Inside the Mar-A-Lago domain of Donald Trump: Palm Beach Retreat.
The Mar-A-Lago club is one of the most emblematic areas of Palm Beach, closely linked to Donald Trump and his time as 45th President of the United States. Although its importance as a political and social center has increased in recent years, the history of the domain dates back almost a century. This remarkable mixture of Moorish charm and architectural shine is the result of the dedicated work of the architects Marion Sims Wyeth and Joseph Urban.
Originally built for Marjorie Merriweather Post, the heiress of the Postum Cereal Company and once the richest woman in America, the estate was created in the 1920s. Post has traveled the unlikely land of the Palm Beach Island looking for an ideal site, finally acquiring 17 acres (6.9 hectares) located between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth. She appointed the Mar-A-Lago estate, which translates to Spanish in “sea at the lake”.
The construction of the ownership was finalized in 1927, following an investment of $ 7 million per position in Mar-A-Lago, which equals about $ 123 million in the currency today Hui, which makes it the most expensive non -royal residence of its time. The architectural splendor of Mar-A-Lago was considerably shaped by the vast trips of Post across Europe. She envisaged a residence that harmoniously mixed elements of Spanish, Venetian and Portuguese architecture.
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The design of the structure was executed by Wyeth, while Post took great care of the conservation of the interior, using opulent materials, complex mosaics and ornate furniture. The estate has 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a Pietra Dura marble dining table which measures 29 feet (8.8 meters) in length. The exterior is embellished with carved figures of parrots, monkeys, ramal heads and claws, which remain visible to date.
When he died in 1973, Post bequeathed the domain to the American government with the intention of becoming a “winter house”. Although the location has provided a warm refuge of the ice winters of Washington, the costs associated with its maintenance have become heavy. In less than eight years, the government has given up Mar-A-Lago at the Post Foundation, paving the way for one of the most important real estate agreements in history.
Recognizing the value of the succession, Donald Trump, who was then a businessman and real estate tycoon, proposed an offer of $ 15 million for Mar-A-Lago, who was rejected. In the end, in 1985, he obtained ownership for around $ 5 million, in addition to $ 3 million for his antiquities and furniture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxBvck39GVS
“I thought I was buying a museum,” Trump told Palm Beach Life in 1986, according to The Daily News. “I never thought it would be a particularly comfortable place, but I thought it was so incredible that a statement would be wonderful to own. The fact is that it turned out not only to be a museum but a very comfortable house. »»
After an in-depth renovation, Mar-A-Lago appeared as a symbol of richness and leading influence on the world scene. In 1994, the estate was transformed into an exclusive private club, with opulent equipment such as a spa, tennis courts, croquet lawns and several ballrooms. Among its improvements, a large ballroom measuring 20,000 square feet has been introduced, decorated with $ 7 million accents of gold leaf.
The estate presents Spanish renewal arches, complex mosaics and a two acres beach club which offers direct access to a private beach. To become a member of Mar-A-Lago, initiation fees of $ 200,000 are required. You can enjoy a swimming pool measuring 132 feet on 50 feet, a whirlwind and a bistro by the sea. Additional installations include a 27 -hole golf course and a fitness center.
One of the most notable changes concerned the incorporation of a coat of arms which was originally associated with Joseph Edward Davies, the third husband of post. Trump changed this emblem by substituting the Latin term “integritas”, which results in integrity, with “Trump”, aligning it on the brand of the domain. In addition, Trump has improved his personal living space by building a private residence covering 3,000 square feet in the field. Over the years, Mar-A-Lago has welcomed a variety of eminent guests, notably Serena Williams, Martha Stewart, Sylvester Stallone and Xi Jinping, President of China.
Significantly, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley chose Mar-A-Lago as a honeymoon destination in 1994. The Instagram account of the Mar-A-Lago club highlights its opulence, with parts adorned with large beds To four pounds, dazzling chandeliers, and elaborate gold accents. Trump often highlighted his exclusivity, pointing out in 2014: “I have 24 acres in Palm Beach, and no one has nothing like it. A large house is on an acre. I am 24 years old. This is the great succession of Palm Beach. During her first mandate, Mar-A-Lago became an unofficial “winter house”. During his first mandate as president, Mar-A-Lago served as an unofficial “White House”. In 2019, he officially designated Mar-A-Lago as his main residence, moving from his three-level penthouse to Trump Tower, Manhattan.
He has often used the place of diplomatic gatherings and political functions. These excursions have made significant expenses for taxpayers; During his first year, trips to Mar-A-Lago amounted to $ 13.6 million, leading to a total of $ 60 million at the end of his mandate. After its inauguration on January 20, 2025, Trump moved to the White House in Washington, DC, but Mar-A-Lago continued to serve as a central center for its personal and political activities.
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The value of the succession has experienced a considerable assessment. In 2022, Forbes evaluated the value of Mar-A-Lago at around $ 350 million. Financial disclosure indicated that the club had generated 29.7 million dollars in gross income from June 2015 to May 2016, followed by revenues of $ 25.1 million in 2017, $ 22 million in 2018 and 21, 21, $ 4 million in 2019.