Inside Donald Trump's Marriages: Love, Scandal, and Power

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is not only known for his towering business empire and polarizing political career but also for his high-profile marriages. For those wondering how many times has Trump been married, the answer is three. Each of these marriages captured the public’s attention, intertwining glamour, power, and media frenzy. This article delves into Trump's marital journey, shedding light on his relationships with Ivana Trump, Marla Maples, and Melania Trump, from extravagant weddings to headline-making breakups.

Ivana Trump: The First Lady of Trump Tower

Donald Trump and Ivana Zelníčková, a former Czech model and professional skier, met in 1976, and their whirlwind romance quickly blossomed. Trump proposed with a diamond engagement ring that, while not widely reported at the time in terms of its specifics, symbolized his growing wealth and ambition. Ivana later shared in interviews that Trump was determined to display his success in every aspect of his life, and their engagement was no exception.

Wedding Ceremony

The couple wed in April 1977, in a wedding at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, officiated by the famous Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a renowned pastor and author of The Power of Positive Thinking. This connection between Peale and Trump later became a key influence in Trump’s life. The wedding was a grand affair, attended by family and friends, establishing Trump and Ivana as one of New York's rising power couples.

Reception

The reception took place at the historic 21 Club, a symbol of New York’s elite society. As Trump’s real estate career gained momentum, so too did the couple's prominence in social circles. Ivana, dressed in a classic silk gown, complemented the event’s elegant yet understated atmosphere. The couple became fixtures in Manhattan’s upper-class scene, with Ivana later taking on key roles in Trump’s businesses, including overseeing the interior design of the Plaza Hotel.

Key Moments

Trump and Ivana had three children together—Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. Their marriage became a blend of personal and professional collaboration, with Ivana managing several Trump business ventures, including Trump Castle in Atlantic City. 

However, by the late 1980s, cracks in Donald Trump’s marriage began to show. Trump’s very public affair with Marla Maples eventually led to their divorce in 1992, a media spectacle that captivated tabloids. Ivana reportedly received a $14 million settlement, alongside properties, and later rebuilt her own brand as a businesswoman and author.

Marla Maples: The Actress Who Stirred Headlines

Marla Maples, an actress from Georgia, became romantically involved with Trump in the late 1980s, and their affair was widely covered in the press, contributing to the downfall of Trump’s marriage to Ivana. By 1993, Trump proposed to Maples with a diamond engagement ring, but unlike his previous marriage, the details of the ring were not widely publicized. Their engagement marked a transition in Trump’s life as he continued to be a major figure in both business and the tabloid media.

Trump and Maples married on December 20, 1993, in a high-profile wedding at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, a property Trump had famously purchased in 1988. The wedding attracted 1,000 guests, including celebrities and notable figures, and was covered extensively by the press. 

Marla wore a satin gown by Carolina Herrera, making headlines with her glamorous bridal look. The ceremony marked an attempt by Trump to move past the scandal of his affair and present his new marriage as a fresh start.

Key Moments

The couple had one daughter, Tiffany Trump, who was born in 1993 before they married. Despite initial hopes of a stable family life, the marriage began to unravel over time, reportedly due to Trump’s focus on his business ventures and Maples’ struggle to find her place in the relationship. The couple separated in 1997 and officially divorced in 1999. While Maples moved on with her own career, including roles in film and television, Trump’s second divorce further shaped his reputation as a tabloid fixture. Alongside Ivana, Marla Maples became one of Trump's ex-wives, both of whom were often in the public eye, with their personal stories frequently intertwined with Trump's larger-than-life persona.

Melania Trump: The Supermodel-Turned-First Lady

Trump met Melania Knauss, a Slovenian model, in 1998 at a fashion party in New York. By 2004, Trump proposed with a 15-carat diamond ring from Graff Diamonds, estimated to be worth $1.5 million. True to form, Trump made headlines not only for the size of the ring but also for negotiating a significant discount, a fact he proudly shared in interviews. The engagement cemented their relationship as one of the most talked-about in New York high society.

Wedding Ceremony

Donald and Melania were married on January 22, 2005, at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. Melania wore a custom Christian Dior gown by John Galliano, made of 300 feet of satin and adorned with thousands of rhinestones and pearls. Her dress, reportedly weighing 60 pounds, became a symbol of the wedding’s over-the-top luxury. 

Reception

The reception was held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, with a guest list that included celebrities such as Barbara Walters, Billy Joel, and Simon Cowell. The reception was as extravagant as the wedding, featuring a 200-pound, seven-tiered wedding cake covered in 3,000 roses made of sugar. The opulence of the event mirrored Trump’s larger-than-life persona, while Melania embraced her new role as Trump’s wife, poised in front of the cameras.

Key Moments

In 2006, Melania gave birth to their son, Barron William Trump. Over the next decade, she largely stayed out of the spotlight, focusing on raising Barron and supporting Trump’s business and television ventures. However, Melania was thrust into the national and international spotlight when Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015. 

As First Lady, Melania undertook initiatives such as her “Be Best” campaign, which focused on children's well-being and online behavior. Despite her reserved public image, Melania’s presence alongside Trump has remained a steady force during his presidency and beyond, enduring the complexities of public life in the White House. Among Donald Trump’s wives, Melania has perhaps faced the most intense global scrutiny due to her role as First Lady, yet she has maintained a quieter and more private profile compared to his previous marriages.