Ex-Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross reveals insights on Donald Trump in new book

Wilbur Ross shares stories from his experiences with Donald Trump, Sir Richard Branson, and John Lennon.

In his forthcoming book, former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross offers his insights on achieving business success and shares stories from his experiences with notable figures like Donald Trump, Sir Richard Branson, and John Lennon, who was once his neighbor at the Dakota.

Ross, who earned the nickname "King of Bankruptcy" during his 55-year career on Wall Street, originally aspired to be a writer during his college years.

"I was a real bookworm when I was a kid," the author of Regnery’s upcoming "Risks and Returns: Creating Success in Business and Life," told Page Six.

“When I was an undergrad at Yale, we had course to prepare people to become fiction writers… by 10a.m. you had to submit 1,000 words of fiction or poetry.”

Ross remembered, "The first week I was alright. The second week I was out of material." He added that he now believes, "Yale saved me from a life of poverty."

While at Harvard Business School, Ross studied under the renowned instructor Georges Doriot, a stylish and thought-provoking Frenchman who became an American citizen to fight for the US in World War II.

Doriot encouraged his students to dress for success by wearing long socks and Hermes ties, advising them that "If you’re young and you intend to be successful… you must dress like the success you intend to be!"

Later, as a banker, Ross mingled with some of the great artists of his time.

"I loved living in the Dakota, I lived there for 20 years or so," Ross shared, noting that he was "a little unusual being one of the few Wall Street types" at the famous Upper West Side building known for its residents, including composer Leonard Bernstein, ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev, "Killing Me Softly" singer Roberta Flack, and, of course, John Lennon at the time.