Mossimo Giannulli is a name that once dominated the world of American fashion. Known for founding the casual wear brand Mossimo, he built a multi-million-dollar empire from the ground up before experiencing both massive highs and public lows. Today, his story is as much about success in the fashion industry as it is about scandal and redemption. As of 2025, Giannulli’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, a combined fortune with his wife, actress Lori Loughlin.
Early Life and Education
Born Massimo Giannulli on June 4, 1963, in Los Angeles, California, he grew up in an Italian-American family. When he entered grade school, a teacher suggested changing the spelling of his name to “Mossimo” to make it easier to pronounce, and the nickname stuck. Raised in Encino, Giannulli was drawn to creativity and business early on.
He later enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) to study architecture and business. However, after three years, he made the bold decision to leave school to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. This decision would set him on a path to building one of the most recognizable clothing brands of the 1990s.
Founding the Mossimo Brand
In 1986, with a $100,000 loan from his father, Giannulli launched the Mossimo clothing line on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. His vision was to create a surf and beach-inspired brand that reflected California’s laid-back culture. By plastering his signature “M” logo on t-shirts, shorts, and volleyball gear, he quickly tapped into a growing market of young consumers.
The strategy paid off immediately. In the first year, Mossimo earned $1 million in revenue. By the second year, revenues soared to $4 million. By 1992, the company was pulling in $32 million annually, making it one of the fastest-growing clothing lines in the country.
Going Public and Business Expansion
By 1996, Mossimo was generating $76 million in yearly revenue and $12 million in profit. That same year, Giannulli took the company public, becoming one of the youngest CEOs on the New York Stock Exchange at just 32 years old. At the time of the IPO, his 73% ownership stake gave him a paper net worth of $275 million, which later peaked at an astonishing $500 million as the company’s stock hit $50 per share.
However, the brand’s fortunes soon shifted. Attempting to move from streetwear into high fashion, Mossimo alienated its original fan base while failing to capture new upscale customers. By 1998, shares plummeted by 90%, reducing Giannulli’s stake to just $50 million.
Partnership with Target and Sale to Iconix
Despite the decline, Giannulli proved resilient. In 2000, he struck a licensing deal with Target stores worth $8.5 million annually for three years. This repositioned Mossimo as an affordable fashion brand accessible to millions of shoppers across America.
The brand’s ultimate fate came in 2006 when Giannulli sold Mossimo to Iconix Brand Group for $135 million in cash and debt absorption. By then, Mossimo products were available in over 1,700 U.S. stores and more than 600 international retailers.
Personal Life and Family
Mossimo Giannulli married Lori Loughlin, best known for her role on Full House, in 1997. The couple has two daughters, Isabella Rose and Olivia Jade, as well as Giannulli’s son Gianni from a previous relationship. Olivia Jade later gained fame as a social media influencer and YouTube personality, while Isabella pursued acting and modeling.
At 62 years old in 2025, Giannulli continues to live a high-profile life with his wife, despite the controversies that nearly destroyed their reputations.
The College Admissions Scandal
In 2019, Giannulli and Loughlin were swept up in the college admissions scandal that made national headlines. They were accused of paying $500,000 in bribes to have their daughters admitted to USC under the false pretenses of being recruited as rowing team athletes.
The scandal led to their arrests, with both eventually pleading guilty. Mossimo was sentenced to five months in prison, ordered to pay a $250,000 fine, and perform 250 hours of community service. He entered prison in November 2020 and was released in April 2021 after serving just over four months. Lori Loughlin served a shorter sentence of two months.
The fallout was significant, with the couple facing intense public scrutiny and being forced to resign from the prestigious Bel-Air Country Club.
Real Estate Holdings
Despite their legal troubles, Mossimo and Lori have maintained a luxurious real estate portfolio. Their past and present properties include:
- A Bel-Air mansion purchased for $14 million in 2015, later sold for $18 million.
- A lavish Beverly Hills home sold in 2015 for $18 million.
- A previous Bel-Air estate that resold in 2018 for $40 million.
- A vacation home in Aspen, Colorado, sold in 2015 for $7.6 million.
- A Laguna Beach property in Emerald Bay, bought in 1997 for $1.36 million, later sold for $4.1 million.
- A $13 million La Quinta mansion purchased in 2021 within the prestigious Madison Club.
- A Hidden Hills home bought in 2020 for $9.5 million and listed in 2024 for $17.5 million.
These properties illustrate the couple’s continued wealth and their preference for exclusive communities.
Mossimo Giannulli Net Worth in 2025
Although his fortune has fluctuated over the decades, Mossimo Giannulli maintains an estimated net worth of $80 million in 2025. This includes his combined assets with Lori Loughlin, their real estate holdings, and past earnings from the Mossimo brand. While far from the $500 million peak he once achieved, his current wealth still secures his place among wealthy American entrepreneurs.
Final Thoughts
Mossimo Giannulli’s story is one of ambition, rise, fall, and resilience. From launching a surf-inspired brand with a small loan to becoming a multi-millionaire fashion mogul, his journey is marked by both brilliance and mistakes. The college admissions scandal tarnished his reputation, but his financial success remains intact.
At 62, Giannulli is still remembered for the clothing empire he built and the controversies he faced alongside his family. His legacy is complicated, but it underscores the reality that success in fashion, and in life, often comes with both triumphs and setbacks.
