Todd Chrisley is widely known as an American businessman and reality TV personality, primarily recognized for the show Chrisley Knows Best . Despite his public image, Todd’s financial standing has taken a significant hit, currently reflecting a net worth of negative $18 million. His financial downfall is closely linked to a conviction involving tax evasion and fraud, which not only tainted his reputation but also resulted in a court-ordered restitution payment of $17 million to banks he defrauded.
Rise to Fame: Reality TV Success
Todd Chrisley gained celebrity status through the USA Network reality series Chrisley Knows Best , which chronicles the everyday life of Todd and his family. The show attracted viewers with its focus on their extravagant lifestyle and Todd’s strict parenting style. Building on this success, a spin-off called Growing Up Chrisley debuted in April 2019, spotlighting Todd’s children Chase and Savannah as they navigate life away from their family’s spotlight.
Todd Chrisley (Image via Getty)
Criminal Charges and Conviction: A Brief Overview
Todd Chrisley’s public image took a sharp downturn when he and his wife Julie, were indicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including wire fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors accused the couple of defrauding financial institutions out of $36 million by submitting false bank statements and inflated personal financial documents to secure loans. This scheme allowed them to fund a lavish lifestyle while evading millions in taxes.
In an attempt to evade debt, Todd even filed for bankruptcy, walking away from over $20 million in fraudulently obtained loans. After a lengthy six-week trial that began in May 2022, both Todd and Julie were found guilty in June 2022. In November 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with Julie receiving a seven-year sentence. Both will serve three years of probation afterward.
Prosecutors harshly criticized the couple, describing them as “career swindlers” who fabricated a public image of wealth through deceit and fraud, repeatedly cheating banks, vendors, and the IRS.
Chrisley Asset Management and Legal Issues
Central to Todd’s financial empire was Chrisley Asset Management, a company that was reportedly struggling financially for years, even as the Chrisleys maintained a highly extravagant lifestyle. This company became a focal point during their legal battles, as it was allegedly used to support the fraudulent loan applications that led to their indictment.
The 2019 Arrest: Fraud Allegations Detailed
On August 14, 2019, Todd and Julie Chrisley were arrested in Atlanta after being indicted on charges including tax evasion, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged that between 2007 and 2012, the couple used Chrisley Asset Management to seek $36 million in bank loans, providing fabricated documents to inflate their net worth and secure the funds.
One striking example from the indictment revealed that in 2007, they submitted a fake bank statement showing nearly $777,000 in an account they didn’t even have. Todd reportedly instructed an associate to increase the balance to over $4 million, even though the actual account had never contained more than $17,000.
Tax Evasion and Lifestyle Contradictions
Further scrutiny uncovered that while the Chrisleys publicly portrayed financial hardship to the IRS, they were simultaneously splurging on luxury items, including expensive electronics shown during their reality TV episodes. This contradiction was a red flag for authorities investigating their tax filings.
Todd and Julie initially blamed a former trusted employee for the fraudulent activities, claiming they were unaware of the crimes. Nevertheless, the couple faced strict legal restrictions, including travel limitations and court appearance bonds.
In early 2022, the couple faced an updated indictment accusing them of hiding $2 million in unpaid taxes through a production company tied to their TV earnings. Despite pleading not guilty, the federal trial resulted in convictions and substantial prison sentences.
Todd Chrisley (Image via Getty)
Bankruptcy and Financial Disputes
Todd’s financial struggles extended into bankruptcy proceedings. In 2012, he filed for personal bankruptcy, listing assets worth just $4.2 million against debts totaling $50 million. His corporate entity, Chrisley Asset Management, also filed for bankruptcy in 2013. During these proceedings, allegations surfaced that Todd hid significant assets in his wife’s name, a claim his attorney denied.
The couple’s Atlanta mansion carried a mortgage of $12 million, and Todd faced nearly $600,000 in unpaid IRS penalties. Beyond the bankruptcy cases, Todd was ordered in April 2024 to pay over $750,000 in damages related to a social media attack on a woman.
Early Years and Personal Background
Born on April 6, 1969, in Georgia, Todd Chrisley was raised in Westminster, South Carolina. His family life, particularly his relationship with his children and his second wife Julie, who was once a beauty queen, has been a staple of his public persona. Todd and Julie have three children together, while Todd has two children from a previous marriage.
Todd is known to be a germophobe, avoiding dirt and animals, a quirky detail that contrasts with his high-profile lifestyle.
Television Fame and Public Persona
Chrisley Knows Best premiered in 2014 and quickly captured audiences fascinated by the family’s opulent lifestyle and Todd’s authoritarian approach to parenting. From enforcing strict internet controls to disabling his son Chase’s car after sneaking out, Todd’s methods often made headlines.
The show has aired over 200 episodes across nine seasons, with new episodes filmed before the trial continuing to air in 2023. Its global reach includes broadcasts in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Asia. The show’s success also spawned Growing Up Chrisley , focusing on the younger Chrisley siblings adjusting to life in Los Angeles.
Todd Chrisley (Image via Getty)
Despite showcasing designer wardrobes and luxury cars on TV, Todd’s bankruptcy filings oddly valued his clothes at a mere $650, highlighting the gap between his on-screen image and actual finances.
In 2016, Todd briefly ventured into music, releasing the country single “Infinite Love” with Sara Evans, which charted modestly. He also hosted a short-lived talk show in 2017 called According to Chrisley , where he discussed topics like marriage and parenting alongside family members and celebrity guests.
Personal Relationships and Family Life
Todd’s first marriage to Teresa Terry ended in 1996, producing two children, Lindsie and Kyle. That same year, Todd married Julie Hughes, with whom he shares three children. Julie, daughter of a Baptist minister, has also been Todd’s business partner and closest confidant.
Real Estate Investments and Moves
In 2015, the Chrisleys relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, seeking the tax advantages of the state. They purchased a home for $1.6 million and later spent $3.4 million on another property near Nashville. Amid their legal troubles in 2019, they listed the newer home for $4.7 million, likely aiming to cover restitution costs. These properties, valued collectively at around $9 million, remain significant assets amid their financial challenges.
Julie Chrisley, known primarily for her role on reality television, faces a stark financial reality. Despite fame and a prominent public presence, her net worth is currently negative $18 million. This steep debt is tied to criminal convictions involving her and her husband, Todd Chrisley, for a large-scale tax evasion and fraud scheme. Following their legal troubles, they were ordered to repay $17 million to financial institutions they deceived.
Their public image was built on the success of the reality show Chrisley Knows Best , which aired on USA Network from 2014 until 2023. The series showcased the lives of the Chrisley family, highlighting their affluent lifestyle and personal dynamics. However, the 2022 criminal conviction cast a long shadow over their reputation. Julie was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Todd received a twelve-year term.
Julie Chrisley (Image via Getty)
Roots and Early Years
Julie Chrisley was raised in Winchester, South Carolina. Her upbringing was modest, as she was the daughter of a Baptist minister who also worked as a mechanic, and her mother was a bank teller. Julie’s family lived in a trailer, embodying a simple lifestyle. She also had a brother who tragically died by suicide at 25 years old, a loss that marked her early life deeply.
The Path to Fame and Family Life
Julie’s life took a dramatic turn in the early 1990s when she entered a relationship with Todd Chrisley, a real estate broker who was then married with two children. They married in 1996, and shortly after, Julie and Todd welcomed their first child together, a son named Chase.
Todd’s personality has been described by family members as controlling, easily irritated, and germophobic. Before Julie, Todd was married to Teresa Terry, his high school sweetheart, with whom he had two children. Julie and Todd expanded their family with three children together. Todd has publicly addressed rumors about his sexuality with humor, stating, “I’m flattered that people think I can get laid on both ends,” and noting his wife’s amusement at the speculation.
While Todd was once a highly successful figure in real estate, making millions, financial troubles later surfaced. He accumulated substantial debt, at one point reportedly owing banks approximately $49 million and eventually declaring bankruptcy.
Julie is a breast cancer survivor, a journey that reshaped her outlook on life. She emphasizes the importance of cherishing the moment and not sweating the small things, values she tries to pass on to her family. Julie’s interests include cooking, which she shared with audiences on her own show, What’s Cooking with Julie Chrisley , also broadcast on USA Network.
Julie Chrisley (Image via Getty)
Reality TV Stardom and Spin-Off Ventures
Chrisley Knows Best debuted in 2014, focusing on the lives of Todd, Julie, and their children in affluent suburban Georgia. The show initially took place in Roswell and Alpharetta before relocating primarily to Nashville, Tennessee, in its fourth season. The series enjoyed success, earning a renewal for a sixth season in 2017 and receiving a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination in 2016 for Best Unstructured Reality Show.
In 2019, a spin-off titled Growing Up Chrisley premiered, centering on the couple’s children Chase and Savannah. However, the spin-off was short-lived, ending following the legal convictions of Julie and Todd.
Julie also made appearances on popular talk shows like The View , Today , Steve Harvey , The Real , FabLife , and even Hollywood Medium .
A Complex Family Dynamic
The Chrisleys are a blended family of five children. Todd’s oldest daughter, Lindsie Chrisley Campbell, is from his first marriage to Teresa Terry. Lindsie’s relationship with her father has been rocky, especially after she eloped with Will Campbell in 2012 without Todd’s approval, leading to estrangement before a 2016 reconciliation. Lindsie last appeared on the family’s reality show during its fifth season. Her attorney has stated that she has faced ongoing harassment and threats from the family, which led to her distancing herself since 2017.
Kyle Chrisley, Todd’s son with Teresa, has struggled with addiction and bipolar disorder. He appeared briefly on Chrisley Knows Best but later retreated from public life following relapses. As of 2019, Kyle announced sobriety, and his daughter Chloe occasionally appears on the show, being raised by her grandparents.
The couple’s children together include Chase Chrisley, often portrayed as involved in various get-rich-quick schemes, and Savannah Chrisley, a former beauty pageant winner and founder of a cosmetics line called SASSY, which debuted on HSN.
Todd’s mother, “Nanny” Faye Chrisley, is also a staple on the show. Known for her love of gambling and drinking, she often expresses frustration with Todd’s attempts to control her activities in the name of protection.
Legal Troubles: Arrest and Indictment
On August 14, 2019, the Chrisleys’ legal battles became public when both Todd and Julie were arrested in Atlanta. They faced multiple charges, including tax evasion, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged that between 2007 and 2012, the couple used their company, Chrisley Asset Management, to obtain bank loans by submitting false financial documents.
Julie Chrisley (Image via Getty)
The indictment outlined how the couple fabricated bank statements and inflated their net worth to secure millions in loans. For example, in November 2007, they allegedly submitted a fake Merrill Lynch bank statement showing a balance of over $776,000, even though they did not hold such an account at that time. Later, Todd encouraged his employee to increase the fictional balance to over $4 million. Actual records showed they never had more than $17,000 in that account.
The couple was also accused of evading federal taxes, with their accountant becoming a co-defendant in the case. Todd and Julie claimed the wrongdoing was orchestrated by a former trusted employee without their knowledge. They posted $100,000 in unsecured bonds and were restricted in their travel, limited to Atlanta and California only when filming.
Additional Charges and Trial Proceedings
In February 2022, new charges were added, accusing the couple of hiding $2 million in unpaid taxes related to income from their TV show through a production company called 7C’s Productions. This updated indictment included one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax fraud, along with five counts of bank fraud.
Both Julie and Todd pleaded not guilty as their federal trial began in May 2022.
Real Estate Ventures and Financial Decline
The Chrisleys have made several high-profile real estate purchases. In 2016, they paid $1.6 million for a home in Nashville, Tennessee. By June 2019, they purchased an even more expensive $3.4 million home outside Nashville. However, amid mounting legal and financial issues, they were forced to list this property for sale just two months later, initially asking for $4.7 million.
Julie Chrisley’s story is a complex blend of reality TV fame, personal struggles, and legal battles. From her modest beginnings in South Carolina to life in the public eye, her financial downfall stands in stark contrast to the image presented on Chrisley Knows Best . Convicted alongside her husband for fraudulent financial activity, Julie faces significant prison time and the burden of millions in restitution. Despite these setbacks, her family life, health struggles, and business ventures have left a lasting imprint on the public consciousness.
