History of Ivana Trump in Timeline
Ivana Trump was a Czech-American businesswoman, socialite, and former model. After living in Canada during the 1970s, she moved to the United States and married Donald Trump. She held prominent roles within The Trump Organization, including vice president of interior design, CEO and president of Trump's Castle, and manager of the Plaza Hotel.
February 20, 1949: Birth of Ivana Marie Zelníčková
Ivana Marie Zelníčková was born on February 20, 1949, in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia (now Zlín, Czech Republic).
1967: Relationship with George Syrovatka
Ivana began dating George Syrovatka in 1967.
1970: Appearance in "Pan Tau"
Ivana appeared on Czechoslovak Television in the children's series "Pan Tau" in 1970.
1971: Marriage to Alfred Winklmayr
Ivana married Alfred Winklmayr, an Austrian ski instructor, in 1971 to obtain Austrian citizenship and leave Czechoslovakia.
1971: George Syrovatka Defects to Canada
Ivana's boyfriend, George Syrovatka, defected to Canada in 1971.
March 1972: Obtaining Austrian Citizenship
Ivana obtained her Austrian passport in March 1972 after marrying Alfred Winklmayr, an Austrian citizen, to leave Czechoslovakia.
1972: Master's Degree in Physical Education
Ivana earned a master's degree in physical education from Charles University in Prague in 1972.
1972: Dispute Over Olympic Involvement
The Czechoslovak Olympic Committee refuted Ivana's claim of being an alternate on the 1972 Olympic ski team in 1972.
1973: Death of George Staidl
Ivana's boyfriend, George Staidl, died in a car accident in 1973.
1975: Modeling Career in Montreal
Ivana worked as a model in Montreal in 1975 and viewed it as a job rather than a career.
1976: Promotional Work for Montreal Olympics
Ivana did promotional work for the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
1976: Meeting Donald Trump
Ivana met Donald Trump in New York City in 1976.
April 9, 1977: Marriage to Donald Trump
Ivana and Donald Trump married on April 9, 1977, at Marble Collegiate Church.
1977: Birth of Donald Trump Jr.
Donald Trump Jr., Ivana and Donald's first child, was born in 1977.
1977: Marriage to Donald Trump
Ivana Zelníčková married Donald Trump in 1977.
1977: Marriage to Donald Trump and Birth of Donald Jr.
Ivana married Donald Trump in 1977. That same year, their first child, Donald Jr., was born.
1981: Birth of Ivanka Trump
Ivana and Donald Trump welcomed their second child, daughter Ivanka, in 1981.
1984: Birth of Eric Trump
Eric Trump, Ivana and Donald's third child, was born in 1984.
April 1988: Appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
Ivana and Donald Trump made a joint appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in April 1988.
May 1988: Appearance on BBC's "Wogan"
Following their appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Ivana and Donald Trump were interviewed on BBC's "Wogan" in May 1988.
1988: Claim of Olympic Connection
In 1988, Ivana claimed she was an alternate on the Czechoslovak ski team for the 1972 Winter Olympics, but this claim was later refuted.
1988: U.S. Citizenship
Ivana Trump became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1988.
1988: Allegations of Espionage
The Guardian reported that Ivana's father, Miloš Zelníček, was an informer for the Czechoslovakian StB and relayed information from Ivana.
February 14, 1989: FBI Inquiry Recommendation
On February 14, 1989, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters recommended a preliminary inquiry into Ivana Trump's connections to Czechoslovakia based on information from a confidential source.
1989: Public Marital Problems Arise
Ivana and Donald Trump's marital problems became public in 1989 when they were seen fighting after Ivana encountered Donald's mistress.
February 1990: Donald Locks Ivana Out of Her Office
Donald Trump locked Ivana out of her office at the Plaza Hotel in February 1990.
October 1990: Death of Miloš Zelníček
Ivana's father, Miloš Zelníček, died of a heart attack in October 1990.
November 1990: Miloš Zelníček's Funeral
Miloš Zelníček's funeral was held in Zlín in November 1990.
December 1990: Divorce Finalized
Ivana and Donald Trump's divorce was finalized in December 1990 on the grounds of cruel and inhumane treatment by Donald.
1990: Divorce from Donald Trump
After 13 years of marriage, Ivana and Donald Trump divorced in 1990.
1991: Interview on ABC's "20/20" and Legal Disputes
After her divorce from Donald Trump, Ivana gave an interview to Barbara Walters for ABC's "20/20" in 1991. Following the interview, Donald Trump stopped her alimony payments and announced his plan to sue her for monetary damages.
1991: Divorce Settlement Details
The New York Times reported in 1991 that Ivana's divorce settlement included $14 million, a Connecticut mansion, a Trump Plaza apartment, and use of Mar-a-Lago.
1992: Publication of "For Love Alone"
Ivana Trump delved into writing with the publication of her book "For Love Alone" in 1992.
1992: Return to "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
Ivana Trump returned to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1992, famously declaring, "I will not let men dominate me anymore."
1993: Release of "Free to Love"
Ivana Trump authored and published her second book, titled "Free to Love," in 1993.
June 1995: "Ask Ivana" Advice Column Debut
Ivana Trump began writing an advice column for "Globe" magazine titled "Ask Ivana" in June 1995, offering guidance on love and life. The column ran until January 2010.
November 1995: Marriage to Riccardo Mazzucchelli
Ivana Trump married Italian entrepreneur and businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli in November 1995.
1995: Launch of House of Ivana
In 1995, soon after her divorce, Ivana Trump established "House of Ivana," a fashion and fragrance company with a showroom on Park Avenue in New York. She also launched lines of clothing, fashion jewelry, and beauty products sold through television shopping channels.
1996: Cameo Appearance in "The First Wives Club"
Ivana Trump made a memorable cameo appearance in the Hollywood film "The First Wives Club" in 1996, delivering the iconic line, "Ladies, you have to be strong and independent. And remember: don't get mad, get everything."
1997: Relationship with Count Roffredo Gaetani
In the summer of 1997, Ivana Trump began a relationship with Italian aristocrat Count Roffredo Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona Lovatelli. They remained together until his death in 2005.
1997: Divorce from Riccardo Mazzucchelli and Legal Disputes
Ivana Trump's marriage to Riccardo Mazzucchelli ended in divorce in 1997. That same year, she filed a $15 million lawsuit against him for breaching the confidentiality clause in their prenuptial agreement. Mazzucchelli countersued Ivana and Donald Trump for libel in a British court, with the case later settled privately.
1998: Business Ventures in Croatia
In 1998, Ivana Trump pursued business interests in Croatia, a frequent vacation spot for her parents. Notably, she purchased 33% of "Polo+10," the nation's second-largest daily newspaper.
February 1999: Launch of "Ivana's Living in Style" Magazine
Expanding her entrepreneurial ventures, Ivana Trump launched her own lifestyle magazine, "Ivana's Living in Style," in February 1999.
2001: Contribution to "Divorce Magazine"
Ivana Trump shared her experiences and insights by contributing an advice column to "Divorce Magazine" in 2001.
2005: Death of Partner Count Roffredo Gaetani
Ivana Trump's partner, Count Roffredo Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona Lovatelli, passed away in 2005.
2006: Host of "Ivana Young Man" Reality Show
Ivana Trump hosted a reality TV special titled "Ivana Young Man," which aired on Oxygen Network in 2006. In the dating program, she helped a wealthy, middle-aged woman find a younger partner.
April 12, 2008: Marriage to Rossano Rubicondi
Ivana Trump married Italian actor and model Rossano Rubicondi, her fourth marriage, on April 12, 2008. The lavish $3 million ceremony took place at Mar-a-Lago, hosted by Donald Trump.
January 2010: End of "Ask Ivana" Column
After running for nearly 15 years, Ivana Trump's advice column, "Ask Ivana," in "Globe" magazine came to an end in January 2010.
2010: Appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother 7"
In 2010, Ivana Trump participated in the UK television series "Celebrity Big Brother 7," where she finished in seventh place.
2010: Lawsuit Against Ivana Helsinki
In 2010, Ivana Trump took legal action against Finnish fashion company "Ivana Helsinki," alleging they used her name without permission for their women's clothing line.
2017: Publication of Autobiography "Raising Trump"
In 2017, Ivana Trump published her autobiography, "Raising Trump," which offered insights into her upbringing and her experiences raising her children with Donald Trump.
2018: Netflix Documentary Features Ivana
A 2018 Netflix documentary miniseries, "Trump: An American Dream," described Ivana as a "charismatic workaholic, a career woman, an equal" to Donald Trump.
2019: End of Relationship with Rossano Rubicondi
After an on-again, off-again relationship, Ivana Trump announced in 2019 that she and Rossano Rubicondi had ended their relationship.
October 29, 2021: Death of Rossano Rubicondi
Rossano Rubicondi, Ivana Trump's ex-husband, passed away on October 29, 2021, reportedly from melanoma, at the age of 49.
2021: Snopes Investigates Olympic Claim
Snopes investigated and refuted Ivana's claim of being an alternate on the Czechoslovakian Olympic ski team in 2021.
July 14, 2022: Death of Ivana Trump
Ivana Trump passed away on July 14, 2022.
March 2023: Revelation of FBI Counterintelligence Investigation
In March 2023, it was revealed that Ivana Trump had been investigated by the FBI's counterintelligence division over allegations related to her native Czechoslovakia. The inquiry, initiated by the FBI New York Field Office, reportedly spanned at least two years.
