Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss Net Worth

What is Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss’ net worth?

Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss is an American fashion designer who has a net worth of $50 million.

Shoshanna Lonstein first became widely known in the mid-1990s due to her highly publicized relationship with comedian Jerry Seinfeld, which brought her intense media attention while she was still a teenager. In the years that followed, Lonstein Gruss successfully transitioned from tabloid notoriety into a long-running career in fashion, building a brand that has remained commercially viable for more than two decades.

Launched in the early 2000s, the Shoshanna label carved out a distinct niche in the contemporary fashion market by emphasizing flattering silhouettes, bold prints, and fit-conscious design, particularly for women underserved by runway-driven sizing. The brand became especially well known for its swimwear before expanding into ready-to-wear, including dresses, skirts, and tailored separates. Rather than pursuing rapid expansion or trend-driven hype, Lonstein Gruss focused on steady growth, department store distribution, and a loyal customer base, allowing the brand to endure through multiple retail cycles.

Over time, Lonstein Gruss established herself not as a celebrity-adjacent figure, but as a business-minded designer whose career outlasted the public fascination that first made her famous.

Early Life

Shoshanna Lonstein was born on May 29, 1975, in New York City. Her parents are Betty and Zach Lonstein. Zach spent many years as the chairman and CEO of Infocrossing, an IT company based in New Jersey.

She was raised in Manhattan and attended private schools before enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied art history. Her academic background helped shape her appreciation for visual aesthetics, proportion, and design, interests that later informed her fashion career.

Relationship with Jerry Seinfeld

Lonstein entered the public spotlight in May 1993 when she began a relationship with comedian Jerry Seinfeld. At the time, Seinfeld was one of the most famous entertainers in the world due to the success of his television series “Seinfeld,” and the relationship quickly became a subject of widespread media attention. When they started dating, he was 39 years old and she was 17.

The pairing generated significant controversy and tabloid coverage. The intense scrutiny followed her throughout her late teens and into early adulthood, making her a recognizable figure well before she had established a professional identity of her own. The relationship ended in the late 1990s, but its cultural footprint continued to shape public perceptions of Lonstein for years afterward.

Founding of the Shoshanna Brand

In 2001, Lonstein Gruss launched her fashion label, Shoshanna, beginning with a swimwear collection. The line was inspired in part by her own difficulty finding stylish swimwear that accommodated fuller busts and curvier proportions. The early success of the swimwear line validated a market need and gave the brand a clear identity.

Following that success, Shoshanna expanded into ready-to-wear apparel. Dresses became a cornerstone of the collection, alongside skirts, blouses, and structured separates. The designs were characterized by bright colors, floral prints, and feminine silhouettes that emphasized fit without sacrificing comfort.

Shoshanna Lonstein-Gross (Photo by Shawn Ehlers/WireImage)

Retail Expansion and Business Growth

As the brand grew, Shoshanna secured placement in major department stores and specialty boutiques across the United States. Standalone retail locations followed, giving the brand greater control over merchandising and customer experience.

Lonstein Gruss remained deeply involved in the business, overseeing design while also participating in strategic decisions related to branding and distribution. Unlike many designer-led labels that expanded aggressively and later contracted, Shoshanna followed a comparatively conservative growth model, prioritizing long-term stability over rapid scale.

Design Philosophy and Market Position

The Shoshanna brand positioned itself in the contemporary luxury space, offering higher-quality materials and construction than mass-market fashion without entering the price tier of high-end couture. Lonstein Gruss built her reputation around fit-conscious design, particularly for women whose bodies did not conform to traditional runway standards.

This approach resonated with professional women seeking polished, wearable clothing suitable for both social and work settings. Over time, the brand developed a loyal following that valued consistency and reliability over trend-chasing.

Marriage to Josh Gruss

In 2003, Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss married Josh Gruss, an entrepreneur, musician, and music industry executive from a prominent New York family. Gruss comes from significant financial and business lineage. His grandfather, Joseph S. Gruss, was a well-known financier and businessman, and the Gruss family has long operated a private investment firm, Gruss & Company, which manages substantial family wealth across multiple asset classes.

Josh Gruss built an independent career within the music industry rather than relying solely on family capital. He began working at Atlantic Records before moving into finance as an analyst at Bear Stearns and later at the family office. In 2010, he co-founded Round Hill Music, one of the first private equity firms dedicated exclusively to music publishing and royalty investments. Under his leadership, Round Hill acquired rights to hundreds of thousands of songs by major artists and songwriters and raised hundreds of millions of dollars from institutional investors. Gruss currently serves as chairman and CEO of Round Hill Music and is also a working musician and songwriter.

During their marriage, Lonstein Gruss and Gruss had three children together. The couple divorced in 2014. Following the divorce, Lonstein Gruss continued to focus on raising her children while maintaining full control of her fashion brand. She has largely kept her family life private since the separation, limiting public discussion to professional matters.