Mar-a-Lago is a sprawling 17-acre estate located in Palm Beach. It has five tennis courts, 20,000 square feet of gold leaf-decorated ballroom, 33 baths, and 58 bedrooms.
In 1985, Trump purchased the land from Marjorie Merriweather Post, a cereal heiress. Concerned about excessive upkeep expenditures and security concerns, Mrs. Post returned the property to the Post Foundation in 1981 after donating it to the US Government in 1973 so that it could be used as a winter retreat. It received the designation of National Historic Landmark in 1980.
It was put up for sale in 1981 for $20 million. The exact price Trump paid for the estate in 1985 is unknown, but it’s thought to have been around $10 million.
With dues estimated to be approximately $200,000, he converted the estate into a posh members club in 1995 and built a 3,000 square foot home for his own use.
Construction on the property started in 1924, finishing in 1927, and its extravagant interiors reflect Spanish, Venetian and Portuguese styles.
The property has a Beach Club with a 132-by-50-foot pool, whirlpool, and beachside café that spans two acres and provides direct access to a private beach. To keep the Trumps occupied, there’s a 27-hole golf course and a fitness center.
When the FBI broke into the house on August 8th and took documents related to an investigation into missing White House records, the property made headlines for the first time.