Amazon documentary ‘Melania' that it spent $35m promoting, lost millions after release
Melania Trump received a significant licensing fee from a documentary about her life. Amazon MGM Studios acquired and marketed the film for a substantial sum. The documentary's box office earnings were considerably lower than its production costs. However, the film reportedly performed well on Prime Video after its theatrical release. This deal has drawn political scrutiny and accusations of…
Amazon spent $75 million on the documentary "Melania," including $40 million to acquire the film and an additional $35 million for marketing, according to President Donald Trump's 2025 financial disclosure. The documentary earned approximately $16.6 million at the worldwide box office before being released on Prime Video. While the film's theatrical earnings were much lower, Amazon MGM Studios, led by Mike Hopkins, stated that the documentary "performed really well" on Prime Video.
The film's companion docuseries is also expected to be released later this year. Melania Trump received a $10.71 million licensing fee from the documentary, which, along with other ventures, generated over $17 million in reported income for the First Lady. Amazon's $40 million acquisition of the documentary has faced political criticism, with some Democratic lawmakers calling it "bribery in plain sight."
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, however, denied that the deal was meant to influence the Trump administration, stating it was a "good business decision." President Trump also denied involvement in the deal, saying at the documentary's premiere, "No, I don't know, I mean, I don't know really, I'm not involved in that. That was done with my wife."
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