The Rise and Fall of Italy’s Kim Kardashian: How Fraud Allegations Shattered Chiara Ferragni’s Empire and Marriage
The Rise and Fall of Italy’s Kim Kardashian: How Fraud Allegations Shattered Chiara Ferragni’s Empire and Marriage
Many dream of achieving immense popularity, but it comes with significant risks. A single misstep can lead to downfall, as Chiara Ferragni, Italy’s renowned influencer, discovered. In the summer of 2023, a major scandal erupted around her, threatening not just her reputation and wealth, but also her freedom.
The Scandal Unfolds
The Italian Antitrust Authority accused Ferragni of fraud related to a charity campaign she launched in 2021. Collaborating with the confectionery brand Balocco, Ferragni sold Easter cakes through her social media accounts, promising to donate the proceeds to charity. The cakes, priced three times higher than usual, sold out quickly as her followers eagerly supported the cause.
Later, she released Christmas pies in another collaboration, which also sold out rapidly. Ferragni earned approximately €1 million from the cakes and €1.2 million from the pies. However, instead of donating the entire amount to medical centers in Italy for new equipment, she kept a portion for herself. This betrayal led to a massive scandal and severe accusations that nearly destroyed her life.
The Verdict
The final court hearing took place on January 14, 2026. Over the two years of legal proceedings, the stress took a toll on Ferragni. However, she maintained a strong facade during the trial, arriving in an expensive suit with a confident smile. “This is a very difficult period in my life, but I am moving forward,” she told journalists. By then, she knew the worst was behind her, but the cost had been high.
The court found Ferragni guilty of some violations, but she avoided a prison sentence of one and a half years. Initially, she was only required to donate a portion of the proceeds, not the entire amount. As a result, she received a fine of €3.4 million. Now, she can start a new chapter in her life, albeit with significant losses.
A Career in Ruins
Born into a wealthy family, Ferragni received a prestigious education, earning a law degree from Bocconi University. However, her passion for fashion outweighed her interest in international law. She grew up traveling and shopping in luxury boutiques, developing a keen eye for brands and trends. In 2009, she launched several blogs showcasing her outfits, later transitioning to social media.
The decline of glossy magazines played to her advantage. People no longer wanted to wait a month for fashion updates when influencers could provide real-time information. Ferragni’s audience grew rapidly, and by 2023, she was Italy’s most successful influencer. She graced red carpets, attended fashion weeks, and starred in magazine shoots and advertising campaigns, earning millions of followers and substantial income. Forbes USA repeatedly named her the world’s top influencer, and she became the first blogger to appear on the cover of Vogue.
However, the charity cake scandal tarnished her career. Thousands of followers unfollowed her, and many brands terminated their contracts. To avoid further negative attention, Ferragni retreated from the public eye for a year and a half. Before the scandal, her net worth was estimated at $40 million. She once admitted that her wardrobe was filled with Chanel bags, considering their value insignificant.
In Italy, Ferragni had built an empire, earning her the nickname “Italy’s Kim Kardashian.” However, the scandal eroded public trust. Her follower count dropped, and brands became reluctant to collaborate with her. To stay afloat, she needed to rethink her business strategy, as even her sincere apologies failed to convince skeptics who believed her remorse was driven by fear of bankruptcy.
A Crumbling Marriage
These challenges might have been surmountable if not for the collapse of her marriage. Ferragni had relied on her husband’s support, but the scandal destroyed their relationship. Her husband, Italian rapper Federico Lucia, had gained popularity through their relationship. They began dating in 2016, and a year later, he proposed in a romantic setting.
The couple planned to marry quickly, but the wedding was delayed when Ferragni discovered she was pregnant. They eventually married in 2018 in a beautiful ceremony and later had another child. Known as one of Italy’s most beautiful couples, their marriage lasted seven years before ending in turmoil.
After the separation, Ferragni revealed the truth about their relationship. She admitted to loving him deeply while he had been unfaithful. She had known about his infidelities but chose to ignore them for the sake of their children. In fact, the wedding almost didn’t happen—Lucia wanted to cancel it a day before the ceremony but feared public backlash and the impact on his career.
Ferragni shared a heartbreaking incident where, just before walking down the aisle, Lucia called his mistress, saying he would leave Ferragni for her if she asked. Ferragni heard the conversation but decided not to act, to protect their child. She endured years of infidelity, but the marriage crumbled when her life took a downturn. Lucia left her for another woman, Angelica Montagni, a stylist and Ferragni’s look-alike. The divorce was contentious, with a prolonged custody battle that Ferragni ultimately won.
Ferragni has since moved on and began dating businessman Giovanni Tronchetti Provera in 2023. Her career seems to be recovering, with her follower count rebounding to 28 million. While some followers await her next misstep, her personal brand, Fenice (Italian for “Phoenix”), symbolizes her resilience and rebirth.
For more information, visit Forbes.
