Founder of Nasty Gal: They're LYING About How to Get Rich. I Dropped Out and Made $350M!

Sophia Amoruso built a $350M fashion empire from her bedroom—and lost it all before rebuilding her life from the ground up.In this episode of The Burnouts, the original “Girlboss” and founder of Nasty Gal joins Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni for her most unfiltered conversation yet. From selling thrifted clothes on eBay to becoming a CEO on magazine covers, Sophia reveals how she built a cult brand that defined a generation—and what really happened when everything came crashing down.She opens up about walking away from a company she founded, navigating bankruptcy, and learning to lead with empathy instead of ego. Sophia also shares the untold lessons behind Girlboss, why she believes failure is her greatest teacher, and how she’s redefining success through her new venture fund, Trust Fund.Whether you’re building your first business, chasing creative independence, or trying to rebuild after a setback, this conversation is a raw, honest masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and freedom.Chapters00:00 – From eBay seller to $100M brand05:00 – Building Nasty Gal and first hires10:00 – Leaving eBay and going solo13:00 – Going viral before social media18:00 – Raising venture capital too soon24:00 – The downfall and lessons learned30:00 – How Girlboss was born35:00 – Starting over with Trust Fund40:00 – Life in London & redefining success46:00 – The truth about ambition and burnout🔗 FOLLOW USPhoebe GatesSophia KianniSophia Amoruso🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTSInstagramTikTokLinkedin📲 Support What We’re BuildingPhoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app that helps shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Try it out and join the movement.About The BurnoutsThe Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s most iconic founders, creators, and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond headlines to share the real stories, lessons, and mindset shifts that define your 20s.Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Tommy Hilfiger.🛎️ Subscribe for more unfiltered stories on success, failure, and everything in between.