A recent eBay listing has stirred attention online with a jaw-dropping claim: it purports to offer Melania Trump’s wedding dress for sale at a price of $45,000. The extravagant gown, allegedly worn by the former First Lady during her 2005 nuptials to Donald Trump, has become the subject of speculation and curiosity — but is the listing legitimate?
Let’s break down the details surrounding the listing, the history of Melania’s iconic dress, and the reasons for growing skepticism — all while ensuring accuracy and adherence to Google’s content policies by relying only on reputable and verifiable sources.
The Wedding of Melania and Donald Trump: A Look Back
Melania Trump, formerly Melania Knauss, married businessman and future U.S. President Donald J. Trump on January 22, 2005, in a high-profile ceremony at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida. The reception was held at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private estate.
The wedding attracted global media attention, not just for its celebrity guest list—which included Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barbara Walters, and Heidi Klum—but also for Melania’s stunning wedding dress. She wore a custom Christian Dior haute couture gown, designed by John Galliano, that took over 1,000 hours to create, including 500 hours of hand-stitched crystal embroidery, according to Vogue.
The dress was famously featured on the cover of Vogue’s February 2005 issue, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, further cementing its place in fashion history.
Source: Vogue – February 2005 Cover Feature
The eBay Listing: $45,000 for a Piece of Fashion History?
The dress that appeared on eBay was listed for $45,000, with the option to make an offer. According to the seller, the gown was originally purchased for $70,000 in 2010, supposedly directly from Melania Trump, and was worn once by the seller at her own wedding.
Details in the listing mention that the gown underwent major alterations to accommodate the new owner’s size and style preferences. According to the seller’s description:
“Because Melania Trump was a size 0-2, I had to have this dress made a little bigger as I was a size 4-6. I added a new layer of satin, more embroidery pieces on the bodice, and adjusted the back and straps.”
The seller also claimed that the gown had been worn only twice — once by Melania and once by the current owner — and emphasized the gown’s craftsmanship, including its 13-foot train and Swarovski crystal embellishments.
Authenticity in Question
Despite the bold claims made in the listing, skepticism quickly surfaced. WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) reported that a source close to Melania Trump confirmed that her original wedding dress remains in her possession at Mar-a-Lago, casting doubt on the eBay seller’s story.
Further raising eyebrows is the absence of verifiable documentation or certification accompanying the sale, which is standard when dealing with high-profile couture garments tied to public figures. Additionally, alterations to the gown — including structural changes and added materials — significantly detract from its value as a collector’s item, particularly if it’s no longer in its original condition.
Source: WWD – Melania Trump Dress Listing
What Makes Melania Trump’s Wedding Dress Unique?
Melania’s Dior gown was one of the most elaborate wedding dresses in presidential history. According to Vogue, the dress weighed over 50 pounds, was constructed from 300 feet of white duchesse satin, and featured a 16-foot veil. Its opulence reflected not only Melania’s high-fashion background as a model but also the grandeur associated with the Trump brand.
In contrast to past First Ladies, Melania Trump was the only one to have worn a couture Dior gown for her wedding, marking her place in both fashion and White House history.
Public Reactions and Online Buzz
Fashion enthusiasts and political observers alike reacted with intrigue to the listing. Some questioned whether such a historically significant piece would be sold through an informal platform like eBay, while others speculated about the true identity of the seller and the origins of the dress.
Writer Liana Satenstein, known for her fashion newsletter “Neverworns” on Substack, was among the first to highlight the listing to her readers. Her post fueled curiosity but also triggered a closer examination of the dress’s authenticity.
Source: Neverworns Newsletter – Liana Satenstein
The Market for Celebrity Couture
Celebrity gowns often draw high prices on the resale market, especially when tied to major public figures. Dresses worn by Princess Diana, Jacqueline Kennedy, or Grace Kelly have fetched hundreds of thousands at auction — but only when authenticated and sold through established houses like Christie’s or Sotheby’s.
In the absence of proper documentation, couture pieces lose value significantly. According to fashion valuation experts, alterations to a dress of this magnitude could reduce its worth by 50% or more, especially when provenance is unverifiable.
Source: Christie’s – Collecting Couture
Melania Trump Today
As of 2025, Melania Trump continues to keep a low profile, occasionally appearing at public events alongside her husband, who is serving his second term in office. Their son, Barron Trump, now 19, is reportedly a freshman at New York University, maintaining a mostly private lifestyle away from the political spotlight.
Despite renewed media attention, Melania has not commented publicly on the dress listing or confirmed whether she ever parted with her wedding gown.
Conclusion: A Dress Shrouded in Mystery
While the eBay listing for Melania Trump’s alleged wedding dress has sparked interest, doubts about its authenticity, lack of documentation, and confirmation from credible fashion sources suggest that it is unlikely to be the original Dior gown worn in 2005.
Still, the listing serves as a reminder of the cultural significance tied to fashion worn by public figures — and how pieces like Melania Trump’s wedding dress continue to fascinate years after their debut.
Verified Sources:
- Vogue – Melania Trump Wedding Dress
- WWD – Women’s Wear Daily Report
- Christie’s – Couture Valuation Guidelines
- Neverworns Newsletter by Liana Satenstein
- Substack
