Melania Trump's Shocking $50 Million Net Worth Revealed!
Melania Trump's Shocking $50 Million Net Worth Revealed!
What is Melania Trump's Net Worth?
Melania Trump, a Slovenian-born model and the former First Lady of the United States, possesses a net worth estimated at $50 million. She is primarily recognized as the third spouse of Donald Trump, with whom she wed in 2005. During her husband's tenure as president, she held the position of First Lady.
In addition to her role as First Lady, Melania made a cameo appearance in the 2001 film "Zoolander" and featured on her husband's NBC reality show "The Apprentice" from 2004 to 2015. Prior to relocating to the United States in 1996 to advance her modeling career in New York City, she worked in Paris and Milan.
Throughout her career, she has appeared on the covers of numerous prestigious magazines, including "Vogue," "Harper's Bazaar," "InStyle," "Vanity Fair," and "Glamour." In 2016, she faced backlash following a speech at the Republican National Convention, which was criticized for containing similarities to Michelle Obama's address at the 2008 Democratic Convention.
Early Life
Melania Trump, originally named Melanija Knavs (later Germanized to Melania Knauss), was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, SR Slovenia. Her mother, Amalija, worked as a patternmaker for a children's clothing company, while her father, Viktor, held a managerial position at car and motorcycle dealerships.
During her youth, Melania frequently participated in fashion shows organized by her mother's employer, Jutranjka. She was raised in Sevnica alongside her sister Ines and has a half-brother whom she has never met. Although Viktor was affiliated with the League of Communists of Slovenia, which promoted state atheism, both Melania and Ines were baptized into the Catholic faith.
Melania pursued her education at Ljubljana's Secondary School of Design and Photography and later enrolled at the University of Ljubljana to study design and architecture, but she left the program after one year.
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Career
Melania began her modeling career at the tender age of five. By the time she reached sixteen, she was collaborating with fashion photographer Stane Jerko and featuring in various commercials. At eighteen, she secured a contract with a modeling agency in Milan and was a runner-up in the "Look of the Year" competition organized by "Jana Magazine" in 1992. In 1995, she was introduced to Paolo Zampolli, co-owner of Metropolitan Models, who offered her representation contingent upon her relocation to the United States.
After moving to Manhattan the following year, she resided in an apartment at Zeckendorf Towers with photographer Matthew Atanian, an arrangement facilitated by Zampolli. In January of that year, the French men's magazine "Max" published provocative photographs of Melania alongside another model, and she graced the cover of the January 2000 issue of "GQ," adorned solely in diamond jewelry.
In 2010, Trump introduced a jewelry line with QVC named Melania Timepieces & Jewelry and developed the Melania Skin Care Collection. However, in 2017, the companies responsible for manufacturing these products severed their connections with her. A financial disclosure from 2016 indicated that her business endeavors generated royalties ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 that year.
First Lady of the United States
Melania, referred to by her Secret Service code name "Muse," assumed the role of First Lady of the United States on January 20, 2017. However, she did not relocate to the White House until June 11, 2017, due to her son's enrollment at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School.
During her tenure as First Lady, Melania managed a staff of 11 and became only the second First Lady born outside the United States, following Louisa Adams, who was born in London. Her inaugural event at the White House was a luncheon in March 2017, held in honor of International Women's Day, where she addressed issues of gender equality and shared her experiences as a female immigrant.
Throughout her time in this role, Melania emphasized the importance of combating online bullying through her "Be Best" initiative, which faced criticism given her husband's frequent aggressive behavior on social media. In April 2018, she played a significant role in organizing a state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron and accompanied his wife, Brigitte, on a visit to the National Gallery of Art the day prior to the event.
Later that year, in October, Melania undertook a solo tour across four African nations, during which she engaged in activities such as bottle-feeding baby elephants, spending time at a school in Malawi, and visiting an orphanage in Nairobi.
The Trump administration's policies regarding illegal immigration led to the separation of many children from their parents, a situation Melania addressed in June 2018. She remarked, "We need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart," expressing her desire for "successful immigration reform" while opposing the separation aspect of the administration's "Zero Tolerance" policy.
On June 17, 2018, she visited the Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter in McAllen, Texas, where 55 immigrant children were housed, meeting with social workers and medical personnel, and expressing her intention to assist in reuniting the children with their families.
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Personal Life
Melania Trump first encountered Donald Trump at a social gathering in 1998, and they exchanged vows on January 22, 2005, with Melania donning a Christian Dior gown valued at $200,000. The couple welcomed their son, Barron, on March 20, 2006, who was subsequently baptized at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, the same location where Melania and Donald were married.
Melania has held permanent residency in the United States since 2001 and became a naturalized American citizen in 2006. In 2018, she underwent treatment for a benign kidney condition, which involved an embolization procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
In February 2017, Donald Trump initiated a $150 million lawsuit against the "Daily Mail," a British tabloid, for publishing an article that alleged Melania had worked as an escort during her modeling career. Melania asserted that the article resulted in her losing out on "multimillion dollar business relationships," but later revised the lawsuit to emphasize her emotional distress. In April 2017, the "Daily Mail" retracted the claims made in the article, and the lawsuit was ultimately settled for $2.9 million.
Real Estate
In January 2016, Melania acquired a 1-bedroom apartment on the 33rd floor of Trump Tower for $1.5 million. At the time of this acquisition, the Trump family already possessed an expansive penthouse occupying the 66th, 67th, and 68th floors of the same building. There has been speculation that Melania intended the 1,052 square foot apartment to serve as a library.
Melania Trump's life and career showcase her resilience, ambition, and ability to navigate both the modeling world and the complexities of being First Lady. From her early days in Slovenia to her success in the U.S., she has built a remarkable career and secured her place in the public eye.
Through her entrepreneurial ventures, charitable initiatives, and her role as a mother and wife, Melania has demonstrated a strong sense of purpose. Despite the controversies, she continues to be a figure of influence and inspiration, showing that determination and grace can lead to success on a global stage.