President Donald Trump just got half a billion dollars richer, at least on paper. Shares of Trump Media & Technology (DJT) rocketed 41.93% higher on Thursday, closing at $14.86 after the company announced it's merging with TAE Technologies in a $6 billion all-stock deal.

How a Fusion Company Boosted Presidential Wealth

Trump owns the majority of Trump Media through his Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, which means when the stock moves, his net worth moves with it. According to Forbes, Thursday's surge added $504 million to his fortune in a single day, bringing his estimated total wealth to $6.8 billion.

Under the merger terms, Trump Media becomes the holding company overseeing TAE and its various subsidiaries, which includes Truth Social, the Truth+ streaming service, and the planned financial platform Truth.Fi. It's an unusual pairing—a media company acquiring a fusion energy technology firm—but that's exactly what caught investors' attention.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives noted the deal could make the combined entity the first publicly traded fusion player, pointing to TAE's decades of fusion expertise and technological advances. Ives also suggested that strong political support in Washington could accelerate domestic fusion development, potentially giving the company an edge.

The Rollercoaster Continues

This windfall comes after a rough stretch for Trump Media stock. Despite Thursday's jump, shares are still down 56.32% year-to-date. Just last month, Trump's net worth dropped by over $1 billion as the stock tumbled.

Over the past year, though, Trump's wealth has climbed by roughly $3 billion, boosted not just by Trump Media but also by the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures. Their World Liberty Financial project notably attracted a $75 million investment from crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, adding another dimension to the president's diversified holdings.