What to Know About US President’s Daughter Ivanka Trump Who Gets Up at 5 & Has a ‘Normal’ Life with 3 Kids

Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald and Ivana Trump, is a mother of three. She has reflected on her upbringing and the 5 a.m. routine that defines her approach to parenting. Her commitment to structuring her day demonstrates the values instilled in her during her formative years.

Ivanka’s parents married in April 1977 and welcomed their first child, Donald Jr., later that year. Ivanka, who once clarified that her name is the Czech diminutive of “Ivana,” was born in 1981. Her younger brother, Eric, arrived in 1984, completing the family. Together, the siblings grew up in a household where discipline and ambition were cornerstones of their upbringing.

Ivanka’s childhood was defined by a mix of structure and varied experiences, guided largely by her mother, a Czechoslovakian model who passed away in July 2022. “She was very much my cultural influence,” Ivanka shared during an interview, adding that her mom was also a disciplinarian, occasionally spanking her in public.

“I guess it was for the typical stuff. I once broke a chandelier with a beach ball. That didn’t go over well. And then I blamed it on my brother,” the New York native, whose parents divorced in December 1990, recalled.

Ivanka’s disciplined yet dynamic upbringing flew seamlessly into her teenage years, which brought their own challenges and opportunities. Though not a rebellious child, she admitted to having her moments.

“I think my mom threatened to put me up for adoption a few times,” she recounted in another interview. At 15, Ivanka transitioned to life at Choate Rosemary Hall, an elite boarding school in Connecticut.

“I was all of a sudden in the prison of boarding-school life, and all my friends in New York were having fun,” she further divulged. Adding to the adjustment, her mother insisted she pay her own phone bills.

During her teenage years, she turned to modeling as a change of pace and a way to earn money, collaborating with renowned designers like Versace and Thierry Mugler. Ivanka also appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine.

Despite these achievements, she viewed modeling as a temporary endeavor rather than a career. “I didn’t particularly enjoy the act of it. It’s as ruthless an industry as real estate — the people you meet in that business are just as fricking tough,” she noted.

For Ivanka, the experience was more about exploring new opportunities and breaking up routine. Although she values what modeling brought to her life, she feels constrained by the lasting impression it left. “That’s how they remember me, and I want to be a little bit more serious than that,” she admitted.

Ivanka’s early modeling career, while a formative chapter, was only a small part of her life shaped by ambition and privilege. Growing up, her lavender-colored bedroom on the 68th floor of Trump Tower overlooked Central Park.

The family also enjoyed an opulent lifestyle that included a 50-room triplex, a 45-room oceanfront estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, and the iconic Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach. At Mar-a-Lago, her personal bathroom—one of 33—was adorned with hand-painted tiles by Walt Disney.

Reflecting on her aspirations, she recalled, “I wanted to be a builder from my first cognitive thought,” a passion sparked early in life amidst such grand surroundings. During high school, Ivanka envisioned shaping New York City’s skyline after noticing a gap where a tower could stand.

After graduating summa cum laude from The Wharton School with an economics degree, she briefly worked for developer Bruce Ratner before joining the family business. Though initially reluctant, Ivanka appeared on “The Apprentice,” explaining, “For ‘Trump’ to be sustainable it couldn’t just be about my father. It has to be about us as a family.”

Her decision to embrace public-facing roles like “The Apprentice” aligned with her broader vision of contributing to the Trump family legacy. Moreover, around the same time, her personal life took an equally significant turn.

In 2007, she met investor Jared Kushner at a business lunch orchestrated by mutual friends who assumed their connection would be purely professional. “Whenever we see them we’re like, ‘The best deal we ever made!’” the businesswoman stated.

After dating for two years, the couple married in October 2009 at a grand wedding attended by 500 guests at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. To the surprise of many, Ivanka converted to Judaism, embracing the Orthodox faith of the Kushner family.

Ivanka and Jared’s union fused two ambitious, real estate-focused families. Both Ivy League graduates who excelled in their fathers’ businesses, the pair quickly became a power couple.

Jared’s bold moves, like purchasing The New York Observer in 2006 for nearly $10 million, impressed Ivanka, who admired his calm and solution-oriented nature. “The world could be collapsing around him, and nothing fazes him,” she said. “I feel really lucky to have met, like, a great New Jersey boy.”

The couple welcomed their first child, Arabella Kushner, in July 2011, with Ivanka announcing on X, “This morning @jaredkushner and I welcomed a beautiful and healthy little baby girl into the world.”

In October 2013, their second child was born, and Ivanka shared the news on Instagram, writing, “With love we welcome our son, Joseph Frederick Kushner, visit tumblr to see some pictures!”

Their family grew to five in March 2016, as Ivanka introduced their youngest child on Facebook, “Baby Theodore. My heart is full.”

As a mother of three and a dedicated professional, Ivanka has carefully crafted a routine to balance her responsibilities. She begins her day at 5:30 am., dedicating the early hours to her children.

“I want my children to see me first every morning, so I wake up at 5 and make sure to shower and exercise before they get up,” she divulged in an interview. The doting mom, who turned 43 in October 2024, remains committed to being present for her family while also preparing breakfast for them.

By 6:30 or 7 a.m., she transitions into work mode. “That’s my quiet time when I answer emails and return phone calls or leave messages,” she explained in another interview. Much of her work involves international dealings, so early hours allow her to connect with Europe and Asia.

Her schedule is packed with meetings and calls until about 6 p.m., leaving little room for breaks. A friend of the Kushner family once noted, “They’re really just settling into normal life and really enjoying it,” highlighting their focus on creating stability.

Ivanka’s ability to balance her family and career is matched by the enduring strength of her partnership with Jared, which has grown over the years.

On their 14th anniversary in October 2023, Ivanka marked the milestone on Instagram, writing, “Celebrating 14 years (!!!) of love, laughter, wild rides and endless adventures with my rock, Jared! I am so thankful for this beautiful life and family we’ve built together.”

By 2024, the couple celebrated 15 years of marriage while continuing to build their lives together after serving as advisors during Donald Trump’s first administration.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s journey as a couple reflects their shared ambition, deep partnership, and commitment to family. From their early days in public service to building a life centered on their children and each other, they have remained a steadfast team through every chapter of their lives.