Key facts
- Melania Trump earned over $17.2 million in 2025 from her business ventures.
- The largest portion of her earnings, $10.71 million, was a licensing fee for the "Melania" documentary.
- Amazon MGM Studios acquired the documentary for $40 million and spent $35 million to market it.
- Melania Trump also reported earnings of $6,011,259 from NFT and collectible sales.
- Net proceeds from book sales of her memoir "Melania" totaled $521,161.
President Donald Trump's certified annual financial disclosure report, released Tuesday, indicated that first lady Melania Trump earned over $17.2 million in 2025 from her documentary, book sales, and NFTs. The largest portion of these earnings, $10.71 million, was a licensing fee for her "Melania" documentary.
The documentary, which chronicled her activities during the 20 days leading up to the 2025 inauguration, was acquired by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million and marketed for $35 million. This transaction prompted concerns from some Democratic lawmakers regarding a potential "pay-to-play arrangement" by Amazon owner Jeff Bezos to gain political favor. Amazon stated the film was licensed solely based on its perceived customer appeal.
"Melania" premiered in theaters in January 2026 and grossed $16.6 million worldwide. In addition to the documentary fee, Melania Trump reported earnings of $6,011,259 from the sale of NFTs and other collectibles, including digital photo series and commemorative items. She also reported $521,161 in net proceeds from sales of her best-selling memoir, "Melania."
Overall, Donald Trump reported earning over $2 billion, with approximately half tied to cryptocurrency ventures, including token sales and a licensing agreement for Trump-branded meme coins. The disclosure highlights the Trump family's profits since returning to the White House in January 2025. When questioned about profiting from the presidency, Donald Trump stated his finances are managed by separate institutions and pointed to the rising stock market as a general indicator of economic prosperity.