Bill Rancic to fire himself from Trump project

First ‘Apprentice’ winner to start own business when contract expires

	Bill Rancic, right, the first of Donald Trump's “Apprentice” winners, has been overseeing construction of the 90-story Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.
Jeff Roberson / AP

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updated 12:54 p.m. ET Sept. 8, 2005

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Bill Rancic is going to fire himself.

Rancic, winner of the first season of NBC's "The Apprentice," says he'll stop working for Donald Trump when his contract ends in March.

"That will probably be it for me," he said at a global leadership forum Wednesday in Malaysia.

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He has been overseeing construction of the 90-story Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago.

"I'm gonna go out and start another business of my own," said the former Internet entrepreneur. "That's in my blood."

Rancic said he'll leave before Trump's project along the Chicago river is completed.

He said there are plans for him to appear in the fourth and fifth seasons of "The Apprentice," in which contestants use their business savvy to compete for a job with Trump. The fourth season premieres Sept. 22.

Rancic said he's interested in real estate.

"In the years to come, I hope there will be Bill Rancic towers right alongside the Trump towers," he said.

He urged Asian entrepreneurs to emulate Trump.

"He's a guy who's gonna die in that chair, putting together some big deal. I don't think Donald Trump will ever stop. He truly loves what he's doing."