The Five Children Of Fred Trump Sr.: A Deep Dive Into Donald Trump’s Siblings, Their Lives, And Legacies

As of December 2025, the name Trump remains at the forefront of American politics, but the man at its center, Donald J. Trump, is just one of five children born to real estate magnate Fred Trump Sr. and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. The lives of his four siblings—Maryanne, Fred Jr., Elizabeth, and Robert—form a complex and often tragic counter-narrative to the public-facing ambition of the former and future president, marked by high-profile professional success, deep personal struggles, and a contentious family inheritance battle that continues to define the Trump dynasty. The family dynamic, rooted in the Jamaica Estates of Queens, New York, reveals a stark contrast in paths, with only one sister remaining today.

The Trump siblings were raised in an environment of immense wealth and strict expectations, primarily focused on the family's burgeoning real estate empire, the Trump Organization. While Donald and his younger brother Robert eventually followed their father into the business world, their older siblings pursued dramatically different careers in law, aviation, and banking. Understanding the full scope of the Trump family tree requires an intimate look at the four individuals who shared a childhood with Donald, three of whom have now passed away, leaving behind distinct and powerful legacies.

The Complete Trump Family Sibling Biography

Donald Trump is the fourth of five children. The five siblings, in order of birth, were Maryanne, Fred Jr., Elizabeth, Donald, and Robert. Their lives spanned various professions, from the federal judiciary to commercial aviation, painting a picture of a wealthy family whose members sought fulfillment both within and far outside the shadow of the family business.

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• Maryanne Trump Barry (1937–2023)
  • Birth Order: Oldest Sibling (Older Sister)
  • Profession: Highly respected American attorney and United States federal judge.
  • Judicial Career: Appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President Bill Clinton in 1999. She retired from the federal bench in 2019.
  • Death: Passed away on November 13, 2023, at the age of 86.
• Frederick "Fred" Christ Trump Jr. (1938–1981)
  • Birth Order: Second Sibling (Older Brother)
  • Profession: Commercial airline pilot for Trans World Airlines (TWA).
  • Personal Struggle: Battled severe alcoholism for many years, which led to a strained relationship with his father, Fred Sr., and his younger brother, Donald.
  • Death: Died in 1981 at the age of 42 from a heart attack related to his alcohol abuse.
• Elizabeth Trump Grau (Born 1942)
  • Birth Order: Third Sibling (Older Sister)
  • Profession: Retired executive from the banking industry, specifically Chase Manhattan Bank in New York.
  • Current Status: The only living sister and maintains the most private life of all the siblings. She is married to film producer James Grau.
  • Public Role: Has largely stayed out of the political spotlight, though she has attended some of Donald Trump's presidential events.
• Donald John Trump (Born 1946)
  • Birth Order: Fourth Sibling
  • Profession: Real estate developer, media personality, 45th and presumptive 47th President of the United States.
  • Education: Attended Fordham University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
• Robert Stewart Trump (1948–2020)
  • Birth Order: Youngest Sibling (Younger Brother)
  • Profession: Businessman and real-estate developer, serving as an executive in the Trump Organization, managing the family's real estate holdings outside of Manhattan.
  • Relationship with Donald: Known for being fiercely loyal to his older brother throughout his political career.
  • Death: Passed away on August 15, 2020, at the age of 72, after a brief illness.

The Tragic Fates and Contrasting Careers of the Deceased Siblings

The lives of Maryanne Trump Barry, Robert Trump, and Fred Trump Jr. ended in recent years, each leaving behind a narrative that both supports and challenges the mythos of the Trump family success. The death of the oldest brother, Fred Jr., cast a long shadow over the entire family, particularly Donald, who has often spoken about his older brother's struggle with alcoholism as a cautionary tale. Fred Jr. was described as charming, handsome, and an aspiring pilot, a career path that clashed with the expectations of his demanding father, Fred Sr. His early death at 42 cemented a family tragedy that Donald has cited as the reason he abstains from alcohol and tobacco.

In stark contrast to Fred Jr.'s path away from the family business, Maryanne Trump Barry built a formidable career in law and the federal judiciary. She was a powerhouse, achieving a position on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, one of the highest courts in the country, after being nominated by a Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Her professional success was independent of her brother's political or business dealings. However, recordings released by her niece, Mary Trump, after her death revealed that Maryanne had a strained relationship with Donald in his later years, criticizing his political actions and character. Her death in November 2023 closed the chapter on the family's most accomplished non-political figure.

Robert Trump, the youngest sibling, was perhaps the most loyal and private of the brothers. He worked within the Trump Organization, managing various real estate holdings, and was often described as Donald’s "quiet brother." Robert was a steadfast supporter of his brother's presidency, even attempting to block the publication of his niece Mary Trump's tell-all book, Too Much and Never Enough, shortly before his own death in August 2020. His passing came as a personal blow to Donald, who visited him in the hospital just days before his death and held a funeral service at the White House.

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The Inheritance Battle and the Quiet Life of Elizabeth Trump Grau

The vast wealth accumulated by Fred Trump Sr. created a complex and sometimes acrimonious inheritance dynamic among the siblings and their children. The patriarch's will, which primarily divided the estate among his four surviving children (excluding Fred Jr.'s heirs from the main inheritance), became the subject of a major lawsuit.

The central figure in the legal disputes is Mary Trump, Fred Jr.'s daughter and Donald’s niece. She filed a lawsuit alleging that Donald, Maryanne, and Robert had conspired to cheat her out of millions of dollars from the family wealth, claiming they undervalued assets and committed fraud regarding Fred Sr.'s estate. The controversy also involved a New York Times investigation that revealed Donald Trump and his siblings received over $400 million from their father, much of it through questionable tax schemes, including a sham corporation and undervaluing assets to avoid gift and inheritance taxes.

Amidst these public battles, Elizabeth Trump Grau, the middle child, has maintained a remarkably low profile. She is the only surviving sister and is known for her intensely private life. Before her retirement, Elizabeth worked as an administrative assistant and executive at the prestigious Chase Manhattan Bank. She has been described as a philanthropist and has been involved in various charitable organizations, preferring a life away from the spotlight that her brother Donald so actively seeks. Her decision to live a quiet life, despite her family's notoriety, is a testament to a deliberate choice to prioritize privacy over the public drama that has consumed the rest of the Trump family tree. She and her husband, James Grau, have successfully cultivated a life that balances their professional pursuits with a deep commitment to personal discretion.

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The Enduring Legacy of the Five Trump Children

The five children of Fred and Mary Trump—Maryanne, Fred Jr., Elizabeth, Donald, and Robert—represent a fascinating study in the psychology of a dynastic family. While Donald's path led to the apex of political power, the lives of his siblings highlight the diverse pressures and expectations placed upon the heirs of a massive real estate fortune. Fred Jr.'s tragic death serves as a perpetual reminder of the cost of not conforming to the family's rigid business ethos. Maryanne's judicial eminence proved that the Trump name could signify achievement outside of real estate, even as her private criticisms revealed deep fractures within the family. Robert's unwavering loyalty showed the power of the familial bond, and Elizabeth's quiet retirement illustrates a successful escape from the media's glare.

The Trump family legacy is therefore not just one of skyscrapers and political campaigns; it is a complex tapestry woven with threads of extraordinary success, personal tragedy, and deep-seated conflicts over wealth and control. As Donald Trump continues his political journey, the stories of his siblings—the late judge, the pilot, the executive, and the loyal businessman—remain essential for a complete understanding of the man and the powerful, controversial family he hails from.