Joy Mangano Net Worth: The Inspiring Journey Of A Million-Dollar Inventor

Joy Mangano, a renowned American entrepreneur and inventor, has an impressive net worth of $70 million. Best known for her innovative household products, such as the Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers, Mangano’s journey from a determined single mother to a multimillionaire businesswoman is both inspiring and remarkable. Currently, she serves as the President of Ingenious Designs and frequently appears on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Her life story even inspired the 2015 biographical film “Joy,” where Jennifer Lawrence portrayed her.

Joy Mangano Net Worth	$70 Million
Date of Birth	February 1, 1956
Place of Birth	East Meadow, New York
Nationality	American
Profession	Entrepreneur, Inventor

Table of Contents

Early Life

Born on February 1, 1956, in East Meadow, New York, Joy Mangano grew up in an Italian-American household. Her passion for invention began in her teenage years. While working at an animal hospital in Huntington, Long Island, she conceived the idea for a fluorescent flea collar to protect pets. Although this early idea didn’t make it to market, it sparked her interest in product innovation. She later graduated from Pace University with a degree in business administration in 1978.

The Miracle Mop

Mangano’s breakthrough came in 1990 when, as a single mother of three, she invented the Miracle Mop. This self-wringing plastic mop, with a head made from a continuous 300-foot loop of cotton, allowed users to wring it out without getting their hands wet. Mangano invested her own savings and borrowed from family and friends to create a prototype and manufacture 1,000 units. After successfully selling the mops locally in Long Island, she took the product to QVC, a home shopping channel. Her appearance on QVC was a massive success—she sold 18,000 mops in just 20 minutes.

Mangano incorporated her business as Arma Products, which she later renamed Ingenious Designs. In 1999, she sold the company to USA Networks, the parent company of HSN. Even ten years after the Miracle Mop’s launch, it was generating $10 million in annual sales.

Expanding Her Inventive Empire

Following the success of the Miracle Mop, Mangano continued to innovate. She created Huggable Hangers, velvet no-slip hangers designed to maximize closet space. The product quickly became the best-selling item in HSN history, with over 300 million units sold, bolstered by an endorsement from Oprah Winfrey.

Mangano also developed Forever Fragrant, a line of home odor neutralizers, which included incense sticks, wickless candles, and scent stands. On January 31, 2010, she set an HSN record by selling over 180,000 Forever Fragrant units in a single day. This achievement earned her the prestigious “Good Housekeeping” Seal of Approval.

A Powerhouse on HSN

Mangano became a regular on HSN, building partnerships with celebrities like tennis star Serena Williams to promote products. She is considered the network’s most successful inventor, with annual sales exceeding $150 million. Her hourly sales often top one million dollars. After two decades of success, Mangano left HSN to pursue other ventures, though she remains a significant figure in the world of home shopping.

Joy Mangano Awards

Throughout her career, Joy Mangano has received numerous awards, including being named Long Island Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. In 2009, “Fast Company” ranked her #77 on their list of The 100 Most Creative People in Business, and in 2010, she was featured on their list of The 10 Most Creative Women in Business. In addition to her business endeavors, Mangano owns Porto Vivo, a restaurant in New York. She also published her autobiography, “Inventing Joy,” on November 7, 2017.

Cultural Impact

Joy Mangano’s life story was brought to the big screen in the 2015 film “Joy,” directed by David O. Russell. Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of Mangano earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and a Golden Globe win in the same category. The film itself was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. In 2018, it was reported that a production based on Mangano’s life was being developed by Tony-winning producer Ken Davenport, with plans to bring her story to the stage.

Personal Life

Joy Mangano married Tony Miranne, whom she met while they were both students at Pace University, in 1978. The couple had three children: Christie, Robert, and Jacqueline. They divorced in 1989, and Joy currently resides in St. James, New York.