Ivanka Trump | Source: Getty Images
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of Donald and Ivana Trump from their first marriage, is now a mother of three. She has reflected on her upbringing and the experiences that have shaped her journey as a parent, including her routine of waking up at 5 a.m. to start her day before her children are awake.
Ivanka’s dedication to structuring her day reflects the values instilled in her during her formative years. Her parents married in 1977 and welcomed their first child, Donald Jr., that same year.
Ivana and Donald Trump pose at a formal event on November 6, 1982 | Source: Getty Images
Ivanka, who once explained that Ivanka is the baby name for Ivana in Czech while replying to an online question, followed in 1981. The youngest son, Eric, completed the family in 1984. Together, the siblings grew up in a household where discipline and ambition were cornerstones of their upbringing.
Ivanka’s upbringing combined discipline and cultural enrichment, thanks largely to her mother, Ivana, a Czechoslovakian model who died in July 2022. “She was very much my cultural influence,” Ivanka shared during a February 2015 interview, adding that her mother was also a disciplinarian, occasionally spanking her in public.
“I guess it was for the typical stuff. I once broke a chandelier with a beach ball. That didn’t go over well. And then I blamed it on my brother,” she recalled.
Ivanka’s memories of her disciplined yet dynamic upbringing flow seamlessly into her teenage years, which brought their own challenges and opportunities. Though not a rebellious child, she admitted to having her moments.
“I think my mom threatened to put me up for adoption a few times,” she recounted in another interview. At 15, she transitioned to life at Choate Rosemary Hall, an elite boarding school in Connecticut.
Ivana and Ivanka Trump at the "Momentum-A Taste for Life" Gourmet Benefit for AIDS on October 19, 1995 | Source: Getty Images
“I was all of a sudden in the prison of boarding-school life, and all my friends in New York were having fun,” Ivana further divulged. Adding to the adjustment, her mother insisted she pay her own phone bills.
Ivanka turned to modeling during her teenage years, seeking a change of pace and a way to earn some money. She collaborated with renowned designers like Versace and Thierry Mugler and even appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine.
Despite these achievements, she viewed modeling as a temporary endeavor rather than a career. “I didn’t particularly enjoy the act of it. It’s as ruthless an industry as real estate — the people you meet in that business are just as fricking tough,” she noted.
Ivanka Trump featured in Vogue magazine on February 1, 1995 | Source: Getty Images
For Ivanka, the experience was more about exploring new opportunities and breaking up routine. Although she values what modeling brought to her life, she feels constrained by the lasting impression it left, “That’s how they remember me, and I want to be a little bit more serious than that, ha ha!”
Ivanka Trump attends Donald Trump 50th birthday party on June 13, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
Ivanka’s early modeling career, while a formative chapter, was only a small part of her life shaped by ambition and privilege. Growing up in Trump Tower, her lavender bedroom on the 68th floor offered sweeping views of Central Park.
Ivanka Trump pictured backstage ahead of a fashion show on April 1, 1997 | Source: Getty Images
The family also enjoyed an opulent lifestyle that included a 50-room triplex, a 45-room oceanfront estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, and the iconic Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach. At Mar-a-Lago, her personal bathroom—one of 33—was adorned with hand-painted tiles by Walt Disney.
Ivanka Trump attends the HBO Presentation at Television Critics Association on July 10, 2003 | Source: Getty Images
Reflecting on her aspirations, she recalled, “I wanted to be a builder from my first cognitive thought,” a passion sparked early in life amidst such grand surroundings. During high school, Ivanka envisioned shaping New York City’s skyline after noticing a gap where a tower could stand.
Ivanka Trump during The Paris Review Foundation Presents Fall Revel Honoring William Styron on November 10, 2004, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Graduating summa cum laude from Wharton with an economics degree, she briefly worked for developer Bruce Ratner before joining the family business. Though initially reluctant, she appeared on The Apprentice, explaining, “For ‘Trump’ to be sustainable it couldn’t just be about my father. It has to be about us as a family.”
Ivanka Trump during American Museum of Natural History Annual Winter Dance on February 17, 2005, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Ivanka’s decision to embrace public-facing roles like “The Apprentice” aligned with her broader vision of contributing to the Trump family legacy. Around the same time, her personal life took an equally significant turn.
Ivanka Trump during Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's Young Collectors Council Artists Ball on December 14, 2006, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
In 2007, she met investor Jared Kushner at a business lunch orchestrated by mutual friends who assumed their connection would be purely professional. “They very innocently set us up thinking that our only interest in one another would be transactional. Whenever we see them we’re like, ‘The best deal we ever made!'” the businesswoman stated.
Ivanka Trump at the Stuff Magazine Fall Issue Preview on August 14, 2007, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
After dating for two years, the couple married in 2009 at a grand wedding attended by 500 guests at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. To the surprise of many, Ivanka converted to Judaism, embracing the Orthodox faith of the Kushner family.
Ivanka’s marriage to Jared Kushner brought together two equally ambitious individuals from prominent real estate families. Both Ivy League graduates who excelled in their fathers’ businesses, the pair quickly became a power couple.
Jared’s bold moves, like purchasing The New York Observer in 2006 for nearly $10 million, impressed Ivanka, who admired his calm and solution-oriented nature. “The world could be collapsing around him, and nothing fazes him,” she said. “I feel really lucky to have met, like, a great New Jersey boy.”
The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in July 2011, with Ivanka announcing on X, “This morning @jaredkushner and I welcomed a beautiful and healthy little baby girl into the world.”
In October 2013, their son, Joseph Frederick Kushner, was born, with Ivanka sharing the news on Instagram, “With love we welcome our son, Joseph Frederick Kushner, visit tumblr to see some pictures!”
Their family grew to five in March 2016, as Ivanka introduced their youngest child, Theodore, on Facebook with a heartfelt post, “Baby Theodore. My heart is full.”
As a mother of three and a dedicated professional, Ivanka has carefully crafted a routine to balance her responsibilities. She starts her day early, rising at 5:30 a.m., prioritizing time with her children.
“I want my children to see me first every morning, so I wake up at 5 and make sure to shower and exercise before they get up,” she divulged in an interview, as she is committed to being present for her family while also preparing breakfast for them.
By 6:30 or 7 a.m., she transitions into work mode. “That’s my quiet time when I answer emails and return phone calls or leave messages,” she explained in another interview. Much of her work involves international dealings, so early hours allow her to connect with Europe and Asia.
Her schedule is packed with meetings and calls until about 6 p.m., leaving little room for breaks. A friend of the Kushner family once noted, “They’re really just settling into normal life and really enjoying it,” describing the couple’s focus on creating stability amidst their busy lives. They previously served as advisors in Donald’s first administration.
Ivanka’s ability to balance her family and career is matched by the enduring strength of her partnership with Jared, which has grown over the years. The couple, who married in 2009, celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in 2023.
Ivanka marked the milestone on Instagram, expressing her gratitude, “Celebrating 14 years (!!!) of love, laughter, wild rides and endless adventures with my rock, Jared! I am so thankful for this beautiful life and family we’ve built together.”
By 2024, the couple, both in their forties, had been married for 15 years, continuing to build their lives together after their roles as advisors during Donald Trump’s first administration.
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s journey as a couple reflects their shared ambition, deep partnership, and commitment to family. From their early days in public service to building a life centered on their children and each other, they have remained a steadfast team through every chapter of their lives.
