Trump Pardons Reality Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Who Lived Lavishly Off $30 Million in Fraudulent Loans

Todd and Julie Chrisley, the husband-and-wife duo who built a reality TV empire around their extravagant Southern lifestyle, are once again in the spotlight. Earlier today, President Donald Trump announced plans to pardon the couple, who were convicted in 2022 of defrauding banks out of more than $30 million through falsified loan applications and evading taxes while publicly flaunting their wealth on USA Network's "Chrisley Knows Best." Trump, in a call with their daughter Savannah, said he hoped the couple would be "free and clean" by tomorrow.

The news has instantly reignited interest in one of the more brazen fraud cases in recent celebrity history. For years, the Chrisleys portrayed themselves as the picture of Southern success: designer clothes, private jets, luxury cars, sprawling homes, and a family-centric brand that masked a house of cards. Behind the scenes, federal prosecutors said the couple lived far beyond their means, using bogus documents to secure massive loans and then hiding income to avoid paying taxes.

Their convictions sent Todd to federal prison for 12 years and Julie for 7, along with a $17.8 million restitution order. Now, with Trump's intervention, that chapter may be closing. But the saga of how the Chrisleys rose, fell, and were suddenly redeemed by a presidential pardon is far from over.

Who Are the Chrisleys?

Before their reality TV fame, Todd Chrisley made a name for himself in Georgia real estate through a company called Chrisley Asset Management, which claimed to specialize in foreclosed properties. He cultivated an image of immense wealth and sharp business acumen. Julie Chrisley, often portrayed as the softer counterpart, was cast as the supportive wife and mother helping run the household and business ventures.

Their lives changed in 2014 when "Chrisley Knows Best" premiered on USA Network. The show followed Todd, Julie, and their children as they navigated family life in a lavish Southern setting, with Todd's over-the-top personality driving much of the drama and humor. The series was a surprise hit, spawning multiple spin-offs and a devoted fanbase. The Chrisleys became known for their witty banter, extravagant lifestyle, and seemingly close-knit family dynamics.

But the wealth viewers saw on screen did not reflect financial stability behind the scenes.

The Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors alleged that beginning around 2006, the Chrisleys conspired with a former business partner to submit fake documents to banks in order to obtain more than $30 million in fraudulent loans. The documents included inflated account balances, falsified audit reports, and bogus financial statements.

As just one example, in November 2007, Todd and Julie showed a bank a fabricated financial statement. From their indictment:

"When the bank employee requested account statements, Co-conspirator A [an employee apparently working for the Chrisleys] sent Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley a fabricated bank statement showing that Todd and Julie Chrisley had $776,509.52 on deposit at Merrill Lynch.

In response, Todd Chrisley told his co-conspirator, 'you are a f****** genious [sic]!!! Just make it show 4 mil+"

In reality, the couple did not have a Merrill Lynch bank account at that time. When they did have one a year later, it never contained more than $17,000.

Furthermore, Todd and Julie also allegedly dodged federal tax bills.

They used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included luxury vehicles, designer wardrobes, and multimillion-dollar homes. When one set of loans came due, they allegedly applied for new fraudulent loans to pay off the old ones, creating a cycle of deception.

According to the DOJ:

"The Chrisleys spent the money on luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and travel, and used new fraudulent loans to pay back old ones. After spending all the money, Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy and walked away from more than $20 million of the fraudulently obtained loans."

At the same time, prosecutors said the couple hid income from "Chrisley Knows Best" and other ventures by directing money into a corporate account under Julie's name. That account was used to fund personal spending while they failed to file or pay income taxes for several years. In 2012, Todd filed for bankruptcy and walked away from more than $20 million in debt, which prosecutors said had been fraudulently obtained in the first place.

(Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Conviction and Sentencing

After a three-week trial in federal court in Atlanta, the Chrisleys were convicted in June 2022. The jury found them guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and multiple counts of wire fraud and tax evasion. Julie was also convicted of obstruction of justice for allegedly submitting a false document to federal investigators.

In November 2022, Todd was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Julie to 7 years. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. They were sent to separate prisons, and their daughter, Savannah, took custody of her younger siblings.

At sentencing, prosecutors described Todd and Julie as such:

"The Chrisleys have built an empire based on the lie that their wealth came from dedication and hard work. The jury's unanimous verdict sets the record straight: Todd and Julie Chrisley are career swindlers who have made a living by jumping from one fraud scheme to another, lying to banks, stiffing vendors, and evading taxes at every corner."

In 2023, a federal appeals court upheld the convictions but found that the trial judge may have erred in calculating Julie's sentence. Her case was sent back to a lower court for resentencing, but her guilty verdict remained in place.

Trump's Pardon

On May 27, 2025, Trump announced that he intended to pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley, describing their treatment as unfair and overly harsh. In a call with Savannah Chrisley that was posted online by a White House aide, Trump said, "Your parents are going to be free and clean."

The Chrisleys' attorney called the pardon a correction of "a deep injustice" and argued that they were targeted for their high profile and conservative views. The pardon comes amid a broader pattern of Trump using his clemency powers to aid political allies, celebrities, and controversial figures who echo his criticisms of the justice system.

Savannah Chrisley had previously spoken about her parents' imprisonment at the 2024 Republican National Convention, claiming they were "persecuted by rogue prosecutors" and quoting a prosecutor who allegedly referred to the family as "the Trumps of the South."

Had they not been pardoned, Todd Chrisley would have remained in prison until 2034, while Julie Chrisley was scheduled for release in 2030. The presidential pardon clears their criminal convictions and ends their prison terms, but it does not erase the $17.8 million in court-ordered restitution. That financial obligation to the banks they defrauded remains in place unless separately waived, which has not been indicated. Now, with their legal records wiped clean and their freedom restored, the Chrisleys may be on the verge of rebuilding their lives. Whether that includes a return to television remains to be seen. But the story of how they lived, lost, and were rescued from prison by a former president is a reality plot twist that even their show couldn't have scripted better.