Crimes: Tax evasion, conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Sentence: 12 years
Todd Chrisley has earned a reputation as the sharp-tongued Southern dad on Chrisley Knows Best. After eight successful seasons on the USA Network, the 52-year-old has firmly established himself as a reality TV icon.
Michael Todd Chrisley, born on April 6, 1969, in Georgia, is an American reality television personality and real estate entrepreneur, best known for his role as the patriarch of the hit reality series Chrisley Knows Best. The show, which aired on the USA Network from 2014 to 2023, captured the lavish lifestyle and family dynamics of the Chrisley family, focusing particularly on Todd’s humorous yet often strict approach to parenting. His larger-than-life personality made him a central figure in the show, which became a major ratings success over its nine-season run.
Raised in Westminster, South Carolina, Todd's early career was rooted in real estate investment. He successfully managed properties and oversaw developments, building significant financial success during the early years of his professional life. His business acumen provided a foundation for the opulent lifestyle showcased on Chrisley Knows Best, where viewers were given a glimpse into the lavish home, extravagant shopping sprees, and family moments of Todd, his wife Julie, and their children.
The success of Chrisley Knows Best led to the creation of several spin-offs, including Growing Up Chrisley, which followed the lives of his children, Chase and Savannah. These spin-offs contributed to the Chrisley family's growing fame in reality television.
However, despite the show's success, legal challenges emerged for Todd and his family, leading to the eventual end of Chrisley Knows Best in 2023.
The first season of Chrisley Knows Best premiered on March 11, 2014, and it quickly became a reality television sensation. Todd Chrisley, the charismatic patriarch of the family, told OK! Magazine that he was approached by production companies because they believed his family would make for great television. "I always knew there was some crazy, but they felt like it was a show," Todd said, reflecting on how the production team created a sizzle reel that was pitched to multiple networks. Out of ten networks, nine made offers, which led Todd to realise, "Wow, the world really does have a desire for crazy."
In 2017, Todd and his wife Julie's children, Chase and Savannah, who regularly appeared on Chrisley Knows Best, landed their own spin-off show, Growing Up Chrisley. The show ran for two seasons, and its third season premiered on August 12, 2021, the same day that the ninth season of Chrisley Knows Best aired.
Beyond his television career, Todd is known for his hypochondriac tendencies, often going to extremes to avoid health risks. In a Season 8 episode titled "Lice, Lice Baby," Todd insists his granddaughter Chloe wear a plastic rain bonnet to school to protect against lice. Later, he concocts a stinky spray to protect her from lice before a sleepover, only for Chloe to complain that no one would interact with her due to the smell. In another episode, "Everlasting Todd," Todd rents a hyperbaric chamber and undergoes IV treatments in an attempt to improve his health. Julie describes his actions as taking "extreme measures," which eventually leads Todd to feel "iced out" by his family, though he always realises his extremes and resolves the tension.
Todd's talents extend beyond reality TV. In 2016, he recorded a song called "Infinite Love" with country singer Sara Evans, which even charted on the Billboard charts. His musical abilities were highlighted again in Season 8, when he joined his mother Faye and her a cappella group, Sexy Pitches.
In addition to his TV and music career, Todd has started his own production company, Todd Chrisley Productions. Todd announced the launch with excitement on Instagram, sharing, "So thrilled and excited for you all to see the fun, exciting and informative shows that I've been developing." His first project, Demarcus Family Rules, co-executive produced with Jay and Allison DeMarcus, premiered on Netflix.
Despite the fame and wealth Todd and his family have enjoyed, their financial history has been tumultuous. A self-made millionaire through real estate.
Todd's fortune took a hit in 2012 when he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, reportedly due to a failed real estate investment that left him with a $49.4 million debt. “He guaranteed a real estate development loan and it failed,” his attorney Robert Furr told People, explaining that Todd was responsible for a $30 million loss. Todd's financial troubles didn’t end there. In February 2017, he was accused of not filing state income taxes in Georgia, where the family had lived. In 2019, Todd and his wife, Julie Chrisley, were indicted on multiple federal charges, including tax evasion, wire fraud, and conspiracy. The charges stemmed from allegations that the couple had misled the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about their income, while also failing to pay millions of dollars in taxes over several years. In October 2019, the Georgia Department of Revenue settled the $2.1 million tax evasion charge against the Chrisleys for less than $150,000.
Prosecutors claimed that the Chrisleys used fraudulent documents to obtain loans and avoided paying taxes by shifting their income through a series of trusts and other financial vehicles. Todd, known for his extravagant lifestyle on television, was accused of living beyond his means by concealing income and inflating his wealth. The couple denied the allegations, asserting they had never intentionally evaded taxes, but their case garnered significant media attention due to their public personas.
The case marked a dramatic fall from grace for the family, whose television show had portrayed their life as one of luxury and success. The legal issues led to the cancellation of Chrisley Knows Best in 2023, though the couple's children, Chase and Savannah, have attempted to maintain their presence in the media.
Todd and Julie’s legal troubles serve as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of financial misconduct, even for those living in the public eye. Despite their conviction, the Chrisleys remain figures of public interest, with many still following their legal proceedings.
In 2022, after a lengthy legal battle, Todd and Julie were convicted of all charges. They were sentenced to prison, with Todd receiving a 12-year sentence and Julie sentenced to seven years. The Chrisleys were also ordered to pay restitution to the IRS, with the total amount owed estimated to be in the millions of dollars. Todd is currently housed behind bars at FPC Pensacola in Florida.
In February, 2025 according to his attorney, Jay Surgent, Todd recently revealed troubling incidents of alleged abuse by prison guards.
One such incident involved a guard removing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) sticker that Todd had placed on a chair in his cell. Surgent, who spoke with Todd on Tuesday, relayed that Todd was silent as the guard ripped off the pro-Trump sticker, fearing further retaliation. Todd's attorney asserts that other inmates have similar stickers on their chairs, but his was the only one removed. Todd believes this action, along with other alleged mistreatment, is connected to his support for former President Donald Trump. He claims his cell is being "shaken down" daily, with guards reportedly flipping over his mattress, throwing his books on the floor, and searching through his clothes. One particularly troubling incident involved a guard allegedly pouring a Pepsi on Todd’s bed.
Surgent suggests that the alleged poor treatment stems from Todd drawing attention to the conditions at FPC Pensacola, which is scheduled to be shut down later this year. In light of these experiences, Todd and his wife, Julie, who is also incarcerated for the same crimes, are hoping for a pardon from President Trump. Surgent stated, "Todd and his wife would like to be considered for pardon, but it will be up to President Trump to review their cases. Todd has faith he will be given due consideration, because he feels that he never received constitutional protections in a fair criminal justice system."
Todd's daughter, Savannah, spoke at last year's Republican National Convention (RNC), voicing her outrage over what she perceives as an unfair justice system and criticising the prosecutors involved in her parents' case.
While the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has declined to comment on Todd’s specific allegations, it did state, "We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the individuals in our custody, our employees, and the public." The BOP also assured that any allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated and, if proven true, may lead to criminal prosecution of the individuals involved.
