In the world of celebrity finances, few stories are as dramatic as that of Mossimo Giannulli. You might not immediately recognize his name, but if you’ve ever shopped for a comfortable, affordable t-shirt at Target, you’ve likely seen his work. As the founder of the once-ubiquitous Mossimo clothing brand, Giannulli built a massive fortune that has kept him in the public eye long after his clothes left the runway for the big-box store.
His journey is a rollercoaster of multi-million dollar deals, a high-profile marriage to “Full House” star Lori Loughlin, and a scandal that landed him in prison. Through it all, one question persists: what is Mossimo Giannulli’s net worth today? As of 2025, estimates place his wealth at a staggering $78 million to $80 million, a figure that tells a story of ambition, success, and resilience.
The tale of his wealth is inextricably linked with his wife, Lori Loughlin, though the couple is now navigating a personal transition. After nearly 28 years of marriage, representatives confirmed in 2025 that Loughlin and Giannulli are living apart and “taking a break” from their marriage, though no legal divorce proceedings have begun. This separation puts a fresh spotlight on their individual finances.
Their combined net worth has long been estimated at around $80 million, but the lion’s share of that fortune originates from Giannulli’s business acumen, with Loughlin’s own successful acting career contributing an estimated $8 million. As they live separately, the structure of their shared wealth, built over decades, enters a new chapter.
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Building an Empire, One T-Shirt at a Time
Mossimo Giannulli’s empire began not in a corporate boardroom, but on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. In 1986, he started his namesake brand with a $100,000 loan from his father, initially focusing on trendy beachwear and activewear for teenagers. The brand exploded in popularity during the 1990s, becoming a staple in surf shops and department stores alike. The real game-changer, however, came in 2000 when Giannulli pivoted from high-fashion aspirations and signed a landmark licensing deal with Target. This move made Mossimo a household name, bringing stylish and affordable apparel to millions of Americans and guaranteeing him millions in annual royalties.
The success of this strategy culminated in a massive payday. In 2006, Giannulli sold the Mossimo brand to the Iconix Brand Group for a reported $135 million to $378 million, a deal that solidified the financial foundation for his future wealth. While the brand is no longer sold at Target, the proceeds from this sale and the years of lucrative royalties are the primary drivers of his fortune today. At the peak of his company’s value, his stake was worth a paper $500 million, though stock market fluctuations taught him a tough lesson about the volatile nature of fashion before the Target deal steadied the ship.
Weathering the Storm: Scandal, Prison, and Financial Resilience
The couple’s finances faced their biggest test in 2019 when they were embroiled in the nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. Giannulli and Loughlin pleaded guilty to charges of fraud for paying $500,000 to falsely designate their daughters as crew team recruits to secure their admission to the University of Southern California. The fallout was severe. Giannulli was sentenced to five months in federal prison, fined $250,000, and ordered to complete 250 hours of community service. Loughlin served a two-month sentence.
While the scandal undoubtedly came with a financial cost, including millions in legal fees, fines, and lost endorsement deals, it did not cripple their fortune. The core of their wealth, derived from the sale of the Mossimo brand and wise real estate investments, had already been accumulated and remained largely intact. Their financial resilience is evident in their real estate portfolio; they have bought and sold multi-million dollar properties in Bel Air, Beverly Hills, and Hidden Hills over the years, with their recent decision to list their $16.5 million Hidden Hills estate signaling a new beginning for both.
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Despite the prison sentence and public disgrace, Mossimo Giannulli’s net worth in 2025 shows that a foundation built on a wildly successful business can endure even the most dramatic personal storms.
