How Much Does Mar a Lago Club Membership Cost?

Last Updated on January 17, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s opulent private club in Palm Beach, Florida, has long been shrouded in an air of exclusivity and luxury. With Trump now a former President, many are curious – just how much does Mar a Lago Club membership cost?

This article will break down the Mar-a-Lago club membership fees, annual dues, and additional expenses required of members. You’ll also learn what membership privileges are included, how the costs have changed over time, and what criteria is used to approve new members.

Read on to satisfy your curiosity about joining one of Palm Beach’s most elite and historic institutions.

Highlights of Mar-a-Lago Membership Costs

What are the key details to remember if you’re interested in joining Mar-a-Lago? Here’s a summary of the most important points:

• The initiation fee is $200,000 plus $14,000 in annual dues
• Membership provides access to an impressive, amenities-filled private club
• Fees have remained ultra-high since the club’s inception to maintain prestige
• Members pay additional fees for services, events, and incidentals
• The application process is strict and secretive, overseen by Trump

How Much Does Mar a Lago Club Membership Cost?

According to a report in the Washington Post, membership fees to join the Mar-a-Lago club cost $200,000. This high upfront initiation fee grants approved applicants the coveted honor of joining President Donald Trump’s exclusive South Florida club.

You might also like our articles about the cost of becoming a member of the Dedham Country Club, Wing Foot Golf Club, or Secession Golf Cub.

In addition to the initiation fee, members must also pay annual dues. As of 2023, the club’s annual dues were $14,000 per year for members according to the Palm Beach Post.

This means that joining the Mar-a-Lago club costs $200,000 upfront, plus $14,000 in annual dues as an ongoing expense required of members.

Town & Country states that the initiation fee for Mar-a-Lago increased from $100,000 to $200,000, with annual dues of $14,000 and an annual food minimum of $2,000. It also provides information on the club’s amenities and privileges.

AJC mentions that the initiation fee and annual dues at The Mar-a-Lago Club buy entry through the front door, with the initiation fee covering privileges at Trump-branded golf courses. It also notes a minimum dining requirement of $2,000 a year for food and drinks.

CNBC confirms that the initiation fee for Mar-a-Lago doubled to $200,000 following the election of Donald Trump as president. In addition to the initiation fee, members also pay $14,000 a year in annual dues plus tax.

Of course, gaining membership also affords paying members special access to amenities at the club’s oceanfront Palm Beach property. We’ll take a closer look at those benefits next.

What Do Mar-a-Lago Members Receive for These Fees?

So what exactly does the privilege of joining Mar-a-Lago provide members in return for the substantial investment required?

For starters, membership at the storied Palm Beach club includes access to its famously impressive oceanfront resort. The grounds sprawl across 17 acres and feature a main mansion with 126 rooms along with private guest suites.

Members can dine at the club’s beachfront restaurant, work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center, or relax poolside. There is a full-service spa, perfectly manicured croquet lawns, and clay tennis courts.

The club’s ballroom also hosts exclusive member events throughout the year, from glamorous galas to speaker events and even weddings, that bring in A-list guests from around the world.

During his presidency, Trump also frequently spent time at Mar-a-Lago and hosted foreign dignitaries like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the grounds. Members potentially gain proximity to power – and the elite connections that come with it.

Beyond amenities, joining Mar-a-Lago also serves as a status symbol. Much like membership at an exclusive country club confers prestige, getting into Mar-a-Lago signals one has ascended to the upper echelons of Palm Beach society.

The History Behind Mar-a-Lago’s Exorbitant Membership Fees

Mar-a-Lago membership fees and exclusivity are tied to its history. The sprawling mansion was built in the 1920s by billionaire heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, who donated the property to the U.S. government after her death. However, the federal government declined to accept it.

Enter Donald Trump – in 1985, he purchased Mar-a-Lago for $5 million and turned it into an ultra-exclusive private members club.

Trump initially charged a high $200,000 initiation fee, along with $50,000 in annual dues back in the 1990s. At one point the total cost of joining approached $350,000.

Membership numbers declined for a period after the Bernie Madoff scandal when many wealthy Palm Beach victims could no longer afford the fees.

In 2012, Trump slashed the initiation fee in half to $100,000 in an effort to boost membership. But he has reportedly since restored the full $200,000 price tag required to join his coveted club. President Donald Trump often calls Mar a Lago the winter White House.

The substantial fees and selective membership process help maintain the club’s elite prestige even today.

What Other Expenses Do Members Pay?

Beyond the upfront initiation fee and annual dues, Mar-a-Lago members also pay additional ad hoc fees for the use of various facilities and services at the club.

Guest suite rentals cost up to $2,000 per night. There are dining minimums at the club restaurants. Members pay cart rental fees to play on the croquet lawn and tennis courts. The spa charges for treatments and services.

Special club events often carry additional tickets fees as well, especially for galas or dinners that include appearances by Trump and his family members.

Members also shoulder an additional tax burden. In 2021, Palm Beach County assessed Trump’s golf property there $700,000 in unpaid taxes from the prior 2 years. The county tax collector indicated these costs would likely trickle down to Mar-a-Lago club members.

So obviously, that $200,000 initiation and $14,000 in annual dues may not fully represent the true cost of joining and maintaining active membership status at the club. Prospective members should be prepared for considerable extra expenses on top of the base fees.

How Does Mar-a-Lago Grant Membership?

Not just anyone can join Mar-a-Lago, even if they can foot the bill. The club reportedly maintains a cap of 500 members, and new prospects go through a stringent vetting process in order to get approval.

However, the specifics of this process are shrouded in secrecy. Mar-a-Lago requires prospective members to submit an application for review, but the criteria and decision-making behind granting membership remains largely obscure.

The club’s website only indicates that members must demonstrate “good character and high social stature.” Wealth alone does not guarantee admission. Industry insiders suggest prospective members also require an existing connection to a current member to improve their prospects for successfully getting in.

Trump himself reportedly takes an active role in evaluating applications and has the final say on approving new Mar-a-Lago members. Those granted membership gain a certain privileged access to the former President’s exclusive sphere. But exactly how Trump selects who gains entry remains largely confidential.

The lengthy wait list and extensive vetting underscore the true exclusivity of joining Mar-a-Lago. Even for the super wealthy, getting into this club requires far more than just having the money to pay dues.

Final Words

Joining Mar-a-Lago confers elite status but requires considerable funds and connections. For the right member, gaining access to Trump’s storied Palm Beach club may prove priceless. Yet most curious outsiders will likely need to content themselves with keeping the true cost of membership firmly out of reach.