Well, Donald Trump even called the casino as the 'eighth wonder of the world'.īut life is not a bed of roses. With 120,000 square feet of gaming space, the casino was a hallmark of pomp and grandeur and was visited by the likes of Michael Jackson and Elton John during its opening ceremony that was held three days later. Television producer Merv Griffin also offered to buy the company, and a takeover battle that concluded with a settlement in November 1988, with Griffin purchasing the company, and Trump purchasing the Taj Mahal from the company for $273 million.įinally, after all the hurdles and hullaballoo, the casino opened on April 2, 1990. In 1988, Trump made an offer to buy all outstanding stock for $22 a share, expressing his desire to personally finance the construction only if he completely owned the company. The required budget skyrocketed to $930 million, and the company struggled to find the financing. But after the death of Resorts International's head James Crosby in 1986, the company became a takeover target and Donald Trump purchased a majority stake in the company in 1987 and became the chairman of Resorts International.īut unlike the original Taj Mahal, this one encountered a financial problem. Its construction was started in 1983 by the Resorts International, and they initially intended to name it United States Hotel.

And it would be a casino owned by none other than the current US President Donald Trump.Īlso read - Air Force One: 10 interesting facts you need to know Hundreds of years later, another Taj Mahal would come into existence in Atlantic City, New Jersey in the United States. One of the seven wonders of the world, it was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and it took 20 years to create the tomb that stands as a symbol of the love Shah Jahan had for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

When you hear the name Taj Mahal, what are you reminded of? Surely a giant white mausoleum, standing proudly with all its beauty and magnificence on the banks of Yamuna.

Taj mahal story