Vanessa Trump is a former model and the former wife of Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump.
She was married to Donald Trump Jr. from 2005 until their divorce in 2018. The couple have five children together, which makes Vanessa the former daughter-in-law of Donald Trump and the mother of five of his grandchildren.
Vanessa Trump is not Donald Trump’s biological daughter or other biological relative.
Her connection to the Trump family came through her marriage to Donald Trump Jr.
She has remained a recognizable public figure after the divorce, partly because of her five children and, more recently, because of her relationship with professional golfer Tiger Woods. Woods publicly confirmed their relationship in March 2025, and Vanessa was still identified as his girlfriend when she accompanied him to court in Florida on September 2, 2026.
How Is Vanessa Trump Related to Donald Trump?
Vanessa Trump is Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law.
She became part of the Trump family when she married Donald Trump Jr. in November 2005. Donald Trump Jr. is the eldest son of Donald Trump and Ivana Trump. Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr. later divorced in 2018.
Vanessa is therefore related to Donald Trump by marriage, not by blood.
She was his daughter-in-law during her marriage to Donald Trump Jr.
The relationship remained relevant after the divorce because Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr. have five children together. Their children are also Donald Trump’s grandchildren.
Vanessa has also appeared with members of the Trump family after the divorce.
She attended Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration, for example, and has remained connected to the family through her children.
Vanessa Trump and Donald Trump Jr.’s Marriage
Vanessa Trump married Donald Trump Jr. on November 12, 2005, at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
The couple had begun dating in 2003 and became engaged the following year. Their wedding took place at Donald Trump’s private club and residence in Florida.
Their marriage lasted about 12 years.
Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr. had five children during the marriage: Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe.
The couple announced in March 2018 that they had decided to separate. Vanessa filed for an uncontested divorce in Manhattan, and the divorce was finalized later that year.
The former couple have continued to share responsibility for their children after the divorce.
Their five children have remained the main connection between Vanessa and the Trump family.
Vanessa is no longer Donald Trump Jr.’s wife, but she remains the mother of his children.
How Many Children Does Vanessa Trump Have?
Vanessa Trump has five children with her former husband, Donald Trump Jr.
Their children are Kai, Donald Trump III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe.
Kai is the oldest and was born in 2007. Donald Trump III was born in 2009, Tristan in 2011, Spencer in 2012 and Chloe in 2014.
The children are also grandchildren of Donald Trump and the late Ivana Trump.
Kai has received particular public attention because of her golf career and her involvement in her grandfather’s 2024 presidential campaign. She began college at the University of Miami in 2026 and committed to playing golf there.
The younger children have generally received less public attention.
Vanessa has continued to make her role as a mother a visible part of her public life.
Her children have also created another connection between her family and Tiger Woods’ family because of their shared interest in golf. Vanessa’s daughter Kai and Woods’ son Charlie are both competitive golfers.
What Did Vanessa Trump Do Before and After Becoming a Trump?
Vanessa Trump worked as a model before she married Donald Trump Jr.
She grew up in New York City and was introduced to the modeling business partly through her mother, Bonnie Haydon, who ran the Kay Models agency. Vanessa later signed with Wilhelmina Models and worked in the fashion industry during the 1990s and early 2000s.
She also had a limited acting career.
Vanessa appeared in the 2003 movie Something’s Gotta Give and later made an appearance on The Apprentice in 2011, when Donald Trump was the host. She also appeared on Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It.
Vanessa also entered the fashion business.
She and her sister Veronika opened a New York nightclub called Sessa in 2003. She later operated a handbag business called La Poshett from 2010 to 2013.
Her public identity changed after she married Donald Trump Jr.
She became better known as part of the Trump family and as the mother of five children.
After the divorce, she largely kept a lower public profile.
Her current public relevance has come from her children, her connection to the Trump family and her relationship with Tiger Woods.
Why Does Vanessa Trump Still Go by Trump?
Vanessa Trump has continued to be publicly known by the surname Trump after her divorce from Donald Trump Jr.
There is no widely documented public statement from Vanessa explaining why she continues to use the name.
Her name became publicly established as Vanessa Trump during her marriage, and that name has continued to be used by major news organizations and public sources after the divorce.
Continuing to use a former married surname does not mean that Vanessa is still married to Donald Trump Jr.
Their divorce was finalized in 2018.
The name also remains closely connected to her five children, who carry the Trump surname.
For that reason, Vanessa continues to appear publicly as Vanessa Trump even though she is no longer Donald Trump Jr.’s wife.
How Old Is Vanessa Trump? Background and Early Life
Vanessa Trump was born on December 18, 1977, in New York City.
She is 48 years old as of September 2026.
She grew up in Manhattan and attended The Dwight School before studying at Marymount Manhattan College.
Vanessa was born Vanessa Kay Pergolizzi.
Her mother, Bonnie Kay Haydon, ran the Kay Models agency and had Danish and Swedish ancestry. Vanessa’s biological father was of Italian descent. Her stepfather, Charles Haydon, was a lawyer and was sometimes incorrectly described in older reports as her biological father.
Her early connection to modeling came through her mother’s business.
Vanessa began modeling while she was young and later signed with Wilhelmina Models.
She was already working in New York’s social and fashion circles before she met Donald Trump Jr.
That background explains why she was publicly known before becoming part of the Trump family.
What Is Vanessa Trump Doing Now?
Vanessa Trump remains active primarily as a mother and public figure.
She continues to be involved in the lives of her five children and has remained visible around family events and her daughter Kai’s golf career.
She is also currently in a relationship with Tiger Woods.
Woods publicly confirmed their relationship in March 2025 after months of reports that the two had been dating. He shared photographs of the couple and said they were looking forward to their journey together.
The relationship has continued into 2026.
Vanessa publicly supported Woods during his legal problems following his March 2026 crash, and Woods returned to the United States from treatment in Switzerland to support Vanessa after she announced her breast cancer diagnosis in May.
Vanessa also remained focused on her children during that period.
In late August 2026, she helped Kai prepare to begin college at the University of Miami.
The latest public appearance came on September 2, 2026, when Vanessa accompanied Woods to his court hearing in Florida.
Reuters and People both described her as Woods’ girlfriend, providing the most recent public evidence that the relationship is continuing.
Vanessa’s public identity has therefore changed considerably over time.
She was first known as a model and later became widely known as Donald Trump Jr.’s wife.
After the divorce, she remained connected to the Trump family through her children.
She is now also publicly known as Tiger Woods’ partner.
FAQs
Are Vanessa Trump And Donald Trump Related?
Vanessa Trump is Donald Trump’s former daughter-in-law. She became part of the Trump family when she married Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump’s eldest son. She is not biologically related to Donald Trump.
Is Vanessa Trump still married to Donald Trump Jr.?
No. Vanessa Trump and Donald Trump Jr. divorced in 2018 after about 12 years of marriage. They continue to share five children.
How many children does Vanessa Trump have?
Vanessa Trump has five children with Donald Trump Jr.: Kai, Donald Trump III, Tristan, Spencer and Chloe.
Why does Vanessa Trump still use the Trump name?
Vanessa continues to be publicly known as Vanessa Trump after her divorce, but she has not publicly given a specific reason for continuing to use the surname. Using the name does not mean that she is still married to Donald Trump Jr.
Who is Vanessa Trump dating now?
Vanessa Trump is dating professional golfer Tiger Woods. Woods publicly confirmed their relationship in March 2025, and Vanessa was identified as his girlfriend when she accompanied him to court in Florida on September 2, 2026.
