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, born in 1981, once explained that her name is the Czech diminutive of “Ivana.” Her younger brother, Eric, followed in 1984, completing the family. Together, the siblings were raised in a household where discipline and ambition were foundational values.

Her childhood was a blend of structure and varied experiences, shaped largely by her mother—a Czechoslovakian model who passed away in July 2022. “She was very much my cultural influence,” Ivanka shared in an interview, noting that her mother was also a firm disciplinarian who wasn’t afraid to enforce rules, even in public.

“I guess it was for the typical stuff,” she recalled. “I once broke a chandelier with a beach ball. That didn’t go over well. And then I blamed it on my brother.” Ivanka’s parents divorced in December 1990, when she was just nine years old.

As she entered her teenage years, Ivanka’s disciplined upbringing gave way to new challenges and opportunities. While not particularly rebellious, she admitted to having her moments. “I think my mom threatened to put me up for adoption a few times,” she joked in another interview.

At 15, she made a major transition, enrolling at Choate Rosemary Hall, an elite boarding school in Connecticut—a move that marked the next chapter of her unique and closely guided journey.

“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.

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.

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 Trump has meticulously structured her daily routine to balance the demands of family and career. She begins her mornings at 5 a.m., reserving the early hours exclusively for 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 shared in an interview. Now 43, having celebrated her birthday in October 2024, Ivanka remains deeply committed to being a hands-on parent—preparing breakfast and setting a tone of presence and stability for her family.

By 6:30 or 7 a.m., her focus shifts to work. “That’s my quiet time when I answer emails, return phone calls, or leave messages,” she explained. Much of her professional communication spans time zones, with early hours aligning well with contacts in Europe and Asia. Her days are filled with back-to-back meetings and calls, often stretching until 6 p.m., with few breaks in between.

Still, those close to the Kushners note a new chapter of balance and calm. “They’re really just settling into normal life and enjoying it,” a family friend shared, referencing the couple’s quieter lifestyle since Ivanka stepped away from her White House role in 2021.

Her ability to harmonize work and home life is mirrored by the enduring strength of her partnership with husband Jared Kushner. Over the years, their relationship has only deepened.

On their 14th wedding anniversary in October 2023, Ivanka commemorated the occasion on Instagram: “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 marked 15 years of marriage—years defined by shared ambition, steadfast support, and unwavering commitment to their growing family. From their high-profile roles in Washington to building a more private life centered around their children, Ivanka and Jared have remained a unified team through every chapter.