In the latest instalment of the Trump family’s legal woes, Ivanka has been called to testify against her father, an unprecedentedly awkward turn of events in the New York Attorney General's civil fraud trial. Amid the maelstrom of indictments and investigations, we can’t help but imagine that Ivanka is relieved to have a new haven to escape to on Miami's guarded 'Billionaire Bunker' island. The former first daughter and her husband, Jared Kushner, have overhauled the $24 million (£19.9m) fixer-upper and it appears as though they're on the brink of moving in. Click or scroll to learn more about Ivanka's secretive home and her upcoming legal showdown with her father...
On Wednesday 27 September, Ivanka Trump was listed as a witness in the fraud lawsuit against her father, eldest brothers and Trump Organization executives, in filings submitted by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The documents describe her as a former Trump Organization affiliate. Michigan-based attorney Jamie White told Newsweek that the subpoena implies some level of cooperation with prosecutors. White said it would be "unusual" for Ivanka to have been called if officials thought she might plead the Fifth or be unwilling to answer questions. "The fact that she was originally a defendant and is now being called as a witness – that usually indicates some form of cooperation," White remarked. It is not known when Ivanka will take the stand, although the overvaluation of the eldest Trump daughter's former rental apartment is one subject of the ongoing trial.
Of course, Ivanka herself was once a defendant in the fraud lawsuit, which was brought by Letitia James in September 2022. The trial began on 2 October but days prior the presiding judge found Donald Trump, his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric, and Trump Organization executives liable for "persistent fraud". The trial will now determine the penalties, which James claims should be at least $250 million (£205m). Ivanka was excused from the lawsuit back in June 2023. According to court filings, Ivanka had reportedly taken a step back from her father's organisation before the period of alleged wrongdoing took place.
Supporters continue to rally around Donald Trump as the trial continues and four separate history-making indictments loom over the former president. Yet, Ivanka has been conspicuously absent. Trump’s eldest daughter "will be staying far away from daddy" while his legal woes continue, according to sources who spoke to Page Six. The former president was arraigned in court in Miami on 13 June over the classified files scandal, but there was no sign of Ivanka or Jared, despite the fact they live just a 30-minute drive from the courthouse. Ivanka has also visibly distanced herself from Trump's 2024 presidential run, after she announced back in November 2022 that she was stepping back from the political arena.
Indeed, it appears that the bulk of Ivanka’s recent energies have gone towards renovating her Miami home, where she plans to start a new chapter with her young family a safe distance away from Trump’s Palm Beach bubble. She was spotted scoping out the construction progress on the property along with Jared in late August, just days after the release of Trump’s historic mugshot taken at Fulton County Jail, where he was arrested on charges in connection to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in Georgia. Two months previous, Ivanka had shared this image of the family in front of the home's newly renovated exterior on Instagram. It certainly seems that whatever the former political power couple is planning for the future, they intend to do it at a distance from Palm Beach.
While it looks like the renovations may finally be coming to an end, the couple has certainly had a long journey bringing the home up to their standards. After buying this impressive pad in April 2021, Jared and Ivanka didn't immediately move in – and now we can see why. The property, which is nestled on the coast of the ultra-exclusive Indian Creek island, has been transformed from a tired, beige villa into a sleek, ice-white mansion, as pictured in this recent photo. It's been a long renovation journey, so let's see where it all began...
Ivanka and Jared, who married in 2009 and have three children, left Washington, DC after Donald Trump vacated the White House in January 2021. The couple flew to Florida and began renting a condo inside luxury complex Arte in Surfside, the Wall Street Journal reported. They then bought a vacant waterfront lot in Indian Creek Village from Spanish singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias, before snapping up this 8,510-square-foot waterfront property in the same sought-after community, dubbed 'Billionaire Bunker' by Forbes. The colossal crib had been on the market for half a year when Ivanka and Jared snapped it up, paying a cool $24 million (£19.9m) for the 1.3-acre estate.
This image shows the home as it appeared in the original listing with One Sotheby’s International Realty, when it was put up for sale back in October 2020. The palatial property is pictured in pristine condition with refined gardens, luxury pools and plenty of VIP sparkle, but it didn't stay that way...
It's unclear when the sparkling marketing images were taken, as the house was placed on the market before being removed without sale in both 2013 and 2015, according to Realtor. One thing's for sure, it had deteriorated noticeably by the time the Kushners got their hands on it. The ornamental ponds had been drained, the landscaping had become overgrown and the once-azure waters of the pool and hot tub had been left to go green, as shown in this photo from July 2021.
Since then, the mansion has undergone a significant revamp and gleams even brighter than the sparkling waters of the surrounding Biscayne Bay. The exterior appears to have been resurfaced and repainted, while the dated brown window and door frames have been replaced by modern black ones, complemented by a chic black trim along the roofline. While not yet finished, the formal gardens have been overhauled and refined. Large areas of planting have been stripped away to create walkways around the perimeter of the property, perhaps to give security guards a clear path to patrol, or to make it easier to spot potential intruders.
The rear of the property has seen the biggest transformation. The colonnade on the first-floor balcony has been removed and the ironwork balustrade has been upgraded to clear glass panels, so the family can enjoy an uninterrupted sea view. The thick vegetation that once separated the pool and waterfront has been ripped out and replaced by a large cabana, which handily blocks the main house from the view of passing boats, adding another layer of privacy. According to plans released by Miami-Dade County, the cabana will house a sauna, steam room, plunge pool, gym and outdoor shower.
This aerial photo of the house as it was when Jared and Ivanka first snapped it up highlights how much work has taken place over the last two years. While the overgrown gardens are no more, the high hedges and electric gates remain, though they're the least of the security measures that surround the home. Indian Creek can only be accessed via a single bridge, which is guarded by a gatehouse that's patrolled by the island's dedicated security team.
As we can see, the rear pool and hot tubs have been removed and replaced with a larger, wider pool, which is yet to be filled. While the outside of the house seems largely complete, it's not known what stage the interior renovations have reached. Jared and Ivanka's rented condo in nearby Surfside was sold in January 2023 for $17 million (£13.3m), and their lease is thought to have expired in March 2023. However, there are no signs that the family has moved out yet, suggesting that they may have extended their tenure until the renovations on their new mansion are complete. It doesn't look like they'll have to wait too much longer.
These interior photos were included in the home's 2020 listing. They show some of the original features that the couple may have chosen to incorporate into their grand plans for the refurbed living spaces, such as this Cinderella staircase and the 26-foot domed ceiling in the imposing foyer. The elegant finish was no doubt the culmination of work by previous owners, including billionaire Alex Meruelo and record producer Scott Storch, who has written major hits for the likes of Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera. However, it's safe to say Ivanka will have been keen to put her own stamp on the interior.
Prior to becoming a member of America's first family when her father took office in January 2017, Ivanka would regularly post photos of her home life to Instagram, giving us a glimpse of her stylish décor. Her New York apartment was filled with designer details, custom furniture and surprising hints of Downtown cool, all of which combined to create "a chic expression of modern glamour," according to Architectural Digest. Ivanka is sure to bring those same design sensibilities to her new home.
The sprawling home was built in 1994 and boasts plenty of light-filled living spaces. According to plans submitted to the county, Jared and Ivanka's remodel includes a ground floor 'Florida room,' which overlooks the rear of the property through multiple floor-to-ceiling windows and features a large bar area.
The new plans include a dining room to one side of the central staircase, next to a chef's kitchen and warming kitchen – the perfect set-up for Ivanka to host dinner parties and reignite a social life that took a big hit during her father's time in office. According to Business Insider, the former White House advisor was dropped by a number of friends and missed out on invitations to high-society events.
In addition to the formal dining room, there is also an eating area and an open-plan family room that flows into the Florida room. Elsewhere on the ground floor, there's a cosy cinema for the family to relax in, as well as what appears to be a staff wing, which includes a laundry room, two small sitting rooms and a bathroom.
The house initially had six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, but the new plans show that the couple has gotten rid of one bedroom, presumably to make more space for the luxe amenities they've added. One wing is entirely taken up by a vast master suite complete with his-and-hers walk-in closets and dual bathrooms. Meanwhile, four further bedrooms, each with their own ensuites, are spread along the second wing of the mansion.
Although the previous master bathroom was impressive, the plans for the new bathroom appear to take the huge space up a notch, with his-and-hers sinks and separate toilets, as well as a large soaking tub. We can only imagine the sleek, high-end finish Ivanka will opt for to update this luxurious but slightly dated space.
As Jared and Ivanka's children, Arabella, Joseph and Theodore, will take up three of the four additional bedrooms, it's safe to say these rooms will have had a big makeover. The statement wallpaper and modern four-poster bed that welcomed the home's previous guests will be long gone – although you can bet the spaces will be more sophisticated than your average kids' bedroom.
An elevator opens out into the central area of the upper floor, which is home to a combined library and office, with a small private balcony that overlooks the formal front gardens. A larger balcony runs the entire length of the rear of the house, overlooking the pool and the waters of Biscayne Bay beyond.
As well as the mansion they're renovating, Ivanka and Jared also own a separate vacant lot elsewhere on Indian Creek island, which they bought in early 2021 for $32.2 million (£26.6m). The coveted site spans 1.8 acres and just like their latest mansion, offers unobstructed views across Biscayne Bay. We wonder what their development plans are for this valuable spare plot of land...
Relocating to the super-secure island may be just what Ivanka and Jared need to launch their new post-White House lives. But while they may have distanced themselves from the sensational swirl of lawsuits, indictments and party politics that surround Donald Trump, it'll be much harder to distance themselves geographically. Trump's controversial Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach is just an hour and a half north, which could prove too close for comfort. Only time will tell whether Jared and Ivanka will manage to keep their distance or get sucked back into the turbulent world of America's 45th president.
The mysterious island that Ivanka and Jared will soon call home is highly private and something of an enigma to the outside world. Indian Creek in Miami-Dade County is located off the coast of Miami in Biscayne Bay. Connected to the nearby town of Surfside by bridge, it's not hard to see why the isle's relatively isolated location would be a draw for rich and famous buyers seeking a secluded base.
Indian Creek Village boasts just 41 residential lots, which are grouped along the island's shoreline around a clubhouse and a perfectly manicured golf course designed by celebrated architect William Flynn. Totally manmade, the pristine island hideaway was dredged from Biscayne Bay in the early 1900s and slated to be part of a larger artificial island.
Indian Creek Village was incorporated that same year and famous millionaire families, including the moneyed Woolworths and Hoovers, flocked to the island. From the get-go, residents have been tight-lipped about the community and hostile to press attention, so much so that a journalist researching a piece on the island for the Miami New Times back in 1993 struggled to find anyone willing to talk about it and remarked that precious little had ever been written about the place.
The ultra-private, 300-acre island has everything an ultra-wealthy buyer could wish for, including a private police force tasked with the job of keeping the area's high-profile residents safe. Packed with luxurious amenities, there's still an 18-hole golf course in the middle of the community for residents to enjoy at their leisure. Yet living in such an area doesn't come cheap.
As well as multimillion-dollar houses, the taxes here are thought to be sky-high so Ivanka and Jared will have a hefty bill to foot. According to official documents, in the fiscal year from 2022-2023, over $5.2 million (£4m) was paid in property tax, quite some feat for such a tiny community.
The isle is considered prime real estate for Florida's super-rich. It has long had a staid, conservative atmosphere and is considered the classier, understated alternative to Miami's other billionaire enclave, Star Island (pictured), where past and current residents include Jennifer Lopez, Shaquille O’Neal, Gloria Estefan and Rosie O'Donnell. Indian Creek's seclusion and top-notch security were also no doubt attractive selling points for Ivanka and Jared.
A veritable fortress, Indian Creek island has its very own 13-strong police force that scrupulously vets visitors – the community is only accessible by bridge via a heavily guarded gatepost – while armed officers patrol the island on land and by boat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As well as the promise of privacy, some familiar faces in the area may have been a draw for the couple too.
Located only an hour's drive from Mar-a-Lago, where Ivanka's father now resides, Indian Creek Village is also moments away from the Miami Beach mansion that Jared's brother Joshua and his supermodel wife Karlie Kloss acquired in August 2020 (pictured) – the couples are especially tight. Plus, it's said that other family members and close friends of the duo have moved to the area or are planning to relocate there.
The couple's other A-list neighbours include Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who bought a teardown home with his ex-wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, in late 2020. First reported by Page Six, the former couple paid $17 million (£14.1m) for plot 26 on the island and demolished the existing home. Brady took the land in the split and is building an eco mansion in its place. Brady is just one of several mega-wealthy names to own a home on the island. In June 2023, Jeff Bezos splashed out $68 million (£54m) for a waterfront home on the island, setting a record for the community. Hotels.com cofounder Robert Diener, billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Spanish singer Julio Iglesias are a few other elite neighbours Jared and Ivanka will rub shoulders with.
In terms of politics, the residents of the enclave lean strongly towards the GOP and Donald Trump, another huge bonus for Ivanka and Jared. To break it down, the Indian Creek district recorded 42 votes for the incumbent and just 11 for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. With 79% of the community supportive of the former POTUS, the couple can be assured of a warm welcome from their neighbours.
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