Melania Trump is a former model who has been the US first lady since Donald Trump became President in 2017. When the couple wed, Melania was given a stunning diamond engagement ring that cost an eye-watering sum of money. Was it more expensive than the rings he gave his ex-wives?
He told Express.co.uk: “When Melania Trump got engaged in 2005, Donald Trump bought her a 15 carat, D Flawless, emerald cut diamond ring from Graff which would today retail for $3 million which is around £2.3 million.
“At the time, Trump hit the headlines for claiming he had enjoyed a 50 percent discount. Graff was later quoted saying ‘We don’t sell items for publicity value’.”
Although the jewel was already worth a huge amount, Donald upgraded it ten years later as an anniversary present.
A decade later on their 10th anniversary, Donald Trump upgraded the size of Melania’s ring to a 25 carat diamond, also from Graff,” Tobias added.
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“This is the ring Melania decided to wear in her official White House portrait.
“That 10th anniversary ring would today retail for $3.5 million or £2.7 million – it is significantly larger than Melania’s original engagement ring but it is not D Flawless, which is the top and most coveted diamond quality in existence.”
Ivana Trump ring
Before meeting Melania, Donald had been married twice before and was first wed in 1977.
He said his nuptials with Czech model, Ivana Trump, 70, and the couple had three children together, Donald Jr, 42, Ivanka, 38, and Eric, 35.
Donald presented his wife with a 7.45 carat Harry Winston diamond engagement ring.
After officially getting divorced in 1999, Marla sold the ring for around £90,700.
It has since grown in value and was sold again at auction in 2016, where it fetched a staggering £247,000.
However, it still seems Donald chose to spend the most amount of money on his engagement ring to Melania.
Melania Trump: Five facts about the USA’s First Lady
Languages
Mum-of-one Melania can speak more languages than any other First Lady before her: English, French, German, Italian, Serbian and of course her mother tongue, Slovenian.
This also makes her the only First Lady whose first language is not English.
Religion
After Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania is the second First Lady who is a practising Catholic.
She met Pope Francis as part of a foreign tour with her husband and stepdaughter Ivanka last year.
Career
Melania was a successful model, posing for Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ.
Her skills aren’t confined to print, and she appeared in a commercial for Aflac, an American insurance company, in 2005.
Family
Melania’s parents are Amalija Knavs and Viktor Knavs, and the couple live together in Washington.
She has one sister, Ines, who is reported to live in New York and work as an artist.
Charity
On May 7 2018, Melania launched her flagship campaign as First Lady, BE BEST, which The White House describes as “an awareness campaign focused entirely around the well-being of children”.
There are three main strands to the initiative: well-being, social media, and opioid abuse.