Did boredom fuel Donald Trump’s presidential campaign?

Jen Christensen
By Jen Christensen, CNN
5 minute read
Published 2:26 PM EDT, Thu July 14, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate and producing and starring in TV shows, he became a celebrity long before winning the White House.
President-elect Donald Trump has been in the spotlight for years. From developing real estate and producing and starring in TV shows, he became a celebrity long before winning the White House.
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Trump at age 4. He was born in 1946 to Fred and Mary Trump in New York City. His father was a real estate developer.
Trump at age 4. He was born in 1946 to Fred and Mary Trump in New York City. His father was a real estate developer.
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
Trump, left, in a family photo. He was the second-youngest of five children.
Trump, left, in a family photo. He was the second-youngest of five children.
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
Trump, center, stands at attention during his senior year at the New York Military Academy in 1964.
Trump, center, stands at attention during his senior year at the New York Military Academy in 1964.
Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library
Trump, center, wears a baseball uniform at the New York Military Academy in 1964. After he graduated from the boarding school, he went to college. He started at Fordham University before transferring and later graduating from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania's business school.
Trump, center, wears a baseball uniform at the New York Military Academy in 1964. After he graduated from the boarding school, he went to college. He started at Fordham University before transferring and later graduating from the Wharton School, the University of Pennsylvania's business school.
Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library
Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating college in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.
Trump stands with Alfred Eisenpreis, New York's economic development administrator, in 1976 while they look at a sketch of a new 1,400-room renovation project of the Commodore Hotel. After graduating college in 1968, Trump worked with his father on developments in Queens and Brooklyn before purchasing or building multiple properties in New York and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Those properties included Trump Tower in New York and Trump Plaza and multiple casinos in Atlantic City.
NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Trump attends an event to mark the start of construction of the New York Convention Center in 1979.
Trump attends an event to mark the start of construction of the New York Convention Center in 1979.
Fred W. McDarrah/Getty Images
Trump wears a hard hat at the Trump Tower construction site in New York in 1980.
Trump wears a hard hat at the Trump Tower construction site in New York in 1980.
Ted Horowitz/Getty Images
Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977 to 1990, when they divorced. They had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
Trump was married to Ivana Zelnicek Trump from 1977 to 1990, when they divorced. They had three children together: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
SWERZEY/AFP/Getty Images
The Trump family, circa 1986.
The Trump family, circa 1986.
Norman Parkinson Archive/Corbis/Getty Images
Trump uses his personal helicopter to get around New York in 1987.
Trump uses his personal helicopter to get around New York in 1987.
Joe McNally/Getty Images
Trump stands in the atrium of the Trump Tower.
Trump stands in the atrium of the Trump Tower.
Ted Thai/Getty Images
Trump attends the opening of his new Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, in 1989.
Trump attends the opening of his new Atlantic City casino, the Taj Mahal, in 1989.
Leif Skoogfors/Getty Images
Trump signs his second book, "Trump: Surviving at the Top," in 1990. Trump <a href="http://www.trump.com/publications/" target="_blank" target="_blank">has published</a> at least 16 other books, including "The Art of the Deal" and "The America We Deserve."
Trump signs his second book, "Trump: Surviving at the Top," in 1990. Trump has published at least 16 other books, including "The Art of the Deal" and "The America We Deserve."
Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Trump and singer Michael Jackson pose for a photo before traveling to visit Ryan White, a young child with AIDS, in 1990.
Trump and singer Michael Jackson pose for a photo before traveling to visit Ryan White, a young child with AIDS, in 1990.
Donna Connor/Getty Images
Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999 and had one daughter together, Tiffany.
Trump dips his second wife, Marla Maples, after the couple married in a private ceremony in New York in December 1993. The couple divorced in 1999 and had one daughter together, Tiffany.
AFP/Getty Images
Trump putts a golf ball in his New York office in 1998.
Trump putts a golf ball in his New York office in 1998.
Simon Bruty/Getty Images
An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Tower in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."
An advertisement for the television show "The Apprentice" hangs at Trump Tower in 2004. The show launched in January of that year. In January 2008, the show returned as "Celebrity Apprentice."
Getty Images
A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.
A 12-inch talking Trump doll is on display at a toy store in New York in September 2004.
Getty Images
Trump attends a news conference in 2005 that announced the establishment of Trump University. From 2005 until it closed in 2010, Trump University had about 10,000 people sign up for a program that promised success in real estate. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/08/news/trump-university-controversy-donald-trump/" target="_blank">Three separate lawsuits</a> -- two class-action suits filed in California and one filed by New York's attorney general -- argued that the program was mired in fraud and deception. Trump's camp rejected the suits' claims as "baseless." And Trump has charged that the New York case against him is politically motivated.
Trump attends a news conference in 2005 that announced the establishment of Trump University. From 2005 until it closed in 2010, Trump University had about 10,000 people sign up for a program that promised success in real estate. Three separate lawsuits -- two class-action suits filed in California and one filed by New York's attorney general -- argued that the program was mired in fraud and deception. Trump's camp rejected the suits' claims as "baseless." And Trump has charged that the New York case against him is politically motivated.
Bebeto Matthews/AP