Donald Trump hired actors for $50 each to pad out the ranks of supporters at his presidential campaign launch, it has been claimed.

The multi-billionaire - who boasted 'I'm really rich' during his speech - allegedly put a tiny portion of his vast wealth to use making sure the atrium of his Trump Tower launch venue was at capacity.

According to claims published Tuesday, a New York-based talent company was hired by the Trump campaign to recruit actors for the glitzy event.

Scroll down for video

Actors for Trump? It has been claimed that Donald Trump's campaign hired professional actors to attend his campaign launch. Pictured right is Domenico Del Giacco, a jobbing extra in New York City, alongside a woman who was identified as fellow actress Kourtney Klotz

Launch: Donald Trump declared himself a presidential candidate at an event in one of his midtown Manhattan skyscrapers on Tuesday morning - where he was greeted by scores of people waving signs and wearing Trump-branded T-shirts

For real? Del Giacco is pictured, left, with other apparent Trump supporters - prompting questions about whether more attendees were paid

At the launch event yesterday, where Trump made his pitch to 'bring back' the American dream, he was enthusiastically greeted by scores of supporters wearing Trump-branded T-shirts and waving placards.

Some signs identified groups as locals from areas like Brooklyn and Connecticut, or small business owners.

An email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter Wednesday, which was sent last week by the New York-based Extra Mile Casting agency to background actors on its mailing list, offered them $50 a pop to attend Trump's launch event.

'We are looking to cast people for the event to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him in support of his announcement,' read the message dated June 12.

'We understand this is not a traditional "background job," but we believe acting comes in all forms and this is inclusive of that school of thought.'

The email indicated that participants will be paid $50 at the end of the event, which was expected to last less than three hours.

The author of the missive also revealed that Extra Mile Casting was organizing the event in collaboration with Gotham Government Relations and Communications - a political consulting firm with past ties to Donald Trump.

Trump's camp has vehemently denied bringing in paid actors to beef up attendance at his big announcement.

During his 50-minute speech, Trump interacted with members of the crowd, who periodically yelled out helpful interjections and voiced their support. In the build-up to his announcement, the crowds were led by Trump staffers in chants of 'We Want Trump!'

But, according to claims from anti-Trump activist Angelo Carusone, at least two of those pictured in the crowd are working actors. A Trump spokesman fiercely denied the claims, saying that he routinely draws large crowds by himself.

Do they? Anti-Trump activist Angelo Carusone named Extra Mile NYC, a talent company, as the organization which provided the actors. They have declined to comment

Up high: People waving pro-Trump signs stood on the balconies at the event Tuesday

In an article published on the Medium social media platform, Carusone points to an Instagram post by actor Domenico Del Giacco, showing him posing in the lobby with the tag 'Trump Mania'.

Sources close to Del Giacco confirmed to DailyMail.com that he was paid to attend.

The woman next to Del Giacco in the photograph was also named on social media as Courtney Klotz, who promotes herself as a member of the Screen Actors' Guild.

The public post was deleted Wednesday after Instagram comments began asking whether the event had used paid actors.

The company which organized the actors was also named by Carusone as Extra Mile NYC, a company which specializes in providing background bodies for TV and film.

When DailyMail.com called to ask about the claims, the company declined to comment.

When asked whether the Trump campaign was involved in hiring extras, spokesman Corey Lewandowski said the crowds were there of their own accord.

He said: 'No. Mr Trump draws record crowds at almost every venue where he is a featured speaker.

'The crowds are larger - often record-setting - enthusiastic, with constant standing ovations. Mr Trump's message is Make America Great Again.'

Thumbs up: Trump interacted with his audience during his long speech, who interjected helpfully

The clan: Trump was joined by his children and grandchildren for the announcement (left to right: son Eric and his wife Lara, Trump, son Barron, wife Melania, daughter-in-law Vanessa, granddaughter Kai, son Donald Jr., grandson Donnie, son-in-law Jared Kushner, Ivanka, and daughter Tiffany)

Carusone has a history of frustrating Trump - he organized a 700,000-person petition urging Macy's to end their public association with him, and has also campaigned more widely against him under the 'Dump Trump' slogan.

In February 2013, Trump threatened to sue him for $25million, but the lawsuit never came to pass.

Other campaigns have also got in trouble for doctoring their audiences.

Early in Hillary Clinton's campaign, DailyMail.com revealed that a 'roundtable' event at an Iowan coffee shop was peopled by her supporters.

Clinton's campaign, centered on her championing 'everyday Americans', had presented the meeting as surprise stop with ordinary customers - but it later emerged that the attendees had been driven there by campaign staff.



