When Ivana Trump died in July 2022, her burial at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey raised eyebrows. While it appeared to be a personal choice, it also served a strategic purpose: enabling significant tax benefits. For years, Donald Trump had planned to establish a cemetery on the golf course, with proposals ranging from a family mausoleum to a 284-plot public burial ground. Under New Jersey law, land designated for cemetery use is exempt from nearly all taxes.

By burying Ivana there, Trump effectively advanced his efforts to secure that classification. Despite initial resistance from local officials, Trump scaled back his plans and gained approval for a discreet cemetery, with up to 500 graves managed by a nonprofit—potentially slashing property taxes. Combined with previous, tax maneuvers like claiming parts of the estate as farmland, Ivana’s burial became a key part of a broader financial strategy. While the location may hold personal meaning, it also cemented a decades-long plan where family legacy met tax code loopholes