“Completely immersed in the L.A. lifestyle for all of my childhood and teenage years,” Elisa Johnson once said in 2016—and that wasn’t just a reflection, it was a preview. The daughter of basketball icon Magic Johnson didn’t just grow up surrounded by glamor and culture—she let it shape her ambition. Inspired by the world she knew, Elisa stepped into the fashion scene with purpose. First as an influencer, then a savvy businesswoman, and ultimately as a designer, she’s built a life that aligns with her passions. Today, she’s proudly celebrating a milestone on this path she boldly ventured into.
Elisa was about 3 days old when Magic and Cookie welcomed her into their lives in late 1994. Despite being adopted, she has always felt deeply loved—“I never felt out of place growing up,” she told CR Fashion Book. Today, she’s not just Magic and Cookie’s daughter, but a confident woman charting her own course—independent of her father’s $1.5 billion empire.
On the 4-year anniversary of her eyewear brand, Elisa Johnson had more than just a milestone to celebrate—she had a surprise in store. Expanding her creative empire, the 30-year-old officially launched Elisa Johnson Jewelry, a sleek and stylish new line that carries her signature mix of bold minimalism.
Her father, Magic Johnson, couldn’t contain his pride. Taking to his Instagram Story, he shared, “I am so incredibly proud of my beautiful daughter @elisajohnson! She just launched Elisa Johnson Jewelry available now at @elisajohnson.co.” It was a proud dad moment, but also one of genuine admiration for the woman Elisa’s become—one who keeps pushing forward on her own terms.
Elisa was in high school when she first noted her love for fashion, when uniform was just that. She wanted to be different, go bold, and so there came the accessories– shoes, scarves, and jackets. It has been years since, and Johnson’s only daughter hasn’t changed. In an already vast sea of fashion possibilities, Elisa still wants to stand out.
“For the longest time, I felt like something was missing when it came to sunglasses. I’ve always been obsessed with them, but no frame ever fully captured the look or energy I wanted. That’s what led me to start creating my own,” the 30-year-old went on to explain on the 4th anniversary of her brand. “A lot of that inspiration came from New York. It was such a defining place for me creatively. Seeing where things are and where we’re going, I’m just really grateful.”
She studied fashion at FIT, interned at Coco & Breezy, and worked on the brand for three years before it debuted. And just when fans thought the celebration was about eyewear alone, Elisa offered a peek at her brand-new jewelry line—starting with elegant gold and silver hoops. True to her style, she kept the concept clean and elevated: “designed with the intention where simplicity meets statement.” A perfect reflection of who she is.
Magic Johnson’s rejection built the foundation of ‘Elisa Johnson’
When Elisa Johnson first set out to launch her eyewear line, it made perfect sense for her to turn to her father, Magic Johnson. Not just because he’s her dad, but because he’s a full-fledged business mogul. Though he only made $40 million from NBA contracts over his 13-year career, Magic built a fortune through smart investments—owning stakes in the LA Dodgers, LA Sparks, Washington Commanders, and LAFC. With that kind of empire behind him, asking for his help seemed like a no-brainer.
But Magic didn’t just hand over a check. “My dad said he would help me as long as I had an actual business plan,” Elisa said. “He wasn’t going to just help me and give me the money without actually seeing everything laid out, top to bottom.” Confident she had nailed it, Elisa brought him her first proposal—only to be turned down. “I showed him my original plan, thinking it was amazing. He actually ended up saying no because he felt like it wasn’t ready.” That moment stung, but it sparked a deeper fire in her.
Elisa went back to the drawing board, spent a year refining everything, and returned with a plan she knew was solid. “I gave him another one a year ago and he ended up saying yes.” That initial ‘no’ became a turning point.
Fast forward to now, and Elisa Johnson isn’t just a name—it’s a growing fashion force. Her brand, launched in May 2021, is described on its official site as “a collection of timeless and one-of-a-kind eyewear designed by the brand’s namesake.” The idea sparked when fans flooded her comments asking where she got her standout sunglasses. “Eyewear is one of my favorite things in fashion,” Elisa told Nylon. “I think that eyewear was just something that I always had a pull towards.” Clearly, the pull was real—and she followed it all the way to success.
Elisa might be Magic Johnson’s daughter, but she’s made her own kind of magic in the fashion world. From getting told “no” by her biggest mentor to building a brand from the ground up, her four-year milestone is more than a date—it’s proof of patience, vision, and evolution. And now, with her new jewelry line, she’s turning that legacy into a whole new chapter.
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