Looks like it actually was possible to bond the whole amount.
Don Hankey, the billionaire chairman of Knight Insurance Group, told NBC News he was negotiating to post a far heftier bond of $557 million with the Trump Organization when the state Appellate Division lowered the size of the required bond to $175 million.
Possibly the most eye opening quote is at the end of the article:
Some billionaires expected Trump to be able to post the bond, but Trump could not. If Trump is fooling billionaires, do you really think he’s not fooling you?
“Hey bro, can you lend me $450?”
“Yeah maybe man. You don’t have it?”
“Nah. I’ve got almost enough though.”
“Hey man, I actually don’t need the full amount now. Just $175.”
“Bro, I thought you said you had that money.”
“Uhhh…”
It’s just… like, what the actual fuck does this insurance company think is gonna happen? He’s gonna stiff them, and tie it up in court indefinitely. It’s not a mystery. He’s done it before. He will do it again. It’s a pattern and practice.