Donald Trump’s Home vs. the White House: Which Is More Posh?
Donald Trump’s Home vs. the White House: Which Is More Posh?
Colin Miller/Getty Images; narvikk/iStock; Onnes/iStock
For just about anyone, moving into the White House would be a step up from wherever they’re currently living. But Donald Trump? It’s hard to say. After all, this president-elect has been kicking back in some pretty posh pads—mainly a three-floor penthouse in Manhattan, NY, and a vacation mansion, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, FL.
All of which begs the question: By moving into the White House, will The Donald actually be downsizing—settling for digs way less awesome than his current gold-plated ones? (He’s reportedly been weighing whether he’ll actually need to stay in Washington, DC, on weekends.)
To find out, we did a bit of comparison to see which place has the edge in terms of price, location, square footage, and more.
Price (est.)
The White House: $90 million
Trump’s NYC penthouse: $100 million
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: $200 million to $300 million
Which home wins? It’s hard to argue with dollars and cents. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago vacation mansion actually makes money. Trump bought the place in 1985 for $10 million, fixed it up, and turned it into a private club that charges members a $100,000 nonrefundable entrance fee and annual dues of $14,000. The place earned a record $9 million this fiscal year, according to the Palm Beach Post. Imagine what the property will command when it is, essentially, the Palm Beach White House.
Colin Miller/Getty Images
Location
The White House: 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC
Trump’s NYC penthouse: Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Ave., New York City, NY
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, FL
Which home wins? It’s a tough call because they’re all so different. Trump’s penthouse sits in the center of the most exciting city on the planet; his vacation mansion is right on a very nice beach. Still, you can’t beat residing in the seat of power, can you? Give this one to the White House. Duh.
Square footage
The White House: 55,000 square feet, 132 rooms
Trump’s NYC penthouse: Specifics are unknown. But based on reports, this three-story residence includes at least a living room, sitting room, large office for Melania, and several bedrooms for the president-elect, Mrs. Trump, their 10-year-old son, Barron, and assorted (well-frisked) guests.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: 110,000 square feet, 126 rooms
Which home wins? The White House may have the most rooms (useful for private conversation), but Mar-a-Lago has double the square footage. Plus it’s situated on 20 acres—2 more than the White House.
Amenities
The White House: Military guard, tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, bowling lane, half-court basketball court, horseshoe pitch, rose garden, and kitchen garden (planted by Michelle Obama).
Trump’s NYC penthouse: Full-time doorman, 24-hour valet, fitness facility, maid service, plus a 7-foot waterfall in the building lobby.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Five clay tennis courts, swimming pool, beach club, salon, croquet court, spa, concierge service.
Which home wins? We’d say it’s a tie between the White House and Mar-a-Lago. They both have swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness facilities. And let’s face it, having a military guard to protect you from troublemakers is nice, but nothing a highly motivated hotel concierge couldn’t do just as well, right?
The View
The White House: A clear view of the Washington Monument.
Trump’s NYC penthouse: At 66 floors up, you can see Central Park and all five New York City boroughs.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Sand and surf.
Which home wins? Trump’s vertigo-inducing New York penthouse views get bragging rights this time.
Architectural significance
The White House: Built beginning in 1792 by Irish architect James Hoban, the White House is now a prime example of the neoclassical Federal style.
Trump’s NYC penthouse: With construction starting in 1979 by architect Der Scutt, the Trump Tower’s decor is strenuously reminiscent of King Louis XIV with marble columns, crystal chandeliers, and 24-karat gold finishes. The idea: Versailles in midtown Manhattan.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Built beginning in 1923 by architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the place is decked out in an adaptation of Spain’s Moorish style, long popular among the villas of the Mediterranean.
Which home wins? The White House. There’s a reason this residence attracts high school field trips in throngs—it’s a piece of American history! Trump’s homes, not so much.
Artwork and furnishings
The White House: The White House furnishings and artwork are estimated to be worth $160 million—purportedly more than the White House itself! It includes two $5 million Thomas Moran paintings, $5 million-plus artwork by James Abbott McNeill Whistler, a few $20,000 sets of china, and more.
Trump’s NYC penthouse: Classical art including statues of Eros & Psyche, ceiling mural of Roman chariots, and a reproduction of Renoir’s “La Loge” painting.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago: Painted frescos, walls of inlaid gold leaf, ancient Portuguese tile, and a very large portrait of Trump over the bar.
Which home wins? The White House—with its collection of artwork, it could be a museum in its own right.
The Verdict
We’re pulling an executive action here: The White House wins! Any other conclusion would be downright un-American.
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