Melania Trump Biography – Age, Career and Net Worth

Melania Trump Biography – Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970. Her birth name was Melanija Knavs. She is from Slovenia. She later became an American citizen. She worked as a model before entering public life. She is married to Donald Trump. She served as the First Lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021.

Melania Trump Biography

Melania Trump Biography
Melania Trump Biography

Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970. Her birth name was Melanija Knavs. She was born in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). She started working as a model at age 16. Later, she worked in cities like Paris and Milan.

In 1996, she moved to the United States. She met Donald Trump in 1998. They got married in 2005. They have one son, Barron Trump. She became First Lady from 2017 to 2021. She became First Lady again in 2025.

She is first naturalized U.S. citizen to be First Lady She first First Lady whose first language is not English She second foreign-born First Lady after Louisa Adams She second Roman Catholic First Lady after Jacqueline Kennedy

She second to serve nonconsecutive terms after Frances Cleveland As First Lady, she started the “Be Best” campaign. This campaign focused on helping children. She stayed mostly private and made fewer public appearances than other First Ladies.

DetailInformation
Full NameMelanija Knavs
Known AsMelania Trump
Birth DateApril 26, 1970
BirthplaceNovo Mesto
NationalitySlovenian-American
ProfessionModel, Public Figure
HusbandDonald Trump
First Lady Term2017–2021, 2025–Present
Campaign“Be Best”

Melania Trump Family

Melania Trump Biography
Melania Trump Biography

Melania Trump was raised in Slovenia. Her parents are Viktor Knavs and Amalija Knavs. Her father worked as a chauffeur and later sold car parts. Her mother worked as a textile patternmaker.

She is married to Donald Trump. They got married in 2005. She has one son, Barron Trump. He was born in 2006. She has a sister named Ines Knauss. Melania Trump married Donald Trump in 2005.

After the marriage, her parents moved to the United States. Her parents are Viktor Knavs and Amalija Knavs. They moved to support the family. They also helped raise Barron Trump.

Barron was born in 2006. In 2018, her parents became U.S. citizens. They lived in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Florida.

DetailInformation
FatherViktor Knavs
MotherAmalija Knavs
SisterInes Knauss
Half-BrotherDenis Cigelnjak
HusbandDonald Trump
SonBarron Trump

Melania Trump Career

Melania Trump started modeling at age 5. At 16, she worked with Stane Jerko and appeared in commercials. At 18, she signed with a modeling agency in Milan. In 1992, she was runner-up in a competition by Jana Magazine.

In 1995, she met Paolo Zampolli. He helped her move to the United States in 1996. She moved to New York City. She lived at Zeckendorf Towers. She appeared in Max and GQ. She was on the cover of GQ in 2000.

In 2010, she started a jewelry brand with QVC. She also created a skincare line. In 2017, companies stopped working with her brands. In 2016, she earned $15,000 to $50,000 from her business.

Melania Trump Net Worth

Melania Trump is a former model and public figure. Her net worth is about $50 million. She is married to Donald Trump. They got married in 2005. She served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency.

She appeared in the movie Zoolander in 2001. She also appeared on the TV show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015. Before moving to America, she worked as a model in Paris and Milan.

She moved to the United States in 1996 to continue modeling in New York City. She appeared on the covers of famous magazines such as: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Vanity Fair and Glamour.

In 2016, she faced criticism for a speech. Parts of it were similar to a speech by Michelle Obama.

DetailInformation
Net Worth$50 million
Income SourceModeling, business
TV AppearanceThe Apprentice
Business Earnings (2016)$15,000 – $50,000
Magazine CoversVogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour

Melania Trump Early Life

Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970. She was born in Novo Mesto, in the region of Lower Carniola. At that time, Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia. Her father was Viktor Knavs.

He worked as a driver and later sold car parts. Her mother was Amalija Knavs. She worked making children’s clothes. She has one older sister, Ines Knauss. She also has an older half-brother, Denis Cigelnjak.

Her family lived a comfortable life. They traveled to other parts of Europe. As a child, she took part in fashion shows. She became interested in fashion at a young age. She learned to design clothes by watching her mother.

She was a good student in school. As a teenager, she studied design in Ljubljana. She traveled there daily at first. Later, she moved to the city with her sister. After finishing school, she joined the University of Ljubljana.

She studied architecture and design. She left college after a few months. She can speak several languages, including English and Slovene.

DetailInformation
BirthplaceNovo Mesto
RegionLower Carniola
Country (then)Yugoslavia
Father’s JobChauffeur, car parts seller
Mother’s JobTextile designer
Childhood InterestFashion
LanguagesEnglish, Slovene

Melania Trump Education

Melania Trump studied at the Secondary School of Design and Photography in Ljubljana. After that, she joined the University of Ljubljana. She studied architecture and design there.

She left the university after about one year. She decided to focus on her modeling career. She then worked in Milan and Paris.

DetailInformation
SchoolSecondary School of Design & Photography
LocationLjubljana
CollegeUniversity of Ljubljana
FieldArchitecture & Design
StatusLeft to pursue modeling

Melania Trump Personal Life

Melania Trump met Donald Trump at a party in 1998. They got married on January 22, 2005. She wore a $200,000 gown by Christian Dior. Their son, Barron Trump, was born on March 20, 2006.

He was baptized at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. Melania became a permanent U.S. resident in 2001. She became a U.S. citizen in 2006. In 2018, she was treated for a kidney condition.

She had a medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In 2017, she filed a lawsuit against Daily Mail. The article made false claims about her past. She said it affected her business opportunities.

Later, the focus changed to emotional distress. In April 2017, the Daily Mail apologized and removed the claims. The case was settled for $2.9 million.

DetailInformation
Marriage DateJanuary 22, 2005
Wedding DressChristian Dior ($200,000)
SonBarron Trump (born 2006)
US Citizenship2006
Health IssueKidney treatment (2018)
LawsuitCase vs Daily Mail (2017)

Melania Trump Marriage Donald Trump

Melania Trump grew up in Sevnica, which was part of Yugoslavia at that time. Her father sold cars, and her mother worked in the textile industry. She studied for one year at the University of Ljubljana.

She left to start a modeling career. She first worked in Slovenia. Later, she worked in Milan and Paris. In 1996, she moved to New York City. She was helped by Paolo Zampolli and his modeling agency.

She appeared on many magazine covers. In 2000, she modeled for Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. She met Donald Trump in 1998 at a party. He was married to Marla Maples at that time.

They married on January 22, 2005, in Palm Beach. It was his third marriage and her first. Hillary Clinton attended the wedding. In 2006, she gave birth to Barron Trump. She also became a U.S. citizen that year.

She continued working after marriage. She sold jewelry through QVC. She also created a skincare line using caviar.

DetailInformation
Met Year1998
Marriage PlacePalm Beach
Husband’s MarriageThird
Her MarriageFirst
Notable GuestHillary Clinton
Son Born2006

FAQ – Melania Trump

1. Who is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump is a Slovenian-born American former model and public figure who served as the First Lady of the United States.

2. When was Melania Trump born?

She was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia).

3. What was Melania Trump’s original name?

Her birth name was Melanija Knavs.

4. Who is Melania Trump married to?

She is married to Donald Trump, and they got married in 2005.

5. When did Melania Trump serve as First Lady?

She served as First Lady from 2017 to 2021 and again starting in 2025.

6. What campaign did Melania Trump start?

She launched the Be Best campaign, which focused on children’s well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse awareness.

7. What was Melania Trump’s career before becoming First Lady?

She worked as a model in cities like Paris, Milan, and New York, appearing in major fashion magazines.

8. When did Melania Trump move to the United States?

She moved to the United States in 1996 to continue her modeling career.

9. Does Melania Trump have children?

Yes, she has one son, Barron Trump, who was born in 2006.

10. What makes Melania Trump unique among First Ladies?

She is the first naturalized U.S. citizen to become First Lady and one of the few foreign-born First Ladies in U.S. history.

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