Washington, D.C. – First Lady Melania Trump has secured a $40 million agreement with Amazon to license a documentary film about her life, with reports indicating she will personally receive at least $28 million from the deal.
Amazon Secures Record-Breaking Deal
The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump, who will receive over 70% of the deal’s proceeds, has also been seeking sponsorship deals for the film.
She allegedly told top executives who attended her husband’s January 20 inauguration that they would need to contribute at least $10 million to be acknowledged in the film’s credits. Those sponsors would also receive an exclusive invitation to the film’s premiere.
Amazon’s decision to acquire the documentary follows a high-profile dinner at Mar-a-Lago in December, where Jeff Bezos dined with the Trumps.
According to sources, Melania Trump personally lobbied Bezos to purchase the film’s rights despite the historically strained relationship between the Amazon founder and President Trump.
Weeks before, Bezos reportedly blocked The Washington Post from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election and later contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
Competing Bids and Hollywood Ties
Amazon’s $40 million offer for the documentary was reportedly three times higher than competing bids, setting a record high.
CBS’s parent company, Paramount, offered just $4 million, while Disney submitted a $14 million bid. Netflix and Apple declined to participate.
The first lady reportedly enlisted Hollywood director and producer Brett Ratner, known for films like Rush Hour, Red Dragon, and X-Men:
The Last Stand, to help refine her pitch. Ratner has largely stayed out of the public eye since facing #MeToo-era misconduct allegations.
At the December 18 Mar-a-Lago dinner, which included Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, Melania Trump reportedly enthusiastically discussed the film. Two weeks later, Amazon confirmed it would stream the documentary on Prime Video.
An Amazon spokesperson defended the decision: “We licensed the upcoming Melania Trump documentary film and series for one reason and one reason only—because we think customers are going to love it.”
Trump Family’s Growing Financial Windfall
The documentary deal is part of a broader financial surge that has benefited the Trump family since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Reports indicate that businesses and settlements have directed approximately $80 million toward the Trumps and the Trump Presidential Library.
High-profile legal settlements include:
- $25 million from Meta to resolve a lawsuit with Trump.
- $15 million to settle a defamation claim.
- $10 million from Elon Musk’s X in a separate settlement.
Ethics Concerns Over Trump’s Financial Deals
The scale of financial deals involving the Trump family has drawn intense scrutiny from ethics watchdogs, who argue that the president is more aggressively leveraging his office for personal financial gain than in his first term.
As Trump’s presidency continues, questions remain about potential conflicts of interest and whether such deals could impact policy decisions.
