Mossimo Giannulli
Mossimo Giannulli | |
|---|---|
| Born | Massimo Giannulli June 4, 1963 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Known for | Mossimo clothing Varsity Blues scandal |
| Spouse(s) |
Chris (divorced)[1] |
| Children | 3, including Olivia Jade |
Mossimo Giannulli (born Massimo Giannulli; June 4, 1963) is an American fashion designer who founded Mossimo, a mid-range clothing company, in 1986; Giannulli sold this company to Iconix Brand Group in 2006, exactly twenty years after it was founded.
Early life
Giannulli was born in Los Angeles to parents of Italian descent; Gene, an architect, and Nancy, a homemaker. He was raised in Encino, California.[2] In the first grade, he changed his first name to Mossimo at the suggestion of a teacher who insisted it was easier to pronounce.[2]
Giannulli had purportedly studied business and architecture at the University of Southern California for three years before dropping out in 1987[2], however in the wake of the Varsity Blues scandal it was revealed that he only spent time at the university in 1984 as a non-degree-seeking student.[3]
Mossimo
Giannulli created Mossimo, a mid-range American clothing company, in 1986 on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. Mossimo specializes in youth and teenage clothing such as shirts, jeans, jackets, socks, underwear, and accessories.
During the company's first year it grossed $1 million.[4] The following year, $4 million.[5] The line expanded in 1991 to include sweatshirts, knits, and sweaters.[6]
Mossimo's initial public offering occurred in 1996.[5] Shares tumbled from $50 to $4 when Giannulli transitioned the company from streetwear and beachwear to high fashion.[5] He then took the brand downscale, announcing on March 28, 2000, a multi-product licensing agreement with Target stores for $27.8 million.[7][5] Mossimo was acquired by Iconix Brand Group in 2006.[5]
College bribery scandal
Giannulli and his wife Lori Loughlin were arrested on March 12, 2019, in connection with their involvement in a nationwide college entrance exam cheating scandal, regarding their two daughters' admission to USC. They were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud and released on $1 million bail each.[8][9] They were among 50 people charged.[10][11] The couple were also charged with money-laundering in April 2019.[12][13]
The couple's indictment alleged they paid a bribe of $500,000, disguised as a donation to the Key Worldwide Foundation, to get their two daughters into the university as rowing crew athletes, though neither had ever trained in the sport.[14] Giannulli and Loughlin initially denied the charges and later pleaded guilty as part of a plea bargain.[15]
Prison sentence
On August 21, 2020, Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison and a $250,000 fine, and Loughlin was sentenced to two months and a $150,000 fine. The couple were subsequently expelled from the Bel-Air Country Club.[16][17] Giannulli and Loughlin were required to report to prison by November 19.[18] On October 30, 2020, Loughlin reported but Giannulli did not.[19] The same day, visitation rights were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]
Giannulli entered the medium-security federal penitentiary in Lompoc, California, on November 19, 2020, and was scheduled for release on April 17, 2021.[21][22] Due to COVID-19 he was placed in a medium security isolation rather than a minimum security cell.[23] His son, Gianni, posted on Instagram that the "mental and physical damage being done from such isolation and treatment is wrong."[24] On April 2, 2021, Giannulli was released to home confinement.[25] He was released from home confinement a day early on April 16, 2021,[26][27] and remained on supervised release until April 2023.
Personal life
Giannulli was first married to a woman named Chris, with whom he had his son, Gianni, in 1990.[28]
Giannulli and Loughlin eloped in 1997.[29] They had two daughters, Bella (b. 1998) and Olivia Jade (b. 1999).[30] In October 2025, it was revealed that Giannulli and Loughlin had separated.[1]
References
- ^ a b Wenger, Stephanie; McNeil, Liz; Telling, Gillian (October 3, 2025). "Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Separate After Nearly 28 Years of Marriage (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Back in the Swim". People.com. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ "Dad accused in admissions scandal may have misrepresented his own college education". 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Mossimo Giannulli - Fashion Designer | Designers | The FMD". Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "How Mossimo Went from Being Head-to-Head with Stussy to Target's In-House Brand". The Hundreds. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "How '90s Cool Brand Mossimo Went From Stussy Rival to Target Stores". Complex. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ Earnest, Leslie (29 March 2000). With Losses Mounting, Mossimo Turns to Target, Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin has surrendered to federal authorities in Los Angeles". CNN. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ Thorne, Will (13 March 2019). "Lori Loughlin's Bail Set for $1 Million; Judge Sets Travel Conditions". Variety. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ Winter, Tom; Williams, Pete; Ainsley, Julia; Shichapiro, Rich (12 March 2019). "TV actresses among 40 people charged in college exam cheating plot". NBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ Medina, Jennifer; Benner, Katie (12 March 2019). "Dozens Charged in College Admissions Bribery Scandal". New York Times. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin indicted on money-laundering charge in college admissions scandal". Los Angeles Daily News. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin, husband Mossimo Giannulli plead not guilty in college admissions scam". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin indicted by federal grand jury, charged with money laundering". USA Today. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ Cevallos, Danny (21 May 2020). "Why Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli held out on a guilty plea — until now". NBC News. NBC. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ Mark Morales (21 August 2020). "Lori Loughlin sentenced to 2 months in prison in college admissions scam. Her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, got 5 months". CNN. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ Levitz, Jennifer (2020-08-21). "Lori Loughlin Sentenced to Two Months in College-Admissions Scandal". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin's daughters Olivia Jade, Isabella 'rattled' by parents' sentencing". September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ Reed, Anika; Puente, Maria (October 30, 2020). "Lori Loughlin reports to California prison for 2-month sentence in college admissions case". USA Today. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin Begins Serving 2 Month Prison Sentence For College Admissions Scam". WBZ 4. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin's husband, Mossimo Giannulli, reports to prison for admissions scandal sentence". NBC News. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin's Husband Mossimo Giannulli Reports to Prison". KARE. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Bryant, Kenzie (18 December 2020). "Mossimo Giannulli's Son Speaks Out Against Prison Treatment". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ "Inside Mossimo Giannulli's 'Rough' Prison Stay After Lori Loughlin's Release". Us Weekly. 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ Dazio, Stefanie; Balsamo, Michael (2021-04-03). "Designer Mossimo Giannulli released from California prison". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2021-04-04.
- ^ Wilkinson, Joseph (April 16, 2021). "Mossimo Giannulli, Lori Loughlin's husband, gets out of home confinement 1 day early". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ Young, Julius (April 16, 2021). "Lori Loughlin's husband Mossimo Giannulli released early from home confinement: report". Fox News. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
- ^ Longeretta, Emily (December 19, 2020). "Who Is Gianni Giannulli? 5 Things to Know About Mossimo's Son Speaking Out About His Dad in Prison". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ "Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli: A Timeline of Their Relationship". Us Weekly. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ^ Mackie, Johnni (October 2, 2025). "Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Separate After Nearly 28 Years of Marriage, College Admission Scandal". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 3, 2025.