Former First Lady Melania Trump secured a $40 million documentary deal with Amazon Prime Video after pitching the project to Jeff Bezos during a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, last December. The meeting, which included Bezos’s girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, proved pivotal in securing one of the largest documentary licensing deals of 2025.
“So it’s a day-to-day life, what I’m doing, what kind of responsibilities I have,” Melania Trump told the media in a recent interview. “People, they don’t really know, and they will see it. It’s day to day, from transition team to moving to the White House, packing, establishing my team, the First Lady office, moving into the White House, what it takes to make the residence your home, to hire the people that you need.”
The comprehensive deal includes the main documentary and rights to a follow-up docuseries consisting of two to three episodes. According to sources, Mrs. Trump will receive more than 70 percent of the $40 million deal, amounting to approximately $28 million. Her representation has been actively pursuing additional revenue streams, approaching CEOs and billionaires who attended Trump’s inauguration with sponsorship opportunities starting at $10 million.
The documentary’s director, Brett Ratner, played a crucial role in securing the deal, advising Mrs. Trump on presenting the project to Bezos. Before the Mar-a-Lago dinner, Melania’s agents had shopped the documentary to several studios, including Disney and Paramount, which offered $14 million and $4 million, respectively. Amazon’s winning bid of $40 million significantly outpaced these competing offers.
Production commenced in November, with Ratner’s team receiving unprecedented access to the White House. Over 30 days of filming were conducted within the executive residence. The project has garnered attention for its high-profile production team, including producer Fernando Sulichin, who is known for arranging notable interviews between Sean Penn and El Chapo and Oliver Stone and Vladimir Putin.
The documentary deal coincides with Amazon’s increased engagement with the Trump administration, marked by a $1 million contribution to the president-elect’s inaugural fund. Additionally, Amazon carried the inauguration ceremony on its streaming platform, further solidifying the company’s relationship with the incoming administration.
The film’s distribution strategy includes a limited theatrical release, a requirement specifically insisted upon by Melania’s team before transitioning to Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service. An Amazon spokesperson described the project as offering an “unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at First Lady Melania Trump,” emphasizing the exclusive nature of the access granted to the production team.
The project has drawn additional attention due to its inclusion of plans to reopen the White House for public tours, which were suspended during the Trump administration’s second term. The documentary will chronicle this process and other aspects of Mrs. Trump’s duties as First Lady.
While a specific release date hasn’t been announced, industry sources indicate the documentary is targeted for premiere in the first half of 2025. The production team has completed principal photography and is currently in post-production, with Melania Trump and Fernando Sulichin serving as executive producers alongside Ratner.
