasn't very successful at the time.

See more failed products from the Donald Trump line

We now know that Trump benefited very much from his image-building efforts over the years. According to recently revealed tax records, he actually wasn't as successful a businessman as he made himself out to be.

Image: NBC

In his reality show 'The Apprentice,' Trump boosted his image as a tough guy, brilliant negotiator, and bona fide millionaire. It was a successful PR campaign.

They say that when Trump and Melania got married, their wedding was one of the most expensive in history. Or at least, it was for the guests. The couple's gift requests included jewelry by Tiffany and Bergdorf, a large porcelain fruit basket worth about 7,500 dollars, 140 meat knives, 170 fish forks, and a coffee for about 3,500 dollars.

Donald Trump has always been very preoccupied with his looks. People have called his artificial tan 'orange,' and there have been several off-hand comments about the size of his hands.

As a presidential candidate in 2016, he found the size of his hands a theme worthy of much discussion. "I have never heard anyone talk about my hands or their size. Look at these hands, are they small? My opponent said yes, and maybe something else could be. But I guarantee all of you that there's nothing wrong with that."

As many media have noted, Trump leans slightly forward when he is standing. Experts say that he wears lift shoes with heels to appear taller.

According to Business Insider, it is very common for statesmen to wear such shoes with an inside elevation and another inch added by the heels. Trump is basically standing on his toes, that's why he leans forward.

Over time, Trump's preoccupation with his looks has required more and more beauty routines. He is now famous for his carefully crafted hair and skin color.

In the picture with singer Sia and comedian Kate McKinnon on Saturday Night Live.

Trump's unique look has been the inspiration of many artists.

Edel Rodriguez has made some iconic portraits of the American president for the magazines Time and Der Spiegel.

Trump has become an icon, for better or for worse. In contrast with his personal branding, the media, artists, and historians paint their own, more critical, picture of the businessman and president.