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Barron Trump, the youngest child of President Donald Trump, turns 20 years old on Friday, March 20
Sources close to the family tell PEOPLE that Barron has “inherited his father’s interest in making money and a name for himself,” with one notable difference
The youngest Trump is already estimated to be worth roughly $150 million thanks to cryptocurrency investments, Forbes reported last year
Barron Trump turns 20 years old on Friday, March 20, and sources close to President Donald Trump‘s youngest son tell PEOPLE how he’s preparing for his “next phase” of life — which may involve treading over a few of his father’s footsteps.
“Barron has inherited his father’s interest in making money and a name for himself, and is well on the way to becoming an entrepreneur,” a social source tells PEOPLE. “He is smart, focused and resourceful. He is always looking for areas that interest him and is quite ambitious for such a young age.”
The college student was reportedly the motivating force behind the Trump family’s multiple cryptocurrency ventures, which have earned them billions over the last few years, according to Forbes. As of September 2025, the publication reported that Barron alone was already believed to be worth a staggering $150 million, plus millions more in locked-up tokens that can’t yet be traded.
“He has been actively pursuing successful ventures for several years,” the source says. “Turning 20 is indeed a turning point for him as he gets older and wants to engage with projects that not only interest him, but will make him a lot of money.”
As the youngest and least public-facing Trump, Barron is reportedly motivated to prove himself amid the successes of his father and siblings.
“This is how to impress his family,” the source notes. “He wants to make his own mark.”
“He has always thought about business and truly is interested in it like his father. A lot of this ambition has to do with his desire to look good to Donald, as well as to his mother. He is more gung-ho than most.”
A political source tells PEOPLE that it’s Barron’s close relationship with his mother, first lady Melania Trump, however, that truly sets him apart from the rest of his family.
“Barron is a carbon copy of his father, yet he is blessed without the elder’s brashness,” the source says. “He is more like his mother with a European aloof and quiet sophistication.”
Barron is also 12 years younger than his closest half-sibling in age, Tiffany, and grew up like an only child.
“He is different from the other Trump children in the sense that he is sort of a loner,” the source adds. “Growing up in the public eye and not necessarily feeling comfortable in it has made him stronger within himself, and at the same time, is driving his ambition. It’s an interesting combination.”
Front row: Tiffany, Don Jr., Eric, Ivanka, Barron and Melania Trump at the State of the Union address on Feb. 24, 2026
Credit: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty
Barron attended classes on New York University’s Manhattan campus for his first year of post-high school studies in 2024; however, at the start of his sophomore year last fall, he transferred to NYU’s Washington, D.C., campus.
“He has been happy in Washington, where he has access to his family and to different options for his own future as a businessman and young entrepreneur,” the political source says.
A second political source believes the youngest Trump son will remain in D.C. for the foreseeable future, because he has “mental security” and “a comfortable life with people looking up to him.”
“He also has super safety security right there, and is privy to business deals he may not know about if he were living in New York at school,” the source adds.
As far as completing his business degree, the second political source admits, “While he probably doesn’t need to finish to move on with his life, my feeling at this time is that he will graduate, and if nothing changes will likely do it from where he is.”
Remaining in Washington also keeps Barron close to Melania, which elicits mixed opinions from sources close to the family — especially a second social source who worries about Barron remaining “tied to his mother’s apron strings.”
“I understand he is in an unusual situation, but he should enjoy a normal college life,” the source says. “He is a lovely boy with manners. He is kind to others. I just hope he will be able to live an independent life at some point. His 20th birthday is a good time to review this.”
Melania and Barron Trump at a 2024 election night event
Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty
The second social source does note, however, that Barron’s business decisions “for the most part are his. He has exhibited independence in business more than socially.”
Business is where he will likely stick closer to his father’s footsteps, the first social source says.
“Barron is interested in developing real estate in areas where he sees growth, especially keeping up with trends of younger buyers,” the source notes. “I think the next phase of his life will include property development as well as other projects that he has researched enough to know they will be profitable.”
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He’s also applying his Gen Z sensibilities to other projects with young entrepreneurs his age, like SOLLOS Yerba Mate drinks. Barron raised a reported $1 million to help start the company, where he is a co-founder and director. The social source says he got involved through his father’s contacts; the project involves two grandchildren of a friend and donor of the president named Jay Weitzman.
“[Barron] is not immune to moving ahead with projects he has been lucky enough to have come his way because of who he is,” the source notes. “This is an opportunity that someone ambitious like Barron would jump on because of the other influential young people involved.”
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