Amazon documentary ‘Melania' that it spent $35m promoting, lost millions after release

Melania Trump earned a $10.71 million licensing fee from Amazon MGM Studios’ documentary about her, according to President Donald Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure. The payment stands out against the film’s theatrical performance. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million to acquire “Melania” and spent another $35 million marketing it, taking its reported acquisition and promotional spending to about $75 million. The documentary went on to earn around $16.6 million at the worldwide box office before arriving on Prime Video.Amazon reportedly spent $75 million on ‘Melania’Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million to acquire the documentary and spent another $35 million on marketing. That means the company committed about $75 million to acquiring and promoting the film. Its theatrical earnings were much lower. “Melania” collected around $16.6 million at the worldwide box office. However, box office revenue does not represent the film’s full financial performance, as the documentary was later released on Prime Video.Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, has said the film performed “really well” on Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios is also expected to release a companion “Melania” docuseries later this year.Melania Trump received $10.71 million licensing feeAccording to a Variety report, President Trump listed the $10.71 million payment as income for Melania Trump in his 2025 financial disclosure. The filing also showed other income linked to the First Lady. Melania Trump received $521,161 in licensing income from Skyhorse Publishing for her memoir. She also received $6 million in net proceeds from NFTs and other collectibles.Together, these three ventures generated more than $17 million in reported income for Melania Trump.Amazon deal has faced political scrutinyAmazon’s decision to pay $40 million for the documentary has faced criticism from some Democratic lawmakers. Senator Elizabeth Warren called the acquisition price “bribery in plain sight,” questioning whether Amazon was seeking influence with the Trump administration.Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has rejected that claim. He said it was “just not correct” to describe the documentary deal as a way of buying influence with Trump and said the acquisition “appears it was a good business decision.”President Trump has also denied being involved in the deal. When asked at the documentary’s premiere whether Bezos was trying to get in his good graces, Trump said: “No, I don't know, I mean, I don't know really, I'm not involved in that. That was done with my wife.”Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.