Since winning the first season of The Apprentice in 2004, Bill Rancic’s career has taken off. Once an online cigar seller, Rancic worked with the Trump Organization for a year before going back to his own ventures. He and his wife, Giuliana Rancic, who used to work for E! News, have written bestsellers, hosted TV shows, and co-own several restaurants. Rancic also helped his wife start her own prosecco brand and now has a podcast called “Dollar Bill.”
Rancic was invited back on The Apprentice several times as a “boardroom advisor,” where he gave feedback on contestants’ tasks. In 2006, he worked alongside Ivanka Trump, who was already a vice president at the Trump Organization. Ivanka, who later launched her own jewelry and fashion lines, and Rancic developed a friendly relationship through their shared work on the show. Though they live in different cities and have different careers, their time together on the show created a bond.
During a 2006 interview with People, Rancic praised Ivanka Trump for her sharpness, down-to-earth nature, and overall likability. He noted that Ivanka and her father shared a strong bond, with Donald Trump guiding her career. Despite their occasional collaborations, including a 2010 promotion for HP’s “Big Payback” initiative, Rancic and Ivanka haven’t remained close friends. Both have managed to stay away from political controversy; Rancic briefly voiced support for Donald Trump in 2016 without aligning himself with the MAGA movement, while Ivanka distanced herself from her father after his presidency.
In 2017, Ivanka Trump demonstrated support for Rancic’s business when she and her husband, Jared Kushner, dined at RPM Italian in Washington, D.C., a restaurant co-owned by Rancic and his partners. The visit coincided with Restaurant Week, offering a three-course meal at a special rate.
Reports suggest that after their meal, RPM staff attempted to cover the bill as a gesture of goodwill. However, Kushner declined, citing government rules that restrict accepting gifts over $20. Despite this, federal regulations allow for larger gifts from established friends, which might have made the offer acceptable. Although Rancic wasn’t present during this visit, the gesture highlighted Ivanka’s support for his business.
