Todd Chrisley’s biography, age, real estate career, legal troubles, presidential pardon, and current net worth in this 2026 profile.
Todd Chrisley became a household name as the flamboyant patriarch of Chrisley Knows Best. His story spans real estate success, reality TV stardom, a high-profile fraud conviction, and a 2025 presidential pardon. This Todd Chrisley biography covers his early life, career, legal battles, and current net worth as of 2026.
Born Michael Todd Chrisley, he built a real estate empire in Georgia before reality television turned him into a national personality. Today, he is navigating life after prison while rebuilding both his public image and his finances.
Quick Facts About Todd Chrisley
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Todd Chrisley |
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1969 |
| Age (2026) | 57 |
| Birthplace | Georgia, U.S. |
| Raised In | Westminster, South Carolina |
| Profession | Real estate entrepreneur, television personality |
| Known For | Chrisley Knows Best |
| Spouse | Julie Chrisley (m. 1996) |
| Former Spouse | Teresa Terry (divorced 1996) |
| Children | Five, including Chase, Savannah, Lindsie, Grayson, and Kyle |
| Net Worth (2026) | Estimated at -$18 million |
Early Life and Family
Todd Chrisley was born in Georgia in 1969 and raised in Westminster, South Carolina. He grew up in a household that valued a strong work ethic and traditional Southern values. Details about his parents remain limited, but he has said his upbringing shaped his ambitious, driven personality.
He attended Westminster High School but did not pursue a college degree, choosing instead to enter the workforce early. From a young age, Chrisley displayed the confidence and charm that would later define his television persona. That early independence set him on a path toward business rather than academics.
Education
Chrisley’s formal education ended after high school. He did not attend college, opting instead to pursue hands-on experience in real estate investment. This decision reflected an entrepreneurial mindset that prioritized practical business experience over traditional academic credentials.
His limited formal education did not stop him from building substantial wealth. Instead, he relied on calculated risk-taking and an eye for property opportunities to climb the economic ladder in Georgia’s real estate market.
Career
Chrisley’s career began in real estate investment and development in the Atlanta area during the early 1990s. He built a reputation managing properties and overseeing developments, eventually founding Chrisley Asset Management, a company spanning asset management and property development. His early success in real estate laid the financial foundation that later fueled his television career.
In 2014, Chrisley transitioned into entertainment with the premiere of Chrisley Knows Best on USA Network. The show chronicled his family’s opulent lifestyle and his outspoken, strict parenting style, quickly becoming a ratings success. It spawned spin-offs including Growing Up Chrisley, which followed his children Chase and Savannah, and ran for a decade before ending in 2023 amid his legal troubles.
Following his 2025 pardon, Chrisley returned to television with The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, which premiered on Lifetime in September 2025. The series follows the family navigating the aftermath of Todd and Julie’s imprisonment and their return home, giving Chrisley a platform to share his perspective on the case that upended his life.
Personal Life
Todd Chrisley was first married to Teresa Terry, with the couple divorcing in 1996. That same year, he married Julie Chrisley, who became his co-star and a central figure on Chrisley Knows Best. Together, they raised five children: Lindsie, Kyle, Chase, Grayson, and Savannah, with the latter two becoming reality TV personalities in their own right.
In 2019, Todd and Julie were indicted on charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged the couple submitted false financial documents to Georgia community banks to obtain more than $36 million in fraudulent loans, funding a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, designer clothing, and real estate. A jury convicted both in 2022, and Todd was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison while Julie received seven years.
The couple reported to prison in January 2023. After serving roughly two and a half years, they received a major turning point: on May 27, 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned both Todd and Julie, personally informing the family by phone. Their daughter Savannah, who had publicly campaigned for their release, called the pardon “the answer to countless prayers.” Following his release, Todd maintained his innocence, telling reporters he had been convicted of something he did not do.
Net Worth and Earnings
Todd Chrisley’s financial history has been a rollercoaster. Before his legal troubles, his real estate ventures and television earnings pushed his fortune to an estimated peak of around $46 million. That wealth funded the extravagant lifestyle showcased on Chrisley Knows Best.
As of 2026, Todd Chrisley’s net worth is estimated at approximately -$18 million. This figure reflects more than $17 million in court-ordered restitution owed to defrauded banks, along with unpaid taxes and years of legal costs. While his presidential pardon eliminated criminal penalties, it did not erase his financial obligations, meaning he continues rebuilding his finances even as his television career resumes.
A Story of Rise, Fall, and Reinvention
Todd Chrisley’s journey from self-made real estate investor to reality TV patriarch, convicted felon, and pardoned free man is one of the more dramatic arcs in celebrity culture. His willingness to publicly revisit his downfall through new television projects suggests he intends to control his own narrative going forward.
Whether audiences view him as a redemption story or a cautionary tale, Chrisley’s ability to remain in the spotlight through repeated reinvention remains undeniable. His next chapter will likely hinge on how well he can rebuild both his reputation and his finances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Todd Chrisley?
Todd Chrisley is an American real estate entrepreneur and television personality born on April 6, 1969, in Georgia. He is best known as the star of Chrisley Knows Best. As of 2026, he continues appearing on reality television following his 2025 presidential pardon.
Q2: What is Todd Chrisley’s net worth?
Todd Chrisley’s estimated net worth is approximately -$18 million as of 2026. This negative figure stems from more than $17 million in court-ordered restitution tied to his fraud conviction. His wealth once peaked near $46 million before his legal troubles.
Q3: Why was Todd Chrisley in prison?
Todd Chrisley was convicted in 2022 of bank fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy. He and his wife Julie were found guilty of defrauding Georgia community banks out of more than $36 million in fraudulent loans. He was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
Q4: Did Todd Chrisley receive a pardon?
Yes, President Donald Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley on May 27, 2025. The pardon came after the couple served roughly two and a half years of their sentences.
Q5: Is Todd Chrisley still married to Julie Chrisley?
Yes, Todd and Julie Chrisley remain married. They wed in 1996 and have continued their relationship through their years in prison and beyond.
Q6: How many children does Todd Chrisley have?
Todd Chrisley has five children: Lindsie, Kyle, Chase, Grayson, and Savannah. Chase and Savannah gained significant fame through the family’s reality television franchise.
Q7: What is Todd Chrisley doing now?
Todd Chrisley stars in The Chrisleys: Back to Reality, which premiered on Lifetime in September 2025. The show follows the family’s life after his and Julie’s release from prison.
