Long before it was Donald Trump’s lavish home base, the Mar-a-Lago estate was a shining example of Palm Beach’s glitzy, old-money charm.
This stunning Florida mansion on South Ocean Boulevard began as the dream of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, once the richest woman in America.
After inheriting her family’s fortune in 1914 — an eye-popping $20 million at the time (some $615 million today), thanks to the iconic Post cereal empire — Post embarked on an epic hunt for the perfect location to build her own luxurious sanctuary, finally landing on a prime spot between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth.
In the early 1920s, with architect Marion Sims Wyeth at the helm, Post and her then-husband, financier E.F. Hutton, launched the construction of the Mediterranean-inspired estate that would become Mar-a-Lago, meaning “Sea to Lake” in Spanish.
Between 1924 and 1927, the estate sprang to life on what was once swampland. Sprawling over 20 acres, Mar-a-Lago showcased architectural marvels and exquisite details sourced from Italy, Spain, France and Cuba.
The 114-room mansion was an oasis of art and design, featuring a 36,000-tile display of Spanish artistry, including tiles dating back to the 15th century. The main hall glowed with a ceiling that nodded to Venice’s Thousand-Wing Ceiling, while chandeliers and intricate furniture lit up the grand living spaces.
Post, who only spent part of the year at Mar-a-Lago, decorated each room with pieces as luxurious as they were rare.
“The architecture, sculpture, planning and craftsmanship that went into this magnificent estate could not be duplicated today,” notes the estate’s website.
Outside, arches crafted from Dorian stone (flecked with Italian seashells and fossils) gave the property a standout look. The exterior also boasted a hurricane-resistant design — no small feat in Palm Beach — anchored into coral reef for protection.
Post adored entertaining and was famous for hosting swanky events, from grand charity balls to intimate dinners. She even added a dance floor in 1961, indulging her lifelong love for square dancing. And for meals, her dining room dazzled with black-and-white tiles sourced from a Cuban castle and could seat up to 30 at a table carved from semi-precious stones.
One room even housed her collection of Venetian glass and mirrors, glistening like a scene from a Renaissance palace.
When Post died in 1973, Mar-a-Lago was briefly handed over to the US government, intended as a retreat for American presidents.
However, maintaining the property proved too costly, and it was returned to the Post Foundation a decade later.
Some treasures from the estate, including 18th-century French artwork and dining room pieces, were moved to Post’s Hillwood Estate in Washington, DC.
In 1985, Donald Trump stepped in and bought Mar-a-Lago, transforming it into a members-only club a decade later — complete with beach access, a pool, spa and tennis courts.
“It is the last remaining Palm Beach estate still containing its buildings and land in almost identical form as its original conception,” according to the property’s website.
Trump modernized parts of the estate, restoring it to reflect Post’s original vision while adding his own touches, including a refreshed ballroom and a revitalized golf course.
Today, Mar-a-Lago stands as a storied Palm Beach landmark, even becoming the center of controversy.
In 2022, the FBI raided the estate, seizing classified documents and sparking legal battles over the handling of government materials.
More recently, security descended on the area due to a second assassination attempt against Trump — this time near his West Palm Beach golf club, just a short drive from Mar-a-Lago.