It's funny how we think we know everything about the most famous family in the world. You see the golden hair, the skyscraper lifestyle, and the political rallies, but when you peel back the curtain, the Trump family tree is actually a pretty fascinating study in contrasts. Honestly, most people can name the kids—Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron—but the three women who raised them are totally different people with wildly different stories.
Donald Trump has five children. They come from three marriages. And if you're looking for the simple answer to who are the mothers of Donald Trump's children, it’s Ivana Trump, Marla Maples, and Melania Trump.
But just knowing their names doesn't really tell you the whole story. You’ve got a Czechoslovakian powerhouse who helped build an empire, a Georgia-born actress who became the center of a tabloid storm, and a Slovenian model who became the first foreign-born First Lady in modern history.
Ivana Trump: The Architect of the First Three
Ivana was the first. She was born Ivana Zelníčková in what was then Czechoslovakia. She wasn't just a "wife of"; she was a legitimate business force. She and Donald married in 1977, and they stayed together until 1992.
She's the mother of the "Big Three":
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- Donald Trump Jr. (born 1977)
- Ivanka Trump (born 1981)
- Eric Trump (born 1984)
Ivana didn't just sit around at home. She was an executive at the Trump Organization. She managed the Plaza Hotel. She oversaw the interior design of Trump Tower. Basically, she was as much a part of the 1980s "Trump Brand" as Donald himself. When they divorced, it was a media circus. Every New York tabloid was obsessed with it. Sadly, Ivana passed away in 2022, but her kids are clearly the ones most integrated into the family business. Don Jr. and Eric basically run the shop now, while Ivanka was a massive figure in the White House during her father's first term.
Marla Maples: The Quiet Life in California
Then there's Marla. If Ivana was the high-powered New York socialite, Marla Maples was the polar opposite. She was an actress and model from Georgia. Their relationship started while Donald was still married to Ivana, which—as you can imagine—did not go over well in the press.
They had one child together:
- Tiffany Trump (born 1993)
They married in December '93, just two months after Tiffany was born. It didn't last long, though. They separated in 1997 and were officially divorced by 1999. Marla moved Tiffany out to California to raise her far away from the New York spotlight. For years, Tiffany was kinda the "forgotten" Trump child in the media because she wasn't in the city. She eventually came back to the East Coast for school, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and then Georgetown Law. Just recently, in early 2025, Tiffany and her husband Michael Boulos welcomed their first son, Alexander, making Donald a grandfather once again.
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Melania Trump: The Current Matriarch
Melania Knauss is the third wife and the mother of the youngest Trump heir. She moved to New York from Slovenia in the 90s to pursue modeling. She met Donald at a party in 1998, and they eventually tied the knot in a massive Palm Beach wedding in 2005.
She has one son:
- Barron Trump (born 2006)
Melania’s vibe has always been "family first, spotlight second." When Donald won the presidency the first time, she stayed in New York for months so Barron could finish his school year. Barron is the only one of the kids who is fluent in Slovene, thanks to his mother's side of the family. He’s also famously tall—towering over his father at 6'7" or more. He recently started his college journey at NYU’s Stern School of Business in Manhattan.
Comparing the Three Chapters
| Mother | Years Married | Children | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivana Trump | 1977–1992 | Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric | Businesswoman, Czech athlete |
| Marla Maples | 1993–1999 | Tiffany | Actress, Georgia native |
| Melania Trump | 2005–Present | Barron | Model, Slovenian-born |
It's a lot to keep track of, but the kids seem surprisingly close given the age gaps and different mothers. You'll often see them all standing together at major events, like the 2025 inauguration. Even though the marriages ended, the "Trump" brand kept the family orbit pretty tight.
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What This Means for the Family Legacy
The mothers of these children have shaped the different "wings" of the family. Ivana’s kids are the corporate and political warriors. Marla’s daughter Tiffany has stayed more academic and legal-focused. Melania’s son Barron is the mystery kid, just now stepping into his own as a young adult.
If you're following the Trump family history, keep an eye on how these different backgrounds influence the siblings' roles. While Don Jr. and Eric are often the loud voices on the campaign trail, the influence of their mothers—from Ivana's work ethic to Melania's privacy—is written all over how they carry themselves.
Actionable Insights:
- Check the Dates: If you're researching the family for political or business reasons, remember the 12-year gap between Eric and Tiffany, and the 13-year gap between Tiffany and Barron. Those age gaps explain why they have such different public personas.
- Follow the Business Roles: Notice that the children from the first marriage (Ivana's) are the ones with executive roles in the Trump Organization, reflecting their mother's history as a business partner.
- Watch the Next Generation: With 11 grandchildren now in the mix, including Tiffany's new baby, the family dynamic is shifting from "children of Donald" to a massive extended clan.