Ivana Trump
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Ivana Trump was born Ivana Marie Zelničkova in Gottwaldov (now Zlín), Czechoslovakia on February 20, 1949). She is a former Olympic athlete and fashion model noted for her marriage to mogul Donald Trump and celebrity brand.
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[edit] Early years
In 1968, Ivana Zelničkova was selected as an alternate on the 1968 Czechoslovakian Olympic Ski Team which allowed her several opportunities to travel outside the Communist Bloc. Soon after, she married childhood friend George Syrovatka in order to attain a foreign passport so that Communist leaders would not deem her a defector.
In the early 1970s she earned a master's degree in physical education from Charles University of Prague. In 1975 she left Czechoslovakia for Canada.
For the following two years she lived in Montreal, working as a model for some of Canada's top fur companies. In 1976 she moved to New York to promote the Montreal Olympics. That same year she also divorced Syrovatka. It was in New York that she met Donald Trump; son of prominent real estate developer Fred Trump.
[edit] Marriage to Trump
On April 7, 1977, she married Trump in a lavish society wedding. The Trumps became leading figures in New York high society and business during the 1980s. They set to work on several massive projects, including the construction of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
They had three children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
Ivana Trump took a major role in the Trump Organization. She became the Vice President of Interior Design for the company, spearheading the signature design of Trump Tower. Afterwards, Donald appointed her to head up the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino as president. Under her leadership the casino became the most profitable one in Atlantic City, putting Ivana on the business map.[citation needed]
In the late 1980s Trump decided to leave Atlantic City in order to devote more time to her family. However, Donald asked her to oversee the restoration of the landmark Plaza Hotel, and she took over as its president. She was named Hotelier of the Year in 1990.
Towards the end of that year, rumors began to circulate that Donald was having an affair with a former beauty queen from Georgia, Marla Maples. While the family was on holiday in Aspen, Colorado that Christmastime, Ivana had a confrontation with Maples on the ski slopes which was reported in the New York Post the following day. In 1991, Ivana instructed entertainment attorney Neil Papiano and filed for divorce, seeking a greater amount of the family fortune than had been set out in her prenuptial agreement. Donald fought back in court, protesting Ivana's claims that she had contributed to the Trump Organization.
The divorce battle fueled extensive pieces in the gossip columns, but the situation was resolved after the sudden death of Ivana's father from a massive heart attack. The Trumps stood side by side at the funeral and their divorce was settled soon after.
Although the settlement remains sealed by the courts it is rumored that Ivana received $20 million, the family estate in Connecticut, a $5 million housing allowance, all of her jewelry and partial use of Mar-a-Lago, the family home in Palm Beach which also serves as a private club for the Palm Beach elite. Several media outlets, including A&E, noted that Trump has since doubled her fortune through shrewd business moves.[citation needed]
[edit] Career
Soon after the divorce, Trump signed on with the William Morris Agency and developed lines of clothing, fashion jewelry and beauty products that have been sold through television shopping channels, all massive successes. She has also written several books including the bestselling novels For Love Alone and Free to Love as well as the bestselling self help books The Best is Yet to Come: Coping with Divorce and Enjoying Life Again. She played a cameo role in the Hollywood film The First Wives Club with the memorable line: "Remember girls, don't get mad, get everything."
Not long after her divorce from Trump, Ivana married Riccardo Mazzucchelli. The marriage did not make it to its second anniversary. Trump filed a $15 million breach of contract suit against Mazzucchelli for violating the confidentiality clause in their prenuptial agreement. The suit was settled out of court. Her companion for the last few years has been Italian model Rossano Rubicondi, who is several decades younger than she.
Ivana is presently involved in a trademark dispute with Donald regarding the use of her name for use with real estate services. Source
Currently, Trump resides between New York City, London, Palm Beach and St. Tropez.
[edit] External links
- Ivana Trump at the Internet Movie Database
- Ivana Trump at the Notable Names Database
- Official web site
| Trump Empire | |
|---|---|
| Trump Entertainment Resorts (casinos) • Trump Organization (real estate and other ventures) | |
| Family | |
| 1st Generation: Fred Trump • Mary MacLeod Trump | |
| 2nd Generation: Donald Trump • Maryanne Trump Barry • Fred Trump, Jr. • 2nd Sister | |
| 3rd Generation: (Ivana Trump) - Donald Trump, Jr. • Ivanka Trump • Eric Trump | (Marla Maples) - Tiffany Trump | (Melania Knauss) - Barron William Trump | |
| Media | |
| The Apprentice (Seasons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, MS) • Trumped! • Trump Magazine • Books | |
| Notable Properties | |
| Trump International Hotel and Tower (New York, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Toronto, SoHo, Honolulu, Dubai, Panama City, New Orleans, Phoenix)
Trump Tower (New York City, Tampa, Philadelphia, White Plains, Denver) • Trump Tower Variations (Trump World Tower, Trump Elite Tower Trump Towers by the Sea) Trump Plaza (Atlantic City, Palm Beach, New York City, New Rochelle, Trump Plaza Tower) Atlantic City Casinos: Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza, Trump Marina Other Properties: Mar-A-Lago, Trump Grande, The Trump Building at 40 Wall Street, Trump Palace, Trump Parc, Trump Park Avenue, Grand Hyatt, Daewoo Trump World, Riverside South/Trump Place, North Baja Trump Golf: The Estates at Trump National, Trump International Golf Links |
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| Various Enterprises | |
| Miss Universe • Donald J. Trump Signature Collection • Trump University • Trump Mortgage • GoTrump.com | |
| Other Trump Brand Name Uses | |
| Trump Vodka • Trump Ice • Trump Shuttle | |
Annual Revenue: $26.5 million USD (FY 2005) | Employees: NA | Stock Symbol: NASDAQ: TRMP | Website: The Trump Organization |
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