What Is Chris Laurita’s Net Worth?
Chris Laurita is an American businessman and reality television personality with an estimated net worth of $500 thousand. He became widely known after appearing alongside his wife, Jacqueline Laurita, on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” His sisters, Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo, were also part of the show’s original cast, placing the Laurita family at the center of its early seasons.
Beyond television, Laurita has built a career in apparel manufacturing, brand licensing, and consumer products. He co-founded Signature Apparel Group with his brother Joseph, helped launch the black bottled-water brand blk., and later co-founded The Little Kernel popcorn company. He went on to become co-CEO of Velocity Global Brands, which has secured licensing agreements involving Lucky Brand workwear and Quiksilver women’s apparel.
His business ventures have also been marked by major financial challenges. Signature Apparel entered bankruptcy in 2009, triggering years of litigation involving company assets, licensing rights, and payments to the Laurita family. Chris and Jacqueline separately faced foreclosure proceedings connected to their New Jersey mansion, as well as a judgment related to unpaid legal fees.
Early Life and Family
Laurita was raised in a large New Jersey family. His parents, Joseph and Nettie Laurita, had 11 children, including Chris, his business partner Joseph, chef Jaime Laurita, and future reality stars Caroline Manzo and Dina Manzo.
Before entering the television spotlight, Laurita worked in the apparel industry with several of his brothers. A clothing trade show later introduced him to Jacqueline, who would become his wife.
Signature Apparel Group
Chris and Joseph Laurita founded Signature Apparel Group in 2003. The following year, the company secured a license to manufacture and distribute junior sportswear under Rocawear, the clothing label associated with Jay-Z. Signature also held licensing rights to the Artful Dodger brand.
Testimony cited in bankruptcy court records indicated that Rocawear sales climbed from roughly $30 million in 2004 to between $70 million and $80 million in 2007. The licensing agreement required royalty and advertising payments, including guaranteed minimums. Financial difficulties later mounted, and creditors filed bankruptcy proceedings against Signature in 2009.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Laurita became familiar to television viewers when “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” debuted in 2009. Jacqueline was an original cast member alongside Caroline, Dina, Teresa Giudice, and Danielle Staub. Chris appeared in the family’s home life and took part in conversations about their businesses, relationships, and children.
The series documented Chris’s marriage to Jacqueline, his role as stepfather to her daughter Ashlee, and the couple’s life raising their sons, CJ and Nicholas. Their decision to speak publicly about Nicholas’s autism diagnosis offered viewers a more personal perspective on the family beyond the show’s conflicts and social events. His food and beverage ventures also appeared on the series, linking his business career to the family’s television presence.
Jacqueline was a full-time cast member for the first five seasons, returned in a reduced capacity for season six, and resumed a full-time role in season seven. She left the series before season eight, ending the Lauritas’ regular involvement with the show.
Steve Mack/Getty Images
Blk. Water and The Little Kernel
Laurita entered the beverage market through blk., a bottled-water company launched in 2011 with involvement from his nephews, Albie and Chris Manzo. The water’s dark appearance, created by added fulvic minerals, became its defining feature. Laurita served as president and CEO, and the company introduced the flavored blk.+ line in 2013.
In 2016, Laurita and business partner Andy Epstein launched The Little Kernel, a ready-to-eat popcorn brand made with miniature kernels and olive oil. The initial flavors included Truffle Sea Salt, Sweet & Salty, and Pink Himalayan Salt. Laurita said the idea was partly influenced by his family’s effort to find snacks suited to the dietary preferences they had adopted for Nicholas.
The company also built charitable giving into its business model, donating a portion of proceeds to organizations such as Generation Rescue. By the end of 2016, the brand said it was available in more than 2,000 independent stores, as well as retailers including ShopRite and Sprouts. The development and packaging of The Little Kernel were featured on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
During a 2018 interview, Laurita said The Little Kernel had been financed through private and family funding while it pursued outside investors. The company reported that revenue had doubled since launch, and Laurita outlined plans to broaden distribution and eventually reach $200 million in sales. That amount was presented as a long-term target, not as the company’s revenue at the time.
Velocity Global Brands
Laurita remained active in apparel through Velocity Global Brands, which designs, manufactures, and distributes clothing under licensing agreements with established labels. The company’s expansion into Southern California helped prompt the Laurita family’s move to Orange County in 2023.
In 2024, Authentic Brands Group announced an agreement appointing Velocity to oversee Lucky Brand men’s and women’s workwear in the United States and Canada. The product range included overalls, coveralls, scrubs, and outerwear. The announcement identified Laurita as Velocity’s co-CEO.
Authentic announced another agreement with Velocity in February 2025, covering Quiksilver women’s apparel in the United States and Canada. The deal included design, manufacturing, and distribution for products such as swimwear, boardshorts, dresses, denim, and knitwear. The partnerships brought Laurita back to the licensing model that had defined much of his earlier apparel career.
Bankruptcy Litigation and Financial Problems
Signature Apparel’s bankruptcy led to several civil disputes involving its former owners and business partners. One lawsuit sought approximately $7.8 million, alleging that company funds had been diverted to cover personal expenses. Additional litigation examined the handling of Signature’s Rocawear licensing rights and the transfer of business operations to another company.
In August 2017, a federal bankruptcy judge found Chris liable for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, and interference with contractual relations in the licensing dispute. The court also determined that his company, New Star Group, had been unjustly enriched by $1.8 million and ordered the money returned to Signature. The findings were civil judgments arising from the corporate bankruptcy litigation.
In March 2019, reports described a proposed $500,000 settlement involving Chris and claims arising from the Signature bankruptcy. The agreement was subject to court approval at the time of those reports. The litigation also generated substantial legal expenses for Chris and Jacqueline.
In July 2025, a New Jersey judge entered a default judgment against the couple in a lawsuit brought by their former law firm, Seidman & Pincus. According to Us Weekly’s reporting on the court order, the judgment totaled approximately $761,000, consisting of about $342,000 in unpaid fees and $419,000 in interest. A source close to the couple told the publication that Chris believed he had been overbilled and was negotiating a settlement.
Personal Life
Chris met Jacqueline while she was working as a model at a trade show in Chicago, and they married on May 11, 2002. Their son Christopher, known as CJ, was born later that month, and Nicholas was born in June 2009. Chris is also stepfather to Ashlee Holmes, Jacqueline’s daughter from her first marriage.
Nicholas was diagnosed with autism in 2012. Chris and Jacqueline spoke publicly about their experiences as parents and supported autism-related fundraising efforts. Their family’s experiences also influenced Chris’s decision to develop The Little Kernel and include charitable donations in its business model.
The Lauritas moved from New Jersey to Las Vegas in 2019. In 2023, they relocated again, this time to Orange County, California, as Chris expanded his apparel business there.
Real Estate
In February 2002, Chris and Jacqueline purchased a home in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, for $1.72 million. The roughly 5,700-square-foot property has six bedrooms and sits on approximately 1.75 acres. It became familiar to viewers through “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”
The couple listed the house for $2.85 million in 2014 and later offered it for approximately $2.3 million in 2017. During this period, the property became the subject of foreclosure proceedings. Reports described a $1.6 million mortgage with monthly payments of roughly $10,800.
In April 2019, the home returned to the market for $1.95 million, with the asking price falling to $1.75 million that July. After another listing in 2021, the property sold in January 2022 for $1.875 million. The Lauritas had already moved to Nevada by the time of the sale.
All net worths are calculated using data drawn from public sources. When provided, we also incorporate private tips and feedback received from the celebrities or their representatives. While we work diligently to ensure that our numbers are as accurate as possible, unless otherwise indicated they are only estimates. We welcome all corrections and feedback using the button below.
