Fact Check: Did Melania Trump pocket the entire $40M Amazon documentary deal?
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral claim about Melania Trump's earnings from her Amazon-backed documentary 'Melania,' has sparked widespread debate online. Social media users are sharing reports that she personally pocketed all of Amazon's $40M documentary deal.
The posts also claim that financial disclosures show she earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from her memoir and millions more from NFTs and other collectables, prompting questions about the accuracy of the figures and the nature of Amazon's deal.
Claim: Melania Trump pocketed all $40M Amazon documentary deal
Reports circulating online have claimed that Donald Trump earned millions through Amazon's deal for the 'Melania' documentary, citing figures allegedly disclosed in his 2025 financial report.
According to these reports, Amazon MGM Studios acquired the documentary rights for about $40 million, and social media users have claimed that $10.71 million was recorded as income connected to the deal.
The posts also alleged that the financial disclosure listed roughly $521,000 in licensing income from Melania Trump's memoir and more than $6 million from NFTs and other collectables associated with the First Lady. Online discussions have further linked these figures to broader claims about the Trump family's reported revenue and Amazon's business relationship with the Trump administration.
Some critics have alleged that Amazon's investment reflected political favoritism, while Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has publicly described the deal as a business decision. Reports have also claimed that Amazon spent additional money marketing the documentary, bringing total costs far above the reported acquisition price, even though the film later earned only about $16.6 million worldwide during its theatrical run before moving to Prime Video.
Fact Check: False
No, Melania Trump did not receive the entire amount from Amazon's documentary deal. Reports indicate that she received about 70% of the $40 million licensing agreement, or roughly $28 million, for a documentary and companion docuseries about her life.
Because the deal was signed while she was a private citizen, she was allowed to keep her share of the earnings. However, the agreement drew criticism from some lawmakers, who questioned whether it was appropriate and ethical.
Melania Trump's Amazon-backed documentary, 'Melania,' is a political documentary directed by Brett Ratner that follows her in the weeks leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration.
The film provides behind-the-scenes access to her preparations for returning to the White House, including inauguration planning, the presidential transition, and her family's move back to Washington, DC.
The documentary premiered at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 29, 2026, followed by a theatrical release on January 30, 2026. As part of its agreement with Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon also plans to release a follow-up documentary series expanding on the film.
