Ivana Trump facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ivana Trump
Trump in 2007
Born	Ivana Marie Zelníčková (1949-02-20)February 20, 1949 Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia
Died	July 14, 2022(2022-07-14) (aged 73) New York City, U.S.
Resting place	Trump National Golf Club Bedminster
Citizenship	Czechoslovakia (until 1993) Czech Republic (from 1993) Austria (from 1973) Canada (from 1978) United States (from 1988)
Education	Charles University
Occupation	Businesswoman socialite model designer author
Years active	1970–2022
Spouse(s)	Alfred Winklmayr ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1973)​ Donald Trump ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1990)​ Riccardo Mazzucchelli ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 1997)​ Rossano Rubicondi ​ ​ (m. 2008; div. 2009)​
Children	Donald Jr. Ivanka Eric

Ivana Marie Trump (born Zelníčková; February 20, 1949 – July 14, 2022) was a successful businesswoman, socialite, and model. She was born in Czechoslovakia and later lived in Canada before moving to the United States. In 1977, she married Donald Trump. She held important leadership roles in The Trump Organization, including managing a casino resort and a famous hotel.

Ivana and Donald Trump were well-known figures in New York society during the 1980s. After their divorce in 1990, Ivana created her own lines of clothing, jewelry, and beauty products. She also wrote an advice column and published several books, including her autobiography Raising Trump.

Discovering Ivana's Early Life and Education

Ivana Marie Zelníčková was born on February 20, 1949, in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovak Republic (now Zlín, Czech Republic). Her father was an electrical engineer, and her mother was a telephone operator. Ivana grew up in a Catholic family.

Her father encouraged her talent for skiing, which she started at age four. Ivana joined the junior national ski team. This gave her chances to travel outside of communist Czechoslovakia. She studied at Charles University in Prague. In 1972, she earned a master's degree in physical education. She even appeared on a children's TV show called Pan Tau in 1970.

Ivana once mentioned being a substitute on the Czechoslovak ski team for the 1972 Winter Olympics. However, official records do not show her involvement in the Olympic alpine skiing team.

Ivana's Journey to Canada

In 1971, Ivana married Alfred Winklmayr, an Austrian ski instructor. This marriage helped her get an Austrian passport. It allowed her to leave Czechoslovakia and still be able to visit her parents. She received her Austrian passport in March 1972. In August 1973, she divorced Alfred Winklmayr in Los Angeles, California.

After this, Ivana moved to Canada. She lived with George Syrovátka, whom she had known since 1967. George had moved to Canada in 1971 and owned a ski shop in Montreal. Ivana worked as a ski instructor in Canada. She lived in Montreal for two years, improving her English through night classes at McGill University. She also worked as a model for stores like Eaton's and for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Ivana's Marriage and Family Life with Donald Trump

Ivana and Donald Trump at a state dinner in 1985, with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan

Ivana met Donald Trump in New York City in 1976. They married on April 9, 1977, at Marble Collegiate Church. They became well-known figures in New York society during the 1980s. They worked together on several big projects. These included the Trump Tower in Manhattan, renovating the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and building the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort.

Ivana (on the right) and Estée Lauder at a Red Cross ball in Palm Beach in 1986

Ivana and Donald had three children: Donald Jr. (born 1977), Ivanka (born 1981), and Eric (born 1984). Donald Jr. learned to speak fluent Czech. Ivanka learned some basic Czech, but Eric did not learn the language.

Ivana greeting First Lady Barbara Bush in 1990

Their marriage faced challenges and became a topic of public interest. In October 1990, Ivana's father, Miloš Zelníček, passed away. Despite their marital difficulties, Donald attended his funeral with Ivana.

The Trumps' divorce was finalized in December 1990. The settlement included money, a mansion, an apartment, and the use of Mar-a-Lago for part of the year. As part of the agreement, Ivana agreed not to discuss their marriage publicly without Donald's permission.

Exploring Ivana's Business Ventures and Writing Career

During her marriage to Donald, Ivana played important roles in The Trump Organization. She worked as a senior executive for seven years. This included being executive vice president for interior design. She led the interior design of Trump Tower. Ivana also became CEO and president of the Trump Castle Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Later, she managed the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. When Donald Trump became president in 2016, she declined his offer to become the ambassador to her home country, the Czech Republic.

Ivana's Business Ventures

After her divorce, Ivana started her own businesses. She created lines of clothing, fashion jewelry, and beauty products. These were sold on TV shopping channels like the Home Shopping Network and QVC London. In 1995, she led The House of Ivana, a fashion and fragrance company.

In 1998, Ivana invested in businesses in Croatia. She bought a share of a daily newspaper there. She was also involved in some condominium projects, like the Bentley Bay development in Miami, Florida, and the planned Ivana Las Vegas.

In 2010, Ivana took legal action against a Finnish fashion company, Ivana Helsinki. She claimed they used her name without permission.

Ivana's Writing Journey

Ivana wrote several books. These included For Love Alone (1992) and Free to Love (1993). She also wrote a self-help book called The Best Is Yet to Come: Coping with Divorce and Enjoying Life Again (1995). From June 1995 to January 2010, Ivana wrote an advice column for Globe magazine called "Ask Ivana."

In February 1999, Ivana launched her own lifestyle magazine, Ivana's Living in Style. She also wrote an advice column for Divorce Magazine in 2001.

In 2017, Ivana released her autobiography, Raising Trump. This book shared stories about her childhood and the early years of raising her children with Donald.

Ivana's Television and Film Appearances

Ivana and Donald appeared together on TV shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show in April 1988, followed by the BBC's Wogan in May 1988. After her divorce, Ivana was interviewed by Barbara Walters for ABC's 20/20. She returned to The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1992, sharing a message of independence.

Ivana had a small role in the 1996 Hollywood film The First Wives Club. She famously said, "Ladies, you have to be strong and independent. And remember: don't get mad, get everything." In 2006, she hosted a reality TV special called Ivana Young Man on Oxygen Network. She also appeared in the UK television series Celebrity Big Brother 7 in 2010.

Understanding Ivana's Personal Life and Family

Ivana was married four times. Her first marriage to Alfred Winklmayr helped her gain Austrian citizenship.

She was married to Donald Trump from 1977 to 1990. They had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988.

In November 1995, Ivana married Italian entrepreneur Riccardo Mazzucchelli. They divorced in 1997. After their divorce, they had some legal disagreements.

From 1997, Ivana dated Italian aristocrat Count Roffredo Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona Lovatelli until his passing in 2005.

Ivana married Italian actor and model Rossano Rubicondi in April 2008. Their wedding was hosted by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Although they divorced less than a year later, their relationship continued on and off until 2019. Rossano Rubicondi passed away in October 2021.

Ivana had ten grandchildren. In her later years, she divided her time between New York City, Miami, and Saint-Tropez. She was fluent in several languages, including Czech, English, German, French, and Russian.

Remembering Ivana: Her Passing and Legacy

On July 14, 2022, Ivana passed away at age 73. She died from injuries after a fall at her home in Manhattan. Her ex-husband, Donald Trump, and their three children, along with many others, shared their condolences. Her funeral was held on July 20 at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer. Ivana is buried at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Ivana left behind an estate worth $34 million. Most of her assets were left equally to her children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. Other beneficiaries included a personal friend and the family's former nanny.

Ivana's Roles in Films and Television

• Ivana was played by Katheryn Winnick in the 2005 television film Trump Unauthorized.
• She was portrayed by Maria Bakalova in the film The Apprentice.
• Ivana played herself in a small role in First Wives Club.
• She was featured in For Love Alone: The Ivana Trump Story (TV Movie 1996).

Books Written by Ivana Trump

Recognizing Ivana's Awards and Honors

• Czech Republic: Ivana was given the Medal of Merit by the President of the Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman, on October 28, 2022. This was awarded after her passing.

See also

In Spanish: Ivana Trump para niños