Donald Trump has returned to the list of America's richest people a year after dropping out, thanks to the surprising success of his widely mocked social media platform.

The former U.S. president, who has faced a wave of legal challenges, including a recent $250 million civil fraud lawsuit in New York, has increased his net worth from $2.5 billion to $3.2 billion, putting him back on Forbes' list at No. 343.

The roots of his resurgence go back to Jan. 6, 2021, when riots at the U.S. Capitol sparked a backlash against the president, Forbes wrote.

Several companies tried to distance themselves from Trump, and Twitter permanently banned him from its platform. Nine months later, Trump announced the creation of a new company, Trump Media and Technology Group, and Twitter's supposed competitor, Truth Social.

Forbes notes that Trump Media and Technology Group is now the tycoon's most valuable asset.