Teresa Giudice (born May 18, 1972 in Paterson, New Jersey), who is fluent in Italian, is a child of a couple who immigrated from Italy. She earned a degree from Berkeley College in Fashion Marketing and Management, after which she worked in the fashion industry in New York as a contributor to Vogue magazine. She and her husband, Giuseppe (“Joe“) Giudice – a childhood friend and entrepreneur – live in Towaco, New Jersey and have four daughters: Gia (born in 2001), Gabriella (born in 2004), Milania (born in 2005), and Audriana (born in 2009), with whom she was pregnant during the reunion show. Teresa has launched a fashion and accessory line (TG
Fabulicious Guidette), and in May 2010, published a cookbook (Skinny Italian: Eat It and Enjoy It: Live La Bella Vita and Look Great, Too!). She is also a committee member for co-star Dina Manzo‘s charity, Project Ladybug In Season 1, Giudice debated and then underwent breast augmentation surgery, which was featured on the show. In October 2009, the notoriously lavish spender and her husband filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in October 2009, citing $11 million worth of debt. In June, 2010, lawyer John Sywilok, the Trustee appointed by the court to oversee the Chapter 7 action, filed a complaint in U.S. Bankruptcy Court that the couple should not be permitted to shelter assets that would normally liquidated, with the proceeds distributed
to their creditors. The document alleged the Giudices “made false oaths” with regard to their income, expenses, and assets, “concealed documents, records and papers” that would allow him to ascertain their true financial condition, and sought to hide their interests in several businesses, including a clothing company, pizza parlor, and laundromat (which have been featured on the show) and their earnings from such sources as Teresa’s appearances and published cookbook. Consequently, Sywilok‘s “adversary proceeding” advises that Teresa and Giuseppe’s bankruptcy protection case should not be formally discharged.In July, it was announced that the contents of Giudice’s mansion would be auctioned on August 22, 2010. The Giudices’ attorney, Jim Kridel, “said he hoped an auction wouldn’t take place”, and asserted “the couple had not mislead the court about their assets at the time of their bankruptcy filing.” Although Teresa’s rep has stated Teresa denies the auction will occur, Kridel “said that the auction is currently slated for August 22, but adds that he is appealing the decision.”
