The truth about Joanna and Chip Gaines’ relationship, fame, fortune, & controversy
Joanna and Chip Gaines are an American couple popularly recognised for their hit HGTV show Fixer Upper, where they transform outdated homes into luxurious places. The couple married in 2003 and share five children, and a successful business empire.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Joanna and Chip Gaines’ relationship
- 2001: Chip and Joanna's first meeting
- 2002: Joanna and Chip got engaged
- 2003: The couple tied the knot
- 2005: The couple welcomed their first son
- 2006-2010: Chip and Joanna's family expands
- May 2013: Chip and Joanna appear in Fixer Upper
- September 2017: Chip and Joanna announce the end of Fixer Upper
- June 2018: Chip and Joanna welcome their 5th baby
- 2025: Chip and Joanna receive backlash from fans
- From Waco to worldwide: The rise of Joanna & Chip Gaines
- The real estate roots of the Magnolia brand
- What are Chip and Joanna Gaines' current net worths?
- FAQs
Key takeaways
- Chip and Joanna first met in 2001 at an automotive shop in Waco, Texas.
- They engaged in 2002 and married in 2003 in Waco, Texas
- They own Magnolia, a brand encompassing various businesses, including Magnolia Market, Magnolia Realty, and Magnolia Network.
- Chip and Joanna welcomed their first child, Drake Gaines, in February 2005.
- They have five children.
Profile summary
| Full name | Joanna Lee Stevens Gaines | Chip Carter Gaines |
| Date of birth | 19 April 1978 | 14 November 1974 |
| Age (as of August 2025) | 47 | 50 |
| Zodiac sign | Aries | Scorpio |
| Place of birth | Wichita, Kansas, USA | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Current residence | Waco, Texas | Waco, Texas |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed | White |
| Sexuality | Straight | Straight |
| Height | 5'7" (170 cm) | 5′ 10″ (178 cm) |
| Weight | - | 132 lbs (60 kg) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown | Brown |
| Father | Jerry Stevens | Bob Gaines |
| Mother | Nan Stevens | Gayle Gaines |
| Siblings | Teresa Ann Criswell, Mary Kay "Mikey" McCall | Shannon Gaines |
| Marital status | Married (since 2003) | Married (since 2003) |
| Children | 5 (Drake, Ella, Duke, Emmie, Crew) | 5 (Drake, Ella, Duke, Emmie, Crew) |
| Profession | Interior decorator, TV personality, author | Entrepreneur, TV personality, contractor, author |
| Social media | Instagram, Facebook | Instagram, X (Twitter) |
Joanna and Chip Gaines’ relationship
After knowing each other for years, Joanna and Chip married in 2003. Here is a breakdown of Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines' relationship timeline, from when they met to now.
2001: Chip and Joanna's first meeting
Source: Getty Images
Chip and Joanna met in 2001 in the waiting room of Joanna's father's automotive shop in Waco, Texas, United States. They sat outside the auto shop and chatted for half an hour. The following day, Chip called Joanna and asked her out on a date, and she agreed to go on a date with him.
According to an excerpt from their memoir, The Magnolia Story, Chip was reportedly over an hour late to pick Joanna up for their date. Joanna wrote,
He didn't apologise for being late, either. He had so much confidence. I don't know. I can't explain it. Only Chip could be an hour and a half late and have no one mad about it," Joanna wrote.
2002: Joanna and Chip got engaged
The couple got engaged in December 2002 after dating for a year. Chip had pretended to be taking her to a concert outside of Waco, but instead drove her to a shopping mall in his parents' hometown, where he proposed to Joanna without a ring.
He later took her to design her own engagement ring at a jewellery store run by Billy Holder, his dad's friend.
2003: The couple tied the knot
Source: Getty Images
The Fixer Upper couple married on 31 May 2003, in the Earle-Harrison House in Waco, Texas. Joanna wore a strapless white gown and a delicate tiara. The same year, they bought a white 800-square-foot home, where they lived after their honeymoon.
2005: The couple welcomed their first son
The celebrity couple had their first child, son Drake Gaines, in February 2005.
2006-2010: Chip and Joanna's family expands
Joanna and Chip welcomed their first daughter, Ella Rose, in 2006. In 2008, they had another son, Duke and a daughter, Emmie Kay, in 2010.
May 2013: Chip and Joanna appear in Fixer Upper
The couple appeared in the first episode of Fixer Upper, an American reality TV series about home design and renovation that aired on HGTV. While the HGTV show was based in Texas, it had a huge global following.
September 2017: Chip and Joanna announce the end of Fixer Upper
Source: Getty Images
Chip and Joanna announce the end of Fixer Upper. Chip and Joanna Gaines' devastating announcement to end their hit show Fixer Upper after five successful seasons left their fans heartbroken.
June 2018: Chip and Joanna welcome their 5th baby
The lastborn was born on 21 June 2018, two months after the couple's exit from the TV show. While they have joked about adding another child, Crew seems their lastborn.
2025: Chip and Joanna receive backlash from fans
Chip and Joanna fans are unhappy with the couple’s new reality series called Back To The Frontier. The new show follows several families as they ditch technology and 21st-century comforts for life on the frontier.
Chip & Joanna Gaines' fans demand cancellation of the new show, which features a gay couple as part of the cast. Christian groups and some fans are expressing disappointment with the show, which they believe is opposed to religious values.
From Waco to worldwide: The rise of Joanna & Chip Gaines
Source: Getty Images
From 23 May 2013 to 3 April 2018, Chip Gaines and Joanna appeared on Fixer Upper. The show showcased their journey in rebuilding and renovating simple homes into luxurious places. While the HGTV show was based in Texas, it had a huge following across the world.
Besides attracting a lot of viewership, Fixer Upper was nominated for different awards. Additionally, getting four nominations in different awards, the famous couple used their brand to pursue other dreams. For example, after the show, they opened a hotel in Texas.
However, they have received a lot of criticism. Chip and Joanna have been accused of insincerity. One of their show's biggest critics was noted, disclosing (to his fans) that the show was not purely a reality show.
Besides not disclosing details about the show to his fans, Fixer Upper unhappy clients have also pointed out that the show could proceed with renovations until they come up with a budget. Such details are not available to millions of homeowners interested in being featured on the show.
The real estate roots of the Magnolia brand
After his wedding, Chip Gaines and his wife bought a home. Since the house was not to their liking, they renovated it. In the process of customising and improving their new home, they fell in love with the process and results.
They renovated their friends' houses for a fee. Later, the couple registered their first company, Magnolia Villas. The company currently has many services, including real estate services, designing, and residential subdivision. When he is not shooting, Chip is working on the company's projects.
However, before Fixer Upper became one of the most successful TV shows, Chip Gaines bought out his business associates. According to his former associates, the TV star did not disclose to them that Magnolia Realty was planning to start a show on HGTV. While he has counter-sued his former business partners, the case has dented his reputation.
What are Chip and Joanna Gaines' current net worths?
According to Celebrity Net Worth and Cosmopolitan, Chip and Joan allegedly have a collective net worth of $50 million. Apart from their other ventures, such as hotels in Texas, Chip and Joanna have a family farmhouse.
FAQs
- Who was Chip Gaines's first wife? The reality TV star has only been married once to Joanna Gaines.
- Are Chip and Joanna Gaines as nice as they seem they are on TV? It is hard to know what they are like off-camera. However, some who have interacted with them describe them as being kind, while some are unhappy with them.
- Why do fans like Chip and Joanna Gaines? What's the appeal? Fans love them for their modern farmhouse design style and their family-friendly vibe.
- Does Chip Gaines have cancer? He has no cancer. Rumours about him having cancer started circulating in 2019 when he started a campaign to raise $500,000 for cancer patients.
- Why do people dislike Chip and Joanna Gaines? Some people have expressed their disappointment with the couple after their new show featured a gay couple as part of the cast.
- Do Chip and Joanna Gaines have kids? They have five kids: Drake, Ella Rose, Duke, Emmie Kay, and Crew.
Joanna and Chip Gaines have been married for over two decades and have five children. The couple rose to fame after the 2013 premiere of their HGTV show, Fixer Upper. They, however, faced backlash from Christian groups for featuring a same-sex couple in their show Back To The Frontier.
Yen.com.gh published an article about Sophia Di Martino and Will Sharpe's relationship. Since meeting in 2009, the two have kept their personal life largely private. Though they occasionally mention each other in interviews, most details about their love life remain under wraps.
The couple has teamed up on projects like The Electrical Life of Louis Wain and Flowers. Their creative synergy continues to spark curiosity, leaving fans eager to learn more. Discover more details about their relationship.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Ryan Mutuku Ryan Mutuku is a writer with over 3 years of working in digital media. He is an alumnus of the Faculty of Media and Communications at Multimedia University. Ryan focuses on the Facts and Life Hacks section from 2017. When he is not writing, Ryan is a volunteer who participates regularly in community outreach events. Email: Ryanellismutuku@gmail.com
Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com
