Donald Trump's company accused of owing $650 million

US media say Donald Trump's companies owe at least $650 million, double the amount he announced during the election campaign.

Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters

The New York Times hired a real estate information company to search public data on more than 30 US properties linked to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, including offices and golf courses.

In addition to the $650 million in debt, “a significant portion of his assets is tied up in three passive partnerships, which are $2 billion in debt,” the New York Times wrote.

Billionaire Trump says his $10 billion real estate holdings and business acumen are the qualities that make him the president of the United States.

But despite mounting pressure, he has refused to release his tax returns or allow an independent valuation of his assets. The Trump campaign has only released documents showing that the billionaire’s companies owe at least $315 million in debt.

Although the New York Times did not accuse Mr. Trump of any wrongdoing, the investigation "showed that much of Mr. Trump's business empire remains a mystery" and "that Mr. Trump's fortune depends heavily on a series of financiers."

The lenders include one of China's biggest banks - a country the billionaire sees as an economic rival of the US, and investment bank Goldman Sachs - a firm he says has influence over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

According to VNE