World Liberty Financial (WLFI) has generated at least $1.4 billion in value for the families of former President Donald Trump and real estate magnate Steve Witkoff since November 2024. According to reports, this sum includes $1.2 billion in cash and an additional $2.25 billion in paper gains from cryptocurrency holdings. The Witkoff family received at least $200 million of this total.
The ownership and revenue structure of WLFI is heavily weighted toward Trump interests. Disclosures indicate that 75% of WLFI token sale proceeds flow to a Trump-controlled entity, with President Trump himself owning 70% of that entity. The remaining 25% is split evenly, with 12.5% going to the Witkoff family and 12.5% to WLFI co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro.
A significant capital injection occurred in January 2025, when envoys of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi purchased a 49% stake in World Liberty for $500 million. This deal delivered $187 million upfront to Trump entities and $31 million to the Witkoffs. The New York Times reported that Eric Trump finalized this transaction just before the 2025 presidential inauguration, coinciding with UAE efforts to secure U.S. artificial intelligence chips.
The firm also employed a controversial mechanism involving Nasdaq-listed company Alt5 Sigma (ALTS). After World Liberty acquired a controlling stake in Alt5, the company raised $750 million by selling shares at $7.50 each. Alt5 then used a majority of these funds to purchase WLFI tokens directly from World Liberty at $0.20 per token. This structure funneled over $500 million to Trump entities and $90 million to the Witkoffs. Following the transaction, Alt5's share price plummeted to around $1.70, and the value of WLFI tokens dropped to approximately $0.10.
Separately, Eric Trump holds a $90 million stake in another crypto venture, American Bitcoin (BTCM). That company raised $220 million in June 2025 and saw its market capitalization briefly exceed $5 billion in September before its shares declined to trade around $1.30. The White House and World Liberty have stated that no conflicts of interest exist and that the involved companies operate independently.
