Feeling quite invincible and omniscient, Trump spiraled out of control in the late 1980's, spending profligately and unwisely to feed his voracious ego. In 1990, The Wall Street Journal disclosed that he was $2 billion in debt, $800 million of which he had personally guaranteed. His net worth was said to be minus $300 million. To stave off imminent default at one of his son's casinos, Fred Trump sent in his lawyer one day to buy $3 million in chips. Panicky creditors hacked away at his empire, seizing half of Grand Hyatt, half of his casinos, most of the Plaza Hotel and some of the condominiums he owned in Trump Tower.