Julia Haart’s story is one of the most remarkable reinventions you’ll find anywhere. She walked away from a strict Haredi Jewish community at 43 with almost nothing, and within a decade she had built a fashion empire that most people only dream about.
What makes her story so compelling isn’t just the money. It’s the fact that she started from scratch, with no industry contacts, no formal training, and no safety net. By 2026, her Julia Haart fortune is widely estimated at around $100 million, shaped by fashion, media, real estate, and sheer determination.
Julia Haart Age and Early Life
Julia Haart was born on April 11, 1971, in Moscow, Soviet Russia. She’s 54 years old in 2026. Her family moved to the United States when she was just three, eventually settling in Monsey, New York, inside one of the largest Haredi Orthodox communities in the country.
She grew up under strict religious rules, attended Bais Yaakov Academy in Brooklyn, and taught herself to sew by reading fashion magazines in secret. At 18, she even changed her name to “Talia” to attract an Orthodox match. She spent decades as a wife, mother, and Judaic studies teacher before finally deciding she couldn’t stay any longer.
Key Early Life Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Julia (Yulia) Leibov |
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1971 |
| Birthplace | Moscow, Russia |
| Raised In | Monsey, New York |
| Education | Bais Yaakov Academy, Brooklyn |
| Left Community | 2013, age 43 |
- Born the eldest of eight children in a deeply religious household
- Family relocated to Austin, Texas first, then Monsey, New York
- Taught herself fashion and design from magazines while living in the community
- Secretly sold life insurance on the side to save money before leaving
- Left her first marriage and ultra-Orthodox life in 2013 after decades of doubt
- Published bestselling memoir Brazen in 2022, detailing her entire journey
Julia Haart Net Worth in 2026
In 2026, Julia Haart’s net worth sits at approximately $100 million. That number reflects her shoe brand, her time leading Elite World Group, her Netflix deal, and most significantly, her Tribeca penthouse and stake in Freedom Holding following her divorce settlement.
It’s worth noting that estimates have varied wildly over the years. Some sources placed her wealth as high as $600 million when she claimed 50% ownership of EWG, but a court ruling in 2022 confirmed she wasn’t a co-owner. The $100 million figure is the most grounded estimate for 2026, accounting for the penthouse, business ventures, and other confirmed assets.
Julia Haart Net Worth Breakdown (2026)
| Asset / Source | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Tribeca Penthouse (70 Vestry St) | ~$65 million (listed) |
| Freedom Holding Stake | Confirmed via court ruling |
| +Body by Julia Brand | Growing |
| Netflix / Media Earnings | Several million |
| Book & Speaking | Supplemental income |
| Total Estimated Net Worth | ~$100 million |
- Court awarded her the penthouse and Freedom Holding control in late 2025
- Her CEO salary at EWG was reportedly around $2 million per year
- The $65 million penthouse listing represents her single largest known asset
- She also received nearly $10 million in cash as part of the divorce settlement
- Her brand +Body and media presence continue to add to her overall wealth
- Julia Haart income sources now span real estate, fashion, media, and advocacy
Year-by-Year Net Worth Estimates
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Minimal | Left community, started shoe brand |
| 2016 | Growing | La Perla creative director role |
| 2019 | Rising | CEO of Elite World Group |
| 2021 | Peak claims ($500M+) | Netflix + EWG co-owner claim |
| 2022 | Revised downward | Court ruled against ownership claim |
| 2026 | ~$100 million | Penthouse + Freedom Holding win |
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How Julia Haart Built Her $100 Million Empire
She started with one idea: make a high-heeled shoe that doesn’t destroy your feet. That sounds small, but it was the spark for everything else. She partnered with a German engineering firm and used NASA gel technology to create a genuinely comfortable luxury heel, which almost no one had done before.
That shoe line opened the door to La Perla, then to Elite World Group, then to Netflix, and eventually to a public platform with millions of followers. Each step built on the last. Her business earnings grew because she kept saying yes to new opportunities and treating every role as a chance to prove herself.
How the Empire Was Built
- 2013: Founded her namesake shoe company using secretly saved money
- 2016: Brought on as creative director at La Perla after impressing the brand
- 2017: Dressed Kendall Jenner for the Met Gala in an 85,000-crystal gown
- 2019: Named CEO of Elite World Group, overseeing Elite Model Management
- 2021: Netflix series My Unorthodox Life premiered, massively boosting her profile
- 2022: Released memoir Brazen, which became a Wall Street Journal bestseller
- 2023: Launched +Body by Julia, a shapewear and apparel brand
- 2025: Won the penthouse and Freedom Holding stake in divorce settlement
Julia Haart Career at Elite World Group and La Perla
Her time at La Perla was the real turning point. She became creative director in 2016, created the first stretch Leavers lace, and staged a runway show in 2017 featuring Naomi Campbell. That show put her name on the global fashion map.
Then in March 2019, she was named CEO of Elite World Group, the parent of Elite Model Management, which represents over 5,000 models and talent worldwide. Under her leadership, EWG expanded into new divisions focused on helping talent build lasting brands beyond the runway. Her executive role was earning her close to $2 million annually.
Career Timeline
| Year | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Founder | Julia Haart Shoes |
| 2016 | Creative Director | La Perla |
| 2019 | CEO & CCO | Elite World Group |
| 2022 | Terminated | Elite World Group |
| 2023 | Founder | +Body by Julia |
- Led Elite Model Management as part of her EWG responsibilities
- Launched the e1972 fashion brand under EWG, earning critical praise
- Designed the Kendall Jenner Met Gala dress, built from 85,000 Swarovski crystals
- Collaborated with Naomi Campbell on La Perla’s landmark 2017 runway show
- Built EWG’s digital media arm, helping models monetize their personal brands
- Her fashion CEO salary at EWG reportedly reached around $2 million per year
Julia Haart Divorce, Lawsuits, and Legal Battles
In early 2022, EWG owner and her then-husband Silvio Scaglia fired Julia from her CEO role, accusing her of company embezzlement. She denied everything and fought back by filing a lawsuit in Delaware, claiming she owned 50% of EWG through its parent company, Freedom Holding, which would have made it impossible to fire her.
The Delaware lawsuit went to Vice Chancellor Morgan T. Zurn, who ruled in August 2022 that Scaglia was the controlling shareholder and that her termination was valid. She also filed in New York Supreme Court over separate issues. Despite losing the ownership battle, the divorce proceedings, which concluded in 2025, ultimately gave Julia the penthouse and a stake in Freedom Holding.
Legal Battle Summary
| Case | Court | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| EWG Ownership Dispute | Delaware Court of Chancery | Ruled against Haart (2022) |
| Embezzlement Claims | EWG/Scaglia | Haart denied all claims |
| Penthouse Ownership | New York Courts | Awarded to Haart (2025) |
| Divorce Settlement | New York | Penthouse + ~$10M cash + Freedom Holding |
- Scaglia fired her in February 2022, citing embezzlement, which she strongly denied
- She sued in Delaware claiming 50-50 corporate equity ownership of Freedom Holding
- The judge sided with Scaglia, confirming he was the controlling shareholder
- Separately filed in New York Supreme Court over the penthouse and assets
- After years of litigation, courts awarded her the 70 Vestry Street penthouse in 2025
- The legal impact on Julia Haart’s net worth was mixed: she lost EWG but won the real estate
Julia Haart Children, Family, and Personal Life
Julia has four children from her first marriage to Yosef Hendler, whom she married at 19. Their names are Batsheva, Shlomo, Miriam, and Aron. When she left the community in 2013, her older two kids were adults, while Miriam and Aron were still minors. She later married Italian billionaire Silvio Scaglia in June 2019. They divorced in 2025.
Her religious background is central to who she is, even today. She’s made clear that her issue was never with Judaism itself but with fundamentalism. Most of her siblings and her parents cut off contact after she left. Only her sister Hannah maintains a relationship with her. Despite all of that, Julia has stayed vocal about her Jewish identity, especially after the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
Family Overview
| Person | Relation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yosef Hendler | First husband | Married age 19, divorced 2013 |
| Batsheva Haart | Daughter | Also appeared on My Unorthodox Life |
| Shlomo Haart | Son | |
| Miriam Haart | Daughter | |
| Aron Haart | Son | Youngest child |
| Silvio Scaglia | Second husband | Married 2019, divorced 2025 |
- Raised in a Haredi Jewish community in Monsey, New York
- Her cultural identity transformation became the subject of her Netflix show
- Parents and most siblings cut contact after she left the Orthodox Jewish community
- She visited Israel in 2023 and met with both President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu
- Launched Ahm Nation in 2024 to fight online antisemitism
- Her personal life continues to inspire debates about faith, freedom, and reinvention
Julia Haart Manhattan Penthouse and Luxury Lifestyle
The 70 Vestry Street penthouse in Tribeca is Julia’s most talked-about possession. Silvio Scaglia bought it in 2018 for $56 million through an LLC while it was still under construction. It became famous globally through My Unorthodox Life, where viewers got a look inside its custom closets, soaring ceilings, and stunning views.
The duplex spans roughly 7,800 square feet across two floors, with six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and three powder rooms. After the court awarded her full ownership in late 2025, she briefly listed it for rent at $125,000 a month before putting it on the market for $65 million. It’s one of the most recognizable celebrity homes in NYC.
Penthouse at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 70 Vestry Street, Tribeca, NYC |
| Purchase Price | $56 million (2018, by Scaglia) |
| Current Listing Price | $65 million |
| Size | ~7,800 sq ft, duplex |
| Bedrooms | 6 |
| Bathrooms | 5 full + 3 powder rooms |
| Listed for Rent | $125,000/month (briefly) |
| Current Owner | Julia Haart (awarded 2025) |
- Featured prominently in My Unorthodox Life on Netflix
- Has a custom, Clueless-inspired walk-in closet that became iconic on the show
- Located in Tribeca, one of Manhattan’s most expensive and sought-after neighborhoods
- The property was a central point of conflict during the divorce litigation
- Courts confirmed Julia as the rightful owner as part of the 2025 divorce settlement
- The $65 million asking price makes it one of the priciest listings in New York
Conclusion
Julia Haart’s story proves that reinvention is possible at any age and under almost any circumstances. She left a community that told her who to be, taught herself an industry from scratch, climbed to the top of the global fashion world, and fought through brutal legal battles to come out the other side with her name, her assets, and her freedom intact.
By 2026, her net worth of around $100 million is backed by real assets: a landmark penthouse, a stake in Freedom Holding, her growing brand +Body by Julia, and a media profile that keeps her in the public eye. Whatever comes next, Julia Haart has already shown that starting over at 43 can lead somewhere extraordinary.