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What is Melania Trump's net worth? Ex-FLOTUS boosted fortune by skillful transition from model to businesswoman

Melania has been named one of the richest wives to an American president in history, thanks to her modeling gigs and caviar skincare lines

Melania Trump, who turned 51 on April 26, was not always known to the world as the wife of the 45th president of the United States. After establishing her name in the modeling industry, she tried her hand in the world of business. And while having a business tycoon for a husband helped her brand, it was her business skills that enabled her to rake up a considerable fortune before she even set foot in the White House. 

Melania has been named one of the richest wives to an American president in history, thanks to her modeling gigs as well as her caviar skincare lines. She also had a lucrative jewelry line, which sold out within minutes of its release. “I have a lot of ideas. I studied architecture and design, so I love design and fashion," Melania said back in 2011 when she relaunched her jewelry line. In the four years that she was the first lady, she got no money for her role. And yet, she manages to retain a considerable fortune to her name thanks to several business ventures and ensuring royalties on her pictures from back when she was a model. 

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Melania Trump net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Melania's estimated net worth is $50 million. She started modeling at the age of 18. Melania went on to work in multiple global destinations including Milan and Paris before moving to the United States. She had graced the covers of famous fashion outlets such as Vogue, New York Magazine and Vanity Fair before launching her own jewelry collection, Melania Timepieces, as well as Melania Skin Care Collection. 

While her jewelry pieces, priced from $30 up to $200, selling out on QVC within minutes of going live, her skincare line was a hit in luxury department stores, bringing in royalties of between $15,000 and $50,000 in 2016. However, once her husband won the presidential election, she cut ties with all her companies. 

Jewelry and Skincare 

Melania’s jewelry line was inspired by the three places she lived in at the time: Paris, Palm Beach, and New York. One of the watches was modeled after “the circle of life” and called the Trump Tower watch. She relaunched her line just before her husband announced he would be running for president and all of the pieces were under $200.

Her eponymous luxury skincare range was not sold because of legal battles involving the company she had aligned her brand with. Melania did receive $250,000 from a sign-on agreement and later got an out-of-court settlement after suing the company for royalties and damage to her brand. 

Royalties and property investments

In 2016, the office of Government Ethics released its financial disclosure report. According to it, Melania declared that she received between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties from Getty Images in 2015 alone. With a chunk of her fortune, she invested in a one-bed, 1.5-bath Manhattan apartment in Trump Tower. In 2016, she bought the apartment for around $1.5 million. 

Birthday wishes

Birthday wishes poured in for Melania Trump on social media as well-wishers flocked to wish the former FLOTUS on turning 51. "We will always love you. Happy Birthday to FLOTUS. @MelaniaTrump," one user wrote, while another said, "Happy Birthday to the beautiful, elegant, First Lady Melania Trump." A third commented, "Happy birthday to the most beautiful First lady ever! May the Good Lord Bless you today and every day @MELANIATRUMP You are truly a blessing and deserve to be blessed." 

"@MELANIATRUMP Happy Birthday to a true elegant lady. In the South, you would truly be a Southern Belle," the next said. A person reacted with, "@MELANIATRUMP Dear, Happy Birthday Wishing you the warmest wishes! I’m so grateful that you came into this.  #Flotus45 #HappyBirthday! #51YearOld."