At a Glance
- Influencer Chiara Ferragni walked free after a Milan judge tossed aggravated-fraud charges tied to her 2022 charity cake campaign.
- Prosecutors had asked for one year, eight months behind bars.
- She already paid €3.4 million in fines and donations to end related antitrust probes.
- Why it matters: The verdict lifts a two-year legal cloud that stalled the fashion mogul’s brand partnerships and social-media reach.
Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni left a Milan courthouse smiling on January 14, 2026, after a judge acquitted her of aggravated fraud linked to a Christmas-cake collaboration that promised hospital donations.
The Charges That Never Stuck
Prosecutors claimed Ferragni misled buyers of limited-edition Balocco Pandoro cakes in late 2022. The boxes and her social posts said both she and Balocco “support the Regina Margherita hospital in Turin,” implying each purchase triggered a fresh donation.
In reality, Balocco had wired a single €50,000 gift before sales began. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) already fined Ferragni €1 million for the “deceptive” messaging.
At a November pre-trial hearing, the Milan Prosecutor’s Office requested one year and eight months in prison. The judge rejected that request Wednesday, ending the criminal case.
Post-Verdict Relief
“The nightmare is over,” Ferragni told reporters, per Reuters. “I am very happy to take control of my life and get my life back. It has been a very difficult two years. I had faith in justice, and justice has been done.”
The 38-year-old content creator first shot to fame with a fashion blog in 2009 and became the first fashion blogger to land a Vogue cover in 2015.
Money Already Out the Door
Even without a conviction, Ferragni’s wallet took a hit. By December 2024 she had paid:
- €1 million to Regina Margherita hospital (her Balocco fee)
- €1 million AGCM fine
- €1.2 million to a children’s charity to settle a separate antitrust probe over Ferragni-branded Easter eggs
Total outlay: €3.4 million
Brand Damage Control
In May 2024 her company pledged to “refrain from carrying out operations in which commercial activities are connected to charitable activities.” Ferragni kept a low social profile for most of last year, then resumed luxury-brand campaigns and regional magazine covers in 2025.
Earlier this month she posted photos from a New Year’s trip to Colombia, signaling a return to full content mode.
Key Takeaways
- Criminal court found no intent to defraud buyers
- Civil regulators still extracted multimillion-euro penalties
- Ferragni’s brand partnerships paused during the probe but are now restarting
- The case sets a cautionary precedent for influencers mixing charity with commerce
