Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump and mother of his three oldest children, died on July 14, 2022, at the age of 73. She was found unresponsive at her Upper East Side townhouse in New York City after a 911 call reported an “aided individual” around 12:40 p.m.
The Fire Department of New York responded to a cardiac arrest call. Paramedics found a 73-year-old woman unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police quickly stated there did not “appear to be any criminality.”
Official Cause of Death Confirmed
The New York City medical examiner later ruled the death accidental. Ivana Trump died from blunt impact injuries to the torso after falling down the stairs inside her home. The manner of death was classified as an accident with no suspicion of foul play.
Donald Trump announced her passing on Truth Social the same day: “I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City.”
Family Tributes
Her children — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump — issued a joint statement:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ivana Trump. Our mother was an incredible woman — a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren.”
Ivanka later described her mother as “brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny,” adding that she “lived life to the fullest — never forgoing an opportunity to laugh and dance.”
From Communist Czechoslovakia to New York Power Couple
Born Ivana Marie Zelnickova on February 20, 1949, in what is now the Czech Republic, Ivana grew up under communist rule. Her strict father taught her skiing and swimming from a very young age. She became a competitive skier and later earned a master’s degree in physical education.
She left Czechoslovakia through a short-lived marriage to Austrian skier Alfred Winklmayr, moved to Canada, worked as a model and ski instructor, and eventually arrived in New York. In 1976 she met Donald Trump at the glamorous Maxwell’s Plum restaurant. They married in 1977 and had three children: Donald Jr. (1977), Ivanka (1981), and Eric (1984).
During their 15-year marriage, Ivana played a major role in the Trump Organization. She designed interiors for the Grand Hyatt and Trump Tower, and served as president and CEO of Trump Castle and the Plaza Hotel. She balanced high-powered business roles with raising their children, often emphasizing discipline and structure.
Life After Divorce and Later Years
The couple divorced in 1992 after a highly publicized split. Ivana received a substantial settlement and custody of the children. She later married twice more — to Riccardo Mazzucchelli and Rossano Rubicondi — both ending in divorce. She authored bestselling books, launched a clothing line, and remained a colorful figure in New York society.
Even after the divorce, she supported Donald Trump’s political ambitions and spoke positively of him as a father.
Updates Years Later
Ivana was buried at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. In early 2026, the Upper East Side townhouse where she died sold for $14 million (after being listed at $26.5 million). Her children continue to speak fondly of her influence. In 2026 interviews, Ivanka has become emotional when discussing the lasting impact of her mother’s sudden death.
Ivana Trump’s life was defined by ambition, resilience, and glamour — from a childhood under communism to the center of 1980s New York power and wealth. Her accidental death in 2022 closed a remarkable chapter, but her role in shaping the Trump family and brand remains unmistakable.