‘Footnote to history that very few people knew about’: how Condé Nast put Trump on the cultural map

Condé Nast's Rise and Influence - Condé Nast, under S.I Newhouse's leadership from 1975, became a dominant force in shaping American culture through its magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ [1] - The company's success was fueled by a "fantasy of outsiders," with editors from middle-class backgrounds curating aspirational content for the masses [1] - Condé Nast heavily invested in glamour, providing editors with lavish expense accounts, luxury cars, and interest-free mortgages [1] - Condé Nast's magazines acted as gatekeepers, influencing trends and ideas of sophistication before the internet and social media era [1][11] Shift in Media Landscape - Unlike today's fragmented media landscape, Condé Nast once held a near-monopoly on influencing American culture [11] - The media industry has shifted from high-profit margins to low salaries and layoffs, a stark contrast to Condé Nast's extravagant spending [1] - The rise of social media has democratized influence, with individuals now creating aspirational content similar to what Condé Nast once curated [15] Condé Nast and Donald Trump - S.I Newhouse and Roy Cohn's friendship played a role in GQ featuring Donald Trump on its cover and publishing "The Art of the Deal," which boosted Trump's national profile [2][3][4][5] - The Newhouse family now regrets the role they played in elevating Donald Trump to the national stage [6] Extravagant Spending - Portfolio magazine's photo shoot involving an elephant rented for $30,000 highlights the excessive spending that was once commonplace in the magazine industry [9][10]