Photos show Ivanka’s incredible home transformation
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner splashed out $24 million (£18.7m) on a mansion on Miami’s achingly exclusive ‘Billionaire’s Bunker’ island in 2021. Yet it soon became clear that the crumbling property was in a sorry state of disrepair. Now, two years on, the forlorn estate has been transformed into a chic palace surrounded by lush formal gardens – the perfect retreat to escape the latest legal headaches and political hype surrounding Ivanka’s father, Donald Trump. Click or scroll on to join us as we take a look at Jared and Ivanka’s transformed home…
Distancing from Donald?
While supporters rally around Donald Trump following his indictment in June 2023 on multiple charges relating to the alleged mishandling of classified documents, one person has been conspicuously absent. Ivanka has “disappeared” and “will be staying far away from daddy” while his legal woes continue, according to sources who spoke to Page Six. The former president was arraigned in court in Miami on 13 June, but there was no sign of Ivanka or Jared, despite the fact they live just a 30-minute drive from the courthouse. While she did take to Instagram the following day to mark Trump’s 77th birthday, hailing him as “the most incredible father,” whose “love, energy and strength inspire me every day”, Ivanka has visibly distanced herself from Trump’s 2024 presidential run.
Renovations revealed
Romain Maurice / MEGA
Luckily, the couple has had a huge renovation project to distract them from the ongoing saga. After buying this impressive pad in April 2021, Jared and Ivanka didn’t immediately move in – and now we can see why. The property, which is nestled on the coast of the ultra-exclusive Indian Creek island, has been transformed from a tired, beige villa into a sleek, ice-white mansion, as pictured in this recent photo. It’s been a long renovation journey, so let’s see where it all began…
A lavish purchase
Splash News
Ivanka and Jared, who married in 2009 and have three children, left Washington, DC after Donald Trump vacated the White House in January 2021. The couple flew to Florida and began renting a condo inside luxury complex Arte in Surfside, the Wall Street Journal reported. They then bought a vacant waterfront lot in Indian Creek Village from Spanish singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias, before snapping up this 8,510-square-foot waterfront property in the same sought-after community, dubbed ‘Billionaire Bunker’ by Forbes. The colossal crib had been on the market for half a year when Ivanka and Jared snapped it up, paying a cool $24 million (£18.7m) for the 1.3-acre estate.
Too good to be true?
One Sotheby’s International Realty
This image shows the home as it appeared in the original listing with One Sotheby’s International Realty, when it was put up for sale back in October 2020. The palatial property is pictured in pristine condition with refined gardens, luxury pools, and plenty of VIP sparkle, but it didn’t stay that way…
Left to languish
Splash News
It’s unclear when the sparkling marketing images were taken, as the house was placed on the market before being removed without a sale in both 2013 and 2015, according to Realtor. One thing’s for sure, it had deteriorated noticeably by the time the Kushners got their hands on it. The ornamental ponds had been drained, the landscaping had become overgrown and the once-azure waters of the pool and hot tub had been left to go green, as shown in this photo from July 2021.
Refined revamp
Romain Maurice / MEGA
Since then, the mansion has undergone a significant revamp and gleams even brighter than the sparkling waters of the surrounding Biscayne Bay. The exterior appears to have been resurfaced and repainted, while the dated brown window and door frames have been replaced by modern black ones, complemented by a chic black trim along the roofline. While not yet finished, the formal gardens have been overhauled and refined. Large areas of planting have been stripped away to create walkways around the perimeter of the property, perhaps to give security guards a clear path to patrol, or to make it easier to spot potential intruders.
Major changes
Romain Maurice / MEGA
The rear of the property has seen the biggest transformation. The colonnade on the first-floor balcony has been removed and the ironwork balustrade has been upgraded to clear glass panels, so the family can enjoy an uninterrupted sea view. The thick vegetation that once separated the pool and waterfront has been ripped out and replaced by a large cabana, which handily blocks the main house from the view of passing boats, adding another layer of privacy. According to plans released by Miami-Dade County, the cabana will house a sauna, steam room, plunge pool, gym, and outdoor shower.
Out with the old
Splash News
This aerial photo of the house as it was when Jared and Ivanka first snapped it up highlights how much work has taken place over the last two years. While the overgrown gardens are no more, the high hedges and electric gates remain, though they’re the least of the security measures that surround the home. Indian Creek can only be accessed via a single bridge, which is guarded by a gatehouse that’s patrolled by the island’s dedicated security team.
The luxurious new layout
Romain Maurice / MEGA
As we can see, the rear pool and hot tubs have been removed and replaced with a larger, wider pool, which is yet to be filled. While the outside of the house seems largely complete, it’s not known what stage the interior renovations have reached. Jared and Ivanka’s rented condo in nearby Surfside was sold in January 2023 for $17 million (£13.3m), and their lease is thought to have expired in March 2023. However, there are no signs that the family has moved out yet, suggesting that they may have extended their tenure until the renovations on their new mansion are complete. It doesn’t look like they’ll have to wait too much longer.
Imposing entrance
One Sotheby’s International Realty
These interior photos were included in the home’s 2020 listing. They show some of the original features that the couple may have chosen to incorporate into their grand plans for the refurbed living spaces, such as this Cinderella staircase and the 26-foot domed ceiling in the imposing foyer. The elegant finish was no doubt the culmination of work by previous owners, including billionaire Alex Meruelo and record producer Scott Storch, who has written major hits for the likes of Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera. However, it’s safe to say Ivanka will have been keen to put her stamp on the interior.
Grand plans
One Sotheby’s International Realty
Before becoming a member of America’s first family when her father took office in January 2017, Ivanka would regularly post photos of her home life to Instagram, giving us a glimpse of her stylish décor. Her New York apartment was filled with designer details, custom furniture, and surprising hints of Downtown cool, all of which combined to create “a chic expression of modern glamour,” according to Architectural Digest. Ivanka is sure to bring those same design sensibilities to her new home.
Florida views
One Sotheby’s International Realty
The sprawling home was built in 1994 and boasts plenty of light-filled living spaces. According to plans submitted to the county, Jared and Ivanka’s remodel includes a ground floor ‘Florida room,’ which overlooks the rear of the property through multiple floor-to-ceiling windows and features a large bar area.
Ultra-modern finish
One Sotheby’s International Realty
The new plans include a dining room to one side of the central staircase, next to a chef’s kitchen and warming kitchen – the perfect set-up for Ivanka to host dinner parties and reignite a social life that took a big hit during her father’s time in office. According to Business Insider, the former White House advisor was dropped by several friends and missed out on invitations to high-society events.
Party pad
One Sotheby’s International Realty
In addition to the formal dining room, there is also an eating area and an open-plan family room that flows into the Florida room. Elsewhere on the ground floor, there’s a cozy cinema for the family to relax in, as well as what appears to be a staff wing, which includes a laundry room, two small sitting rooms, and a bathroom.
Rebuilding their lives
One Sotheby’s International Realty
The house initially had six bedrooms and nine bathrooms, but the new plans show that the couple has got rid of one bedroom, presumably to make more space for the luxe amenities they’ve added. One wing is entirely taken up by a vast master suite complete with his-and-hers walk-in closets and dual bathrooms. Meanwhile, four further bedrooms, each with their ensuites, are spread along the second wing of the mansion.
Improved master suite
One Sotheby’s International Realty
Although the previous master bathroom was impressive, the plans for the new bathroom appear to take the huge space up a notch, with his-and-hers sinks and separate toilets, as well as a large soaking tub. We can only imagine the sleek, high-end finish Ivanka will opt for to update this luxurious but slightly dated space.
Ready for change
One Sotheby’s International Realty
As Jared and Ivanka’s children, Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore, will take up three of the four additional bedrooms, it’s safe to say these rooms will have had a big makeover. The statement wallpaper and modern four-poster bed that welcomed the home’s previous guests will be long gone – although you can bet the spaces will be more sophisticated than your average kids’ bedroom.
Space for work and play
One Sotheby’s International Realty
An elevator opens out into the central area of the upper floor, which is home to a combined library and office, with a small private balcony that overlooks the formal front gardens. A larger balcony runs the entire length of the rear of the house, overlooking the pool and the waters of Biscayne Bay beyond.
Ivanka and Jared’s vacant plot
Jills Zeder Group
As well as the mansion they’re renovating, Ivanka and Jared also own a separate vacant lot elsewhere on Indian Creek island, which they bought in early 2021 for $32.2 million (£25.2m). The coveted site spans 1.8 acres and just like their latest mansion, offers unobstructed views across Biscayne Bay. We wonder what their development plans are for this valuable spare plot of land…
Far from the White House
Splash News
Relocating to the super-secure island may be just what Ivanka and Jared need to launch their new post-White House lives. But while they may have distanced themselves from the sensational swirl of lawsuits, indictments, and party politics that surround Donald Trump, it’ll be much harder to distance themselves geographically. Trump’s controversial Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach is just an hour and a half north, which could prove too close for comfort. Only time will tell whether Jared and Ivanka will manage to keep their distance or get sucked back into the turbulent world of America’s 45th president.
Florida’s ‘Billionaire Bunker’ Island
Google Earth
The mysterious island that Ivanka and Jared will soon call home is highly private and something of an enigma to the outside world. Indian Creek in Miami-Dade County is located off the coast of Miami in Biscayne Bay. Connected to the nearby town of Surfside by a bridge, it’s not hard to see why the isle’s relatively isolated location would be a draw for rich and famous buyers seeking a secluded base.
Upscale village
Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock
Indian Creek Village boasts just 41 residential lots, which are grouped along the island’s shoreline around a clubhouse and a perfectly manicured golf course designed by celebrated architect William Flynn. Manmade, the pristine island hideaway was dredged from Biscayne Bay in the early 1900s and slated to be part of a larger artificial island.
Early history
State Archives of Florida [Public domain]
Instead, it was repurposed during the late 1920s as a posh country club with an 18-hole championship golf course, as well as a winter retreat for the tycoons of the age and their families. In 1939, rumors that neighboring Surfside was planning to annex the secluded locale prompted its influential residents, who were up in arms that their private paradise might be opened up to the public, to come together and form their municipality.
Discrete residents
Boston Public Library / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY 2.0]
Indian Creek Village was incorporated that same year and famous millionaire families, including the moneyed Woolworths and Hoovers, flocked to the island. From the get-go, residents have been tight-lipped about the community and hostile to press attention, so much so that a journalist researching a piece on the island for the Miami New Times back in 1993 struggled to find anyone willing to talk about it and remarked that precious little had ever been written about the place.
High-profile properties
Splash News
The ultra-private, 300-acre island has everything an ultra-wealthy buyer could wish for, including a private police force tasked with the job of keeping the area’s high-profile residents safe. Packed with luxurious amenities, there’s still an 18-hole golf course in the middle of the community for residents to enjoy at their leisure. Yet living in such an area doesn’t come cheap.
Hefty taxes
Splash News
As well as multimillion-dollar houses, the taxes here are thought to be sky-high so Ivanka and Jared will have a hefty bill to foot. According to official documents, in the fiscal year from 2022-2023, over $5.2 million (£4m) was paid in property tax, quite some feat for such a tiny community.
Classier enclave
Mia2you / Shutterstock
The isle is considered prime real estate for Florida’s super-rich. It has long had a staid, conservative atmosphere and is considered the classier, understated alternative to Miami’s other billionaire enclave, Star Island (pictured), where past and current residents include Jennifer Lopez, Shaquille O’Neal, Gloria Estefan, and Rosie O’Donnell. Indian Creek’s seclusion and top-notch security were also no doubt attractive selling points for Ivanka and Jared.
24/7 security
Michele Eve Sandberg / Corbis / Getty Images
A veritable fortress, Indian Creek island has its very own 13-strong police force that scrupulously vets visitors – the community is only accessible by bridge via a heavily guarded gatepost – while armed officers patrol the island on land and by boat 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As well as the promise of privacy, some familiar faces in the area may have been a draw for the couple too.
Keeping their friends close
Kevin Mazur / MG19 / Getty Images ; BHHS EWM Realty
Located only an hour’s drive from Mar-a-Lago, where Ivanka’s father now resides, Indian Creek Village is also moments away from the Miami Beach mansion that Jared’s brother Joshua and his supermodel wife Karlie Kloss acquired in August 2020 (pictured) – the couples are especially tight. Plus, it’s said that other family members and close friends of the duo have moved to the area or are planning to relocate there.
Celebrity neighbors
Google Maps; Steve Granitz / FilmMagic
The couple’s other A-list neighbors include Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who bought a teardown home with his ex-wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, in late 2020. First reported by Page Six, the couple paid $17 million (£13.3m) for plot 26 on the island. Brady then demolished the home and set about building an eco mansion in its place. Brady is just one of several mega-wealthy names to own a home on the island. Hotels.com cofounder Robert Diener, billionaire investor Carl Icahn, and former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert are only a few of the elite neighbors Jared and Ivanka will rub shoulders with.
Warm welcome
Michael D Edwards / Shutterstock
In terms of politics, the residents of the enclave lean strongly towards the GOP and Donald Trump, another huge bonus for Ivanka and Jared. To break it down, the Indian Creek district recorded 42 votes for the incumbent and just 11 for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. With 79% of the community supportive of the former POTUS, the couple can be assured of a warm welcome from their neighbors.