So, you’ve seen them. The family with the giant hair, the louder personalities, and a house that looks like a duckling-themed fever dream. You’re talking about the Chrisleys, of course. But if you ever stopped to wonder, “Wait, what exactly do these people do for a living?”—you are not alone. It’s a question that has baffled viewers since day one, like trying to figure out how a flamingo stays on one leg for that long. Spoiler alert: it’s way weirder and more lucrative than you think.
From Alabama to… Reality TV Royalty?
Before the cameras rolled, Todd and Julie Chrisley were just regular folks in South Carolina. Todd had a real estate business, but let’s be honest—that doesn’t explain the seven-figure lifestyle, the private jets, or the 20-person entourage. The real magic trick happened in 2014 with the show Chrisley Knows Best. Suddenly, Todd’s “I’m the boss” shtick and Julie’s “bless your heart” sighs became gold. They weren’t just parents; they were a brand.
Here’s the kicker: their primary job is being a reality TV family. That’s it. No factory, no 9-to-5. They wake up, yell at each other about money, and call it work. It’s like if your family reunion was filmed, edited, and sold to USA Network. And it worked. Really well. The show ran for seven seasons, spinning off into Growing Up Chrisley and even a Friends-esque podcast. Their living room became a studio, and their arguments became scripts for profit.
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The Real Estate Empire (That We All Suspected)
But reality TV money isn’t forever. That’s why Todd and Julie built a sprawling real estate portfolio. They buy, flip, and sell houses with the same intensity you use to pick a Netflix show. Except these houses cost millions. And they do it all on camera, which is basically a magic trick where you get paid twice—once for the house and once for the drama.
Here’s a surprising fact: Todd claims to have a net worth of $50 million at one point. That’s a lot of hair product. But here’s the punchline: the IRS was not impressed. In 2022, they were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. The empire they built? Turns out, some of it was built on fake bank statements and a lot of creative accounting. Imagine bragging about your money on TV while the IRS quietly sharpens its pencils. Classic.
The Chrisleys will need to give up $9M mansions to pay restitutions
The Side Hustle: Selling You the Dream
Beyond real estate, the Chrisleys have multiple side hustles. There are books, like Raising a Chattian—a parenting guide written by a man who yells at his kids for eating cake. There’s a clothing line, a skincare brand, and even a line of “Chrisley-approved” home goods. You too can wear the same oversized blazer as Todd or smell like “crisp Georgia money.” It’s aspirational, in the way that a unicorn with a Ferrari is aspirational.
Don’t forget the sex scandal lawsuits. Wait, that’s a different paragraph. But seriously, they also made money off of personal appearances. For a fee, Todd will come to your office and tell your boss they’re wrong. For a bigger fee, he’ll do it in a suit. It’s a strange economy.
What Does Todd Chrisley Do For A Living?
Do They Actually Work? A Philosophical Inquiry
No. Well, not in the way your neighbor works. Their job is being the Chrisleys. They don’t punch a clock. They don’t handle inventory. Their product is attention. Every argument, every outfit, every “I’m the daddy” rant is content. In the attention economy, Todd Chrisley is a whale. He figured out that people will watch him eat a steak if it’s edited correctly. That’s a skill, I suppose.
But here’s the twist: even that job is on pause. After the legal troubles, Todd is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence (with Julie serving 7). So the question “what do they do” now has a very different answer. They do time. The reality show is gone, the real estate is in legal limbo, and the Instagram brand is… quiet. Fame is a weird roommate; it bails as soon as the cops show up.
What does Todd Chrisley do for a living? Wikipedia, Biography, Age
So, What’s the Final Answer?
The Chrisleys made a living by being larger than life and selling that life back to you. It’s a combination of real estate, television, merchandise, and sheer audacity. They turned yelling into a salary, and dressing up into a deductible. It was a hustle so brilliant that it almost worked—until it didn’t.
Surprising fact number two: The IRS says they actually owed $17 million in taxes. They didn’t pay, and then they lied about it. So, in a weird way, their job was also “ignoring the IRS.” That’s not a career with good benefits. The lesson? If your job involves a camera crew and a diamond-encrusted duck, pay your taxes. Otherwise, your next “job” might be making license plates in a federal facility. And trust me, the wardrobe is less fun.
So next time someone asks you what the Chrisleys do, just smile and say: “They used to be professional at being themselves. Now they’re professional at being broke.” Cheers.
