Italian influencer and businesswoman Chiara Ferragni was found not guilty on Wednesday in a criminal fraud case in Milan. The charges were linked to a charitable business collaboration.
Ferragni, 38, faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison. She was accused of mismanaging donations from a collaboration with confectionery company Balocco, which was meant to benefit the Regina Margherita children’s hospital.
The allegations first appeared in 2022, when an Italian newspaper reported that the hospital had received no donations beyond an initial $54,000 from Balocco. Civil penalties followed, including a $1.2 million fine from the Italian antitrust authority in 2023 for “unfair business practices” and false advertising.
The scandal caused Ferragni’s Milan flagship store to close and led to a 90% drop in revenue for her businesses, TBS Crew and Fenice. By the start of her criminal trial, she had already paid $2.7 million in civil fines.
“It’s the end of a nightmare,” Ferragni told reporters outside the Milan courthouse after the verdict was read.
Chiara Ferragni started her fashion blog The Blonde Salad in 2009 while studying law at Bocconi University. She later launched a shoe collection that grew into a lifestyle brand. By 2022, her brand, Fenice, had revenues of $15.3 million, with Ferragni earning over $70 million as an influencer in total.
Ferragni’s fame grew internationally, especially after marrying Italian rapper Fedez in 2018 and starring in the reality show The Ferragnez. The couple separated in 2024 following a cheating scandal.
Her acquittal marks a major comeback for the influencer, ending a period that severely damaged both her businesses and public image.
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