Vanity Fair obtained Trump's prenup with Marla Maples, and it's a doozy


In the wake of his contentious divorce from first wife Ivana Trump, President Trump was feeling less than generous when it came time to negotiate a prenuptial agreement with his second wife, Marla Maples, Vanity Fair reports.
A person with access to the 1993 document — which included confidential financial statements — slipped a copy to Gabriel Sherman, who writes that it "is a sketch of Trump's immense privilege and the wealth he squandered, telling in both what it illuminates and what it obfuscates." At the time, Trump was dealing with three of his Atlantic City casinos going bust and being forced to sell the Trump Shuttle airline, his stake in Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, and his yacht, the Trump Princess.
Trump said he was worth $1.17 billion, while Maples declared she had $100,000 in the bank, Sherman writes, although he notes it's likely Trump wasn't worth that much, as he didn't appear on the Forbes list between 1990 and 1995. If they separated within five years, Trump agreed to give Maples $1 million, plus another million to purchase a home.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Maples had just given birth to their daughter, Tiffany, and Trump agreed to give her $100,000 in child support payments until Tiffany's 21st birthday, Vanity Fair reports, but that would end earlier if she took a path never traveled by any Trumps before her and joined the military or Peace Corps.
A person close to Maples told Sherman she finally agreed to the deal because she was eager to marry Trump, and figured she could renegotiate it sometime down the road. Maples always brought her wedding dress with her on trips, in case Trump decided it was time to get married, the person said, and they finally walked down the aisle in December 1993. They separated after four years. For more on the agreement, and what finally triggered Trump to propose to Maples, visit Vanity Fair.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Is Trump's tariffs plan working?
Today's Big Question Trump has touted 'victories', but inflation is the 'elephant in the room'
-
What are VPNs and how do they work?
The Explainer UK sees surge in use of virtual private networks after age verification comes into effect for online adult content
-
Why is it so hard to find an 'eligible' man?
In the Spotlight The lack of college-educated suitors is forcing women to 'marry down'
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
The Pentagon's missing missiles
Feature The U.S. military is low on weapons. Can it restock before a major conflict breaks out?