Jeff Bezos Sets Tongues Wagging As Amazon Splurges $40M On Melania Trump's Documentary

Jeff Bezos' Amazon is reportedly licensing Brett Ratner's documentary about Melania Trump for $40 million, set for release in late 2025.

Melania, who is said to be an executive producer on the project, will also appear in a follow-up docuseries.

The documentary, which follows her journey from Slovenia to the White House, comes after Melania released a memoir.

Amazon is reportedly paying $40 million to license Brett Ratner's upcoming documentary about Melania. The film is set to debut in the latter half of 2025, during Donald Trump's presidency.

According to the Daily Mail, sources revealed that Amazon beat out Disney and Paramount for streaming rights after a competitive bidding war. However, Netflix and Apple did not participate.

An Amazon spokesperson expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, describing it as a "unique and compelling story" for their "millions of customers around the world."

The project, directed by Ratner, was unveiled on Sunday, with Melania, 54, serving as executive producer.

Though details regarding Melania's personal compensation remain unclear, insiders revealed that the documentary and series will stream on Prime Video, with the film enjoying a limited theatrical release.

Sources speaking to Puck claimed that Amazon's deal also secures rights for a follow-up docuseries. The docuseries is reportedly expected to span two to three episodes, featuring significant involvement from the former first lady.

On X (formerly Twitter), the shocking news of Amazon's new deal with Melania has divided netizens.

One person said, "Self-dealing family. The rich just throw money at each other. A worthless movie, and I haven't even seen it yet. Bezos must really want to privatize the postal service."

Another commented, "I do not mean to be rude, but who would be interested in seeing a movie about her, honestly."

A third person noted, "The grift is never-ending. I love Amazon Prime but the bending the knee sh-t is really too much."

Another X user wrote, "What's hilarious is that there isn't the slightest bit of her life's story that's remotely interesting. She's a pretty boring person, all said and done. And who's gonna make this money back for Amazon? $40M? Come on."

Despite the criticisms, several are still excited about the new project as it promises to explore Melania's past in depth.

The upcoming documentary offers an exclusive, in-depth look at Melania's life. It will trace her extraordinary journey from her humble beginnings in 1970s Slovenia to her role as the First Lady of the United States.

Born Melanija Knavs, she began her modeling career at just 16, later adopting the name Melania Knauss as she pursued opportunities across Europe.

In 1996, she moved to the U.S., establishing herself as a model in Manhattan, eventually crossing paths with Donald in 1998. The couple married in 2005, and the following year, Melania gave birth to their son, Barron – Trump's fifth child.

In addition to the documentary, Melania recently released her memoir, "Melania," which has been a bestseller on The New York Times list since its October release.

Capitalizing on her public resurgence after the 2024 presidential election, Melania also launched a collection of Christmas ornaments titled "Merry Christmas, America!"

The line features MAGA-inspired designs, such as a golden star adorned with "USA" and a golden version of Lady Liberty.

The ornaments are priced at $90 for the star and $75 for others, serving as a nostalgic nod to her time in the White House, where she personally oversaw the holiday decorations.

Following the release of her Christmas ornament line, Donald described the collection as "special," noting that a portion of the proceeds will support her charitable initiatives.

Meanwhile, Melania has reportedly welcomed Elon Musk's increasing presence at Mar-a-Lago, where the billionaire has been spending significant time with the President-elect.

Sources close to the Trump family noted that Melania is unbothered by Musk's frequent visits following his appointment as co-leader of Donald's proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

A source told People Magazine that Melania views Musk's relationship with Donald as good.

"Melania is glad to have a babysitter for Donald, and she will find some kind of project to team up with him herself if he stays around," the source said.

"Melania has her own life and isn't bothered by political dealings her husband has with others," the insider added. "But so far, she has no issues with Musk."