Donald Trump says he's planning to save Ed McMahon's home out of the goodness of his heart, with no thought whatsoever to the vast amounts of publicity it will bring him. The real-estate mogul and Apprentice host says he'll buy the Beverly Hills mansion and lease it back to McMahon, entirely because he's such a nice guy.
McMahon, who was Johnny Carson's longtime sidekick and the host of Star Search, had been trying to sell the house for two years, and faced foreclosure when a neck injury made it impossible for him to work. The house is now listed for millions of dollars less, although that in no way suggests that this a just first step in a plan by Trump to take advantage of the mortgage crisis, purchasing properties from cash-starved owners at fire-sale prices.
Trump said that helping McMahon would be "an honor," suggesting that this also isn't a ploy to garner goodwill in the press for his amazing future slate of advertiser-supported TV ventures, or his many huge, important and well-run businesses.
It seems unlikely that the new owner will make any changes to the property, especially not by adding a gigantic solid-gold "TRUMP" placard that can be seen from passing airplanes.
Photo: NBC
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