Fifteen years of marriage is no small feat, but Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have done it with glamour, ambition, and an undeniable knack for staying in the headlines—whether they like it or not. Their story started in 2007, during a business lunch that was supposed to be all about real estate. Both 25 at the time, they were set up by friends who probably thought this would just be another deal.
As Ivanka cheekily told Vogue years later, “The best deal we ever made!” Two years after that fateful meeting, the real estate mogul from New Jersey and the former model turned Trump Organization executive tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on October 25, 2009. The event was star-studded and dripping with elegance—Vera Wang gown included—and even featured a performance by Regis Philbin, because, why not?
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner: 15 Years of Marriage and Counting
Ivanka Trump is married to Jared Kushner, a real estate mogul and Harvard graduate, whom she wed on October 25, 2009, in a grand ceremony at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. Together, they have three children: a daughter, Arabella Rose, born on July 17, 2011, who celebrated her bat mitzvah in 2023; a son, Joseph Frederick, born on October 14, 2013, a budding basketball fan; and a son, Theodore James, born on March 27, 2016, whose first steps Ivanka joyfully shared in 2017. Now living in Surfside, Florida, the family embraces a quieter life after their years in the political spotlight.
Now, let’s rewind a bit to a significant turning point in their relationship: Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism. Jared, raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, inspired Ivanka to embrace his faith. She later described the experience as deeply personal and meaningful, saying it provided a “blueprint for family connectivity.” The couple keeps kosher and observes the Sabbath—disconnecting from all things digital from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, which, given their high-profile lives, probably provides some much-needed peace.
The couple’s family expanded quickly after their wedding. In 2011, their first child, Arabella Rose, was born. This little New Yorker quickly became the apple of her parents’ eyes. Over the years, Ivanka shared snapshots of Arabella’s budding personality, from her favorite dessert (ice cream) to her ambition to join the Marines (a goal she revealed in a 2017 school spotlight). Arabella even charmed global leaders, singing Mandarin songs during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Mar-a-Lago in 2017. By 2023, she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in Miami, marking a significant milestone with family photos that Ivanka shared, brimming with pride.
Arabella was soon joined by two younger brothers. Joseph Frederick, born on October 14, 2013, was named after his great-grandfathers, Jared’s grandfather Joseph and Ivanka’s grandfather Frederick. Joseph seems to have inherited his parents’ drive—he’s been spotted on the golf course and even courtside at Game 4 of the NBA Finals in 2023, where he and Ivanka cheered on the Miami Heat against the Denver Nuggets. Then came Theodore James, born on March 27, 2016, completing the Kushner trio. By baby number three, Ivanka admitted she had eased into motherhood. “With Theodore, I’m so busy chasing the other ones, I don’t have time to be nervous!” she joked.
Jared and Ivanka’s Life in Florida: A Retreat From Washington’s Spotlight
When Donald Trump stepped into the political ring, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner followed, becoming senior advisors during his presidency. It was a move that thrust them into the limelight in ways they likely hadn’t anticipated. Jared, with his real estate and publishing background, and Ivanka, who had starred on The Apprentice and helmed her own fashion brand, suddenly found themselves navigating Capitol Hill.
Their tenure wasn’t without controversy. Both testified about the events of January 6, 2021, during investigations into the Capitol riots. By the time President Biden took office in 2021, the couple had had enough of D.C. life and politics.
They retreated to the sunny shores of Surfside, Florida, a quaint town just south of Miami with a population of about 6,000. Here, they’ve embraced a quieter life, at least by Kushner-Trump standards. Ivanka has taken up surfing, tennis, and golf, while Jared is focusing on new entrepreneurial ventures. A friend of the couple described their Miami life as “normal” and “enjoyable,” noting how much more time Jared now spends with his kids.
And while they still visit Donald at Mar-a-Lago every few weeks, their ties to the former president’s political endeavors have loosened. Ivanka reportedly told her father in 2024 that she wanted no part in his campaign that year—a far cry from their active roles during his first run.
Their love story, like their lives, brings together high-stakes and heartfelt moments. From that initial “business” lunch in 2007 to family beach days with Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore, the Kushners have carved out a unique path. And while they may never escape the shadow of their famous last names, their Surfside sanctuary seems to be where they’ve found their footing as a family.
