The New York real estate mogul's life was splashed all over tabloids and television in the decades leading up to his improbable 2015-16 run for the White House.

His household name and unfiltered campaign style helped him defeat seasoned politicians - but a controversy-filled tenure saw him booted from office after a single term.

Now 78, the Republican is again defying the odds as he mounts a stunning political comeback that could end with him back behind the president's desk in the Oval Office.