Miami Nice
Ivana Trump's slice of Palm Beach paradise

Words Natalie Boruvka and supplied Photos Regine Mahaux/Getty Images


'Don’t get mad. Get everything.' – Ivana Trump

As always, Ivana is up to a million or so things at any one time. Business is always a priority for her and, currently, she has several major projects on her drawing board, ranging from her jewellery collection for the Home Shopping channels internationally, to a home linens line. Then, of course, are her interests in the hospitality industry and, with renewed travel excitement globally, her projects in exotic locales are back in action. Ivana is currently in other business discussions, but they’re way too confidential for her to talk about just now… so she’ll just keep us posted! Ivana is also a global traveller, spending large parts of every year in places she loves with old and new friends. Summers will be spent at her home in St Tropez, with trips to other French and Italian resorts. There are cruises (Caribbean and Mediterranean), the Royal social season in London, and winters in her beautiful home in Palm Beach.  Every year it’s London, Paris, Rome, Milan and, of course, Prague...


ABOVE: Bought in 1994, her Palm Beach home – Concha Marina – is located just a few blocks away from Mar a Lago, the magnificent family residence and private club for the Palm Beach elite that she shared when married to business
tycoon Donald Trump.


What she did for the holidays:
Ivana spent the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) in Palm Beach, and her three children now regularly go to Mar a Lago, which is just four blocks from her home. This way she can enjoy family gatherings as well as the privacy of her own home. It’s also usually pretty sunny and warm – a welcome respite from the snow of New York.





Why she loves her house in Palm Beach
She’s been a Palm Beacher for about 30 years, ever since Donald bought the fabled Mar a Lago, which they used as a home and a personal retreat from the world.  Her kids loved the space as well as the privacy it gave them as children. After her divorce, she bought the magnificent Concha Marina and it became home for her children, who spent happy times shuttling between these two beautiful places. Ivana’s life is quite simple in ‘PB’. She has a work area and is wired to the world… but life is a kinder, gentler routine down there. There are loads of friends, so lovely lunches and dinners with friends from all over the world who visit this world-class resort are on her calendar. There’s a great social life and social calendar and every day offers a choice of the ocean or the pool, jogging, biking or gym. It’s a great outdoorsy life.  






How did she stay fit?
Ivana is ALWAYS on the move.  She gets up in the morning and in PB goes through her underground tunnel (to miss dangerous road traffic) and jogs or walks for many miles on the beach. She has an exercise bike and treadmill in every home she owns to stay in shape. Travelling, she makes sure the hotel has a gym and a spa. She’s still mad about skiing and spends several weeks in winter at different ski resorts throughout the US and Europe. And, she’s also a total water baby – from ocean swimming to lap pools, jet skis and sailing, she loves the water. She dances whenever she goes to parties or events… and while her booty isn’t as big as J Lo’s, she certainly shakes it into a lot of action!



ABOVE: It would be difficult not to imagine yourself sitting down to a feast of Renaissance magnitude in the dining room with its dramatic view of the Atlantic framed by stone columns and cascading, fruit-laden floral arrangements beneath mounted shields.

An entertainer’s dream, the ivy-clinging loggia houses a 24-seater dining table lavishly-bedecked in fanciful coloured crystal glassware. Standing candelabra and oversized lanterns suspended from the cypress wood ceiling cast an almost medieval glow on the romantic tropical setting. Ornate mirrors and classical murals place finishing touches on the extravagant outdoor banquet setting.


Where she is travelling to next?
Paris for the haute couture shows… and Milan and London for work.




ABOVE LEFT: Dominated by an enormous tiled-island, the kitchen has the kind of practical 
austerity to be expected in such a home – 
its sole purpose being to create gastronomic 
dinner-party splendour.
ABOVE MIDDLE: The conservatory, simply 
furnished with a florid, crown-like chandelier and wrought-iron chandelier, sees the distinct sea green of the exterior making its way in.


How her family is:
Ivana is just loving that her family is now grown up and enjoying great professional and personal success. Her three children hold executive positions in the family business, working in real estate development. They are Vice Presidents in Trump Real Estate in charge of Purchases and Acquisitions for the Company.  Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric are unique and individual people who have a strong family bond and a great mutual respect for each other.  As children, they were encouraged by their parents to be loving siblings and, as grownups, that attachment is still great for them.  Donald Jr and his beautiful model wife Vanessa are the parents of two beautiful children, Donald III 
and Kai, a vision in pink and lace. Ivanka and husband Jared are still young marrieds and are both at the top of their game in the business arena. At 6 foot 5 inches, Eric (who Ivana calls her ‘little bambino!’) towers over the family and has become a critical part of the Trump Organization.

ABOVE: Much of the 13 900 square-foot house had previously been in disrepair and great care was taken to restore it to its authentic detailing, including the parquet floors and exquisite ceilings. A collection of antique furniture and accessories brings the magnificence to completion.

 ‘I’m in a great place in my life right now,’ says Ivana. ‘All the hard work, the enormous effort, and the disciplined professionalism have paid off for me.  I have a flourishing personal business, I have loving, kind and caring children and now grandchildren.  
I have my health, good looks and good luck. What more could anyone ask for? Although, I believe, The Best is Yet to Come’! 

Today a successful entrepreneur in her own right, Ivana was a leading figure in the Trump organisation, which saw her presiding over the company’s interior design, heading up the signature Trump Towers project and overseeing restoration work on the landmark Plaza Hotel. Following thereafter as its president, she was awarded Hotelier of The Year in 1990. Built in 1921, the Palm Beach villa has pronounced Spanish and Mediterranean stylistic references typical of the revival style established by ‘society’ architect Addison Mizner in Florida in the 1920s. The colonnades, French doors, casement windows, stuccowork and barrel tile roofs were all characteristic of a resort-style inspired architecture favoured by the wealthy and prominent of this era. An avid swimmer, Ivana starts her day with laps in the ‘owl-shaped’ pool.

'I made a tremendous amount of money on real estate. I always felt very secure and very safe with real estate. Real estate always appreciates.' – Ivana Trump

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