Ivana Trump
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Ivana Trump was born Ivana Marie Zelničkova in Gottwaldov (Zlín), Czech Republic on February 20, 1949) is a former Olympic athlete and fashion model noted for her marriage to mogul Donald Trump and presence as a celebrity.
Early years
In 1968 she was selected as an alternate on the 1968 Czechoslovakian Olympic Ski Team which allowed her several opportunities to travel outside of the Communist Block. Soon after, Trump married childhood friend George Syrovatka in order to attain a foreign passport so that Communist leaders would not deem her a defector.
In the early 1970s she earned a master's degree in physical education from Charles University of Prague. In 1975 Trump left Czechoslovakia for Canada in order to pursue a life outside of Communism.
For the following two years she lived in Montreal, working as a model for some of Canada's top fur companies. In Vanity Fair magazine's profile of Trump writer Bob Collacello noted that she was known for her professionalism, likeable personality, and beauty while working in Montreal. In 1976 she moved to New York to promote the Montreal Olympics. That same year she also divorced Syrovatka. It was in New York that she met Donald Trump; son of prominent real estate developer Fred Trump.
Marriage to Trump
On April 7 1977 she married Trump in a lavish society wedding. Together, the Trumps became a force in New York high society. With their "Can Do" attitude that epitomized the 1980s they set to work on several massive projects, including the construction of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey and the Trump Tower along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Throughout the decade they expanded their family with the additions of three children: Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
In addition to a busy family life Ivana took a major role in the Trump Organization. She became the Vice President of Interior Design for the company, spearheading the signature design of Trump Tower. Soon after, Trump was recruited by Donald to head up the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino as president, under her leadership the casino became the most profitable one in Atlantic City, putting Ivana on the business map. In the late 1980s Trump decided to leave Atlantic City in order to devote more time to her family. However, Donald, having recently bought the landmark Plaza Hotel, requested her to oversee its restoration. She did one better, becoming the President of the hotel. Her time at the Plaza would be the zenith of her work in the hotel industry; she was named Hotelier of the Year in 1990.
Towards the end of that year rumors swirled that Donald was having an affair with a former beauty queen from Georgia, Marla Maples. During Christmastime while the family was on holiday in Aspen, Colorado, Ivana discovered her husband's other woman and had a messy confrontation with her on the ski slopes which was reported in the New York Post the following day. In 1991 Ivana retained renowned entertainment attorney Neil Papiano and filed for divorce, seeking a greater amount of the family fortune than had been set out in her prenuptial agreement. Donald fought back in court, protesting Ivana's claims that she had contributed to the Trump Organization.
After many bitter miles of gossip columns Ivana was shocked when her father died of a massive heart attack. Hoping to mend fences Donald stood by her side at the funeral and their divorce was settled soon after.
Although the settlement remains sealed by the courts it is rumored that Ivana received twenty million dollars, the family estate in Connecticut, a five million dollar housing allowance, all of her jewelry and partial use of Mar-a-Lago, the family home in Palm Beach which also serves as a private club for the Palm Beach elite. Several media outlets, including A&E noted that Trump has since doubled her fortune through shrewd business moves.[citation needed]
Post Trump
Soon after the divorce Trump signed on with the prestigious William Morris Agency and developed lines of clothing, fashion jewelry and beauty products that have been sold through television shopping channels, all massive successes. She has also written several books including the bestselling novels For Love Alone and Free to Love as well as the bestselling self help books The Best is Yet to Come: Coping with Divorce and Enjoying Life Again. She played a cameo role in the Hollywood film The First Wives Club with the memorable line: "Remember girls, don't get mad, get everything."
Not long after her divorce from Trump, Ivana married Riccardo Mazzucchelli. The marriage did not make it to its second anniversary . In fact, Trump filed a $15 million breach of contract suit against Mazzucchelli for violating the confidentiality clause in their prenuptial agreement; the suit was settled out of court. Her companion for the last few years has been Italian model Rossano Rubicondi, who is several decades younger than Ivana.
Ivana is presently involved in a trademark dispute with Donald regarding the use of her name for use with real estate services. Source
Currently, Trump resides between New York City, London, Palm Beach and St. Tropez.