How much did Amazon pay Melania
Executive summary
Amazon MGM licensed the Melania Trump documentary in a deal widely reported to be for $40 million, a figure cited by multiple outlets as the price paid for the rights to the film [1] [2] [3]. How much of that sum flowed to Melania Trump personally is not definitively disclosed by Amazon; at least one report claims she “pocketed” about $28 million, but that number is reported, not confirmed by primary accounting from the parties [4].
1. The headline number: $40 million for the rights
Major outlets repeatedly report that Amazon MGM paid $40 million to acquire or license the Melania documentary, language that appears in coverage from Rolling Stone, The New York Times and industry summaries such as IMDb’s reporting of the Puck News item; those pieces frame $40 million as the purchase price Amazon offered in a competitive bidding process [1] [2] [3].
2. Who actually received the money — the murkier second act
Reporting makes clear the $40 million was paid to the entity controlling the film’s rights — described in coverage as Melania Trump’s own production company — but outlets also emphasize that it is “unclear what percentage of the $40 million will go directly to” Melania herself, meaning the public record does not include a contract or line‑by‑line accounting that proves how the funds were split [1] [2]. The Telegraph reports a figure — that Melania “reportedly pocked $28m” of the deal — but that is an attributed, secondary claim rather than confirmation from Amazon or the Trumps’ accountants [4].
3. Bigger sums in play and the campaign around the release
Beyond the license fee, coverage documents additional spend tied to the project: the director and Amazon executives have described a substantially larger outlay when marketing and a related docuseries are included; Forbes quotes the director defending what it frames as a $75 million price tag that combines the $40 million rights payment with roughly $35 million of promotional and release costs [5]. Amazon spokespeople and promotional materials have pushed back against critiques by saying the company licensed the film because it believed customers would “love it,” not for political access [6].
4. Why the exact payout matters and the debate it sparked
Because the film was released while its subject occupies the White House and because Jeff Bezos and other Amazon figures have been publicly linked to the Trumps around the same time, the size and destination of the payment have drawn ethics questions and accusations of “pandering” or influence‑buying in multiple outlets and advocacy pieces [7] [8]. Critics point to timing and prior encounters between Bezos and Trump advisers as context for concern, while defenders — including the film’s director — argue the price reflects multi‑part content (feature plus series) and premium production costs [5] [8].
5. Bottom line answer and limits of available reporting
The plainly supported, repeatable fact in the public record is that Amazon MGM paid $40 million to license the documentary [1] [2] [3]. How much of that $40 million ended up in Melania Trump’s personal accounts is not independently verified in the sources reviewed; a single report claims roughly $28 million went to her, but that remains an attributed figure rather than an audited fact [4]. Any firm claim beyond “Amazon paid $40 million for the rights” therefore overreaches the available reporting.