Business & Money • Entrepreneur

Paolo Zampolli

Paolo Zampolli is an Italian-American businessman, former modeling agent, socialite, and diplomat.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Paolo Zampolli is an Italian-American businessman, former modeling agent, socialite, and diplomat. He founded the modeling agency ID Models and later moved into real estate and international networking. He is known for his long association with Donald Trump and for introducing Trump to Melania Knauss in 1998, and has held diplomatic roles including representing Dominica at the United Nations.

Early life and career

Zampolli was born in Italy and later moved to the United States. He entered the fashion industry as a modeling agent and founded the agency ID Models.

Business and real estate

Following his career in modeling, Zampolli shifted into real estate and international business networking. He has been described as having worked with the Trump Organization and as a real estate figure in New York.

Diplomatic roles

Zampolli has served as Dominica's representative to the United Nations. In 2025, he was appointed special envoy for global partnerships.

Public profile and Trump connections

Zampolli is widely reported to have introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss in 1998. He has maintained a long association with Trump and has been involved in Trump-adjacent cultural and political projects, including an appointment to the Kennedy Center's board of trustees in 2020.

Key facts

Founded ID Models, a New York modeling agency.
Introduced Donald Trump to Melania Knauss in 1998.
Served as Dominica's representative to the United Nations.
Appointed to the Kennedy Center's board of trustees in 2020.
Named special envoy for global partnerships in 2025.

🍁

Canadian context

No major direct Canada connection is evident in the provided sources, beyond general interest in international diplomacy, business networks, and Trump-era appointments.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Paolo Zampolli?

He is an Italian-American businessman, former modeling agent, socialite, and diplomat known for founding ID Models and for his ties to Donald Trump.

What is Paolo Zampolli best known for?

He is best known for founding a modeling agency, later moving into real estate and diplomacy, and for introducing Donald Trump to Melania Knauss in 1998.

Did Paolo Zampolli work for Dominica?

Sources say he represented Dominica at the United Nations and held ambassadorial-style roles connected to the country.

Was Paolo Zampolli appointed by Donald Trump?

Yes. Sources report that Trump named him to the Kennedy Center's board of trustees in 2020 and later made him special envoy for global partnerships in 2025.

What company did Paolo Zampolli found?

He founded ID Models, a New York modeling agency.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Zampolli
Supports: Birth date, nationality, career summary, ID Models, Trump/Melania connection, Dominica role, Kennedy Center appointment, 2025 envoy role
POLITICO — https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/02/21/paolo-zampolli-kennedy-center-plans-00205280
Supports: Kennedy Center board role, real estate background, and public profile
POLITICO — https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/10/15/models-and-bottles-when-melanias-pal-paolo-blew-through-dc-494719
Supports: Modeling-agent background, introduction of Donald Trump to Melania, Dominica UN role, and Trump friendship
PassBlue — https://passblue.com/2017/05/05/who-is-paolo-zampolli-a-trump-friend-and-whats-he-up-to-at-the-un/
Supports: Dominica UN role, business background, and relationship to Trump
The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/us/paolo-zampolli-ice-melania-trump-epstein.html
Supports: 2026 reporting on Zampolli’s role as a Trump-connected special envoy and public profile