Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, could soon make the former a president a lot of money – at least on paper – after investors on Friday agreed it could go public.
The billionaire could use the extra wealth, as he will soon need to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fees and fines.
Shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corporation, a publicly traded shell company, approved a deal to merge with Mr Trump's media business.
That means Trump Media and Technology Group, whose flagship product is Truth Social, will soon begin trading on the Nasdaq stock market.
Here are some things to know about Mr Trump's social media platform:
What is Truth Social?
After Mr Trump was kicked off Facebook, Twitter (now X) and other social media platforms in the wake of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, he set up Truth Social.
The platform looks a lot like Twitter did at the time, but instead of retweeting, users “re-Truth” posts.
Mr Trump has now been reinstated on X and Facebook but has largely stayed away from the competitors, preferring instead to communicate to his loyal base on his own platform.
Truth Social is primarily used by conservative outlets and commentators, and response to Mr Trump's own posts is always positive – and usually in meme form.
He has 6.7 million followers on Truth Social but 87.7 million on his X account.
Mr Trump's posts often feature angry-looking capital letters and he frequently fires off his “Truths” in bold, incendiary language.
In one such message on Friday, he called a New York judge a political “hack” and repeated the debunked claim that he had won the 2016 election.
How much money could Trump make?
Mr Trump could receive a sizeable payout when Truth Social goes public.
He would own most of the combined company – or nearly 79 million shares. Multiply that by Digital World’s closing stock price on Thursday of $42.81, and the total value of Mr Trump's stake could surpass $3 billion, though the shares did fall nearly 7 per cent after the merger approval was disclosed.
The deal arrives as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is facing his most costly legal battle to date: he is on the hook for $454 million following a judgment in a fraud lawsuit.
But Mr Trump will not be able to immediately cash out his windfall due to a “lock-up” provision that prevents company insiders from selling newly issued shares for six months.
Mr Trump’s earlier foray into the stock market did not end well.
Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts went public in 1995 under the symbol DJT – the same symbol Trump Media will trade under.
By 2004, Mr Trump’s casino company had filed for bankruptcy protection and was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
A look at former president Donald Trump's Truth Social feed – in pictures
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On Truth Social, a social media platform founded by Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter, conversation is often limited to sycophantic memes and conspiratorial memes. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Almost all of Mr Trump's followers are die-hard supporters and criticism of the former president is rare. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump's signature line on 'The Apprentice' was: 'You're Fired!' Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Many memes lionise the former president. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump hopes to get a second term in office in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
A not-true ReTruth: Trump-backed, election-denying candidate Kari Lake lost to Democrat Katie Dobbs in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump suggests voter fraud in the Arizona governor race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump attacks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who may be well positioned to duel the former president in the 2024 White House race. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Many Maga Republicans miss Mr Trump. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump attacks mail-in ballots that allow millions of Americans who are unable to vote on election day to participate. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Some of the Trump supporters that stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, used American flags to attack police officers. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Supporters credit Mr Trump with not starting any new wars. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
How many moves in a game of chess? Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
The 'Greatest Of All Time'? That remains to be seen. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump was expected to announce a new run for the White House on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump blamed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for Republicans' poor showing in the midterm elections. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump still attracts fierce loyalty from his 'Maga' supporters. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump suggests he would perform better than Ron DeSantis. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
A variation on the election-denying theme. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump has continued to make his baseless claims of election fraud in races he or his fellow Republicans lost. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Another ReTruth. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump returns to his debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Another teaser for his November 15 announcement. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump 'ReTruths' a message from a follower. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
The 'legend' will be 78 at the 2024 election, the same age Joe Biden was when he got elected. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump is expected to announce he will run again for president in 2024. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Mr Trump teases his announcement on November 15. Photo: Screengrab from Truth Social -
Truth Social is only available in the US, Canada and Brazil. Reuters
