Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Split After Nearly 28 Years — From Ski-Hat Wedding to Federal Prison

The pair had a strong marriage that survived federal prison, but are now facing a separation after nearly three decades together.

Hollywood's once-golden couple is no more. After 28 years together, "Full House" actress Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli have gone their separate ways.

$16.5 Million Mansion Hits the Market as Marriage Falters

The pair, parents to social media personality Olivia Jade and her sister Isabella Rose, are said to be "living apart and taking a break from their marriage," according to Loughlin’s representative, Elizabeth Much.

While no divorce papers have been filed, the split comes on the heels of another major shift in their lives. The two recently listed their sprawling 11,800-square-foot Hidden Hills mansion for $16.5 million, just five years after snapping it up for $9.5 million.

A Love Story Born on a Chilly Thanksgiving Morning

It's a heartbreaking turn for a love story that began almost three decades ago. In 1995, Giannulli, then known for his nights out in Los Angeles' glitzy party scene, crossed paths with Loughlin, who at 37 was riding high on the success of "Full House."

Their whirlwind romance quickly turned serious. After two years of dating, he stunned her with 500 roses before proposing. By Thanksgiving Day in 1997, they had eloped, exchanging vows at sunrise on a chilly Newport Beach hillside.

Loughlin later recalled, "We showed up in ski hats and sweatpants. It was cold, and the sun was coming up. It was beautiful."

In the years that followed, the two appeared to settle into family life. They raised their daughters in a Laguna Beach bungalow while also embarking on new property ventures, including plans for a home in Bel Air.

Giannulli often described finding balance with his wife and children. He once reflected, "I've got a great wife and great kids. I spend my days doing what I love. What's not to like?"

But now, nearly three decades after that spontaneous elopement, the pair's story has shifted into a new chapter — one marked not by togetherness, but by separation.

The Wedding Date That Wasn't

For years, Loughlin and Giannulli believed they had uncovered the secret to a lasting marriage, even if they had been celebrating their wedding on the wrong date. Loughlin only discovered the mix-up years later during a dinner with Candace Cameron Bure and Marilu Henner.

"Somehow we started talking about my elopement and I said, 'Yeah, we got up on Thanksgiving morning'... We had Moss' best friend and a minister meet us, and we got married at sunrise, and then we went to Thanksgiving dinner, and we told everybody," the actress narrated.

As they conversed during the dinner, Henner asked about her wedding date, and Loughlin mentioned November 25, 1997. Henner quickly corrected her, pointing out that November 25 had actually been a Tuesday, while Thanksgiving that year fell on November 27.

"She was right! And on my marriage certificate, they had written Nov. 25, and that's what it says on my marriage license," Loughlin exclaimed.

After realizing the mix-up, Loughlin called Giannulli to tell him they had been celebrating two days early all along. She laughed about the discovery and noted that their actual anniversary fell on November 27, 1997. The actress joked that they might as well turn the occasion into a three-day festival going forward.

She later explained how their elopement came to be. Since both she and Giannulli had previously been married, they felt it might be best to keep things simple the second time around. Instead of planning a big wedding, they decided to quietly tie the knot, choosing to elope and share the news with family afterward.

A Marriage That Seemed Unshakable

Loughlin also spoke more seriously about what sustained their relationship. "He's my guy, he's my person," she enthused. The actress went ahead to share the qualities that ensured their marriage thrived.

"It's communicating, it's listening, it's picking and choosing your battles. It's being flexible, it's all of that. One day at a time, one step at a time," she noted. The actress also believed in never sweating the small stuff and always making time for each other.

The pair regularly scheduled Friday dinner dates as a way to reconnect, something she considered vital in maintaining closeness. Even after nearly two decades together, Loughlin had expressed pride in her marriage, convinced that she had entered it for the long haul.

She often emphasized that while marriage was hard work, the rewards outweighed the challenges. Yet now, almost three decades after their hillside elopement, the marriage once upheld as unshakable has come to an end.

From Picture-Perfect to Prison Sentences

Still, Giannulli and Lori Loughlin have certainly weathered more than their fair share of storms. In 2019, they found themselves at the center of the infamous college admissions scandal that made headlines around the world and put their family under an unforgiving spotlight.

According to court documents, the Giannullis agreed to pay $500,000 in bribes to secure their daughters’ admission to the University of Southern California (USC). They did this by falsely presenting them as recruits to the USC crew team — even though neither girl participated in the sport.

The scheme cast a long shadow over the family’s picture-perfect image. By May 2020, both Loughlin and Giannulli changed their pleas to guilty. The actress admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.

Meanwhile, her husband pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud as well as honest services wire and mail fraud.

In August of that year, the sentences were handed down. Loughlin was ordered to serve two months in prison, complete 100 hours of community service, and pay a $150,000 fine. Her husband faced a harsher penalty of five months behind bars, 250 hours of community service, and a $250,000 fine.

Loughlin reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, on October 30, 2020, and was released in December after completing her sentence. Mossimo Giannulli began serving his term weeks later, reporting to the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc, California, on November 19.

He was released on April 2, 2021, into community confinement. This period meant either home confinement or a halfway house, though prison officials did not disclose the exact arrangement for security reasons.

Lori Loughlin Outing with James Tupper

Now, Loughlin was spotted out on Wednesday night, October 1, sharing dinner with actor James Tupper. This outing happened just hours before confirmation came that she and Giannulli had separated.

The reality star was seen with the 60-year-old actor, who was previously in a long-term relationship with the late Anne Heche. The two appeared engaged in a deep conversation while dining at The Bird Streets Club in West Hollywood.

When the evening ended, they were photographed leaning in for a warm hug as they waited for their cars at the valet. Tupper kept his look smart but relaxed in dark jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a matching jacket. Ever the gentleman, he walked Loughlin to the door of her vehicle before she headed off.

As for Loughlin, she embraced a casual yet polished ensemble. She wore wide-legged denim with a tailored black blazer and pointy-toed pumps, paired with a sleek black handbag. Her light brown hair was styled straight and left to fall naturally over her shoulders.

Loughlin's representative explained after the sighting, "Lori and James have worked together and are old friends." However, a representative for Tupper did not respond to a request for comment.