Chip and Joanna Gaines: Marriage, Kids & 2026 Updates

Last updated: October 10, 2026

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Chip and Joanna Gaines are very much still together — and yes, they’re the parents of five kids ranging from a 21-year-old college student to an 8-year-old third-grader. The Fixer Upper stars have been married since 2003 and remain one of television’s most stable couples. Here’s the full story of their marriage, their family, and what they’ve been up to in 2026.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

Chip and Joanna Gaines are married — they tied the knot on May 31, 2003, in Waco, Texas, which means they celebrated 23 years together in May 2026. They share five children: Drake (21), Ella (19), Duke (18), Emmie (16), and Crew (8). There are no divorce or separation rumors of any kind; the couple continues to run their Magnolia business empire side by side, recently closing out a years-long project by selling their renovated Waco castle in 2026.

Illustration for Chip and Joanna Gaines

Who Are Chip and Joanna Gaines?

Chip Gaines is a businessman, builder, and television personality known as the hands-on, prank-loving half of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Born November 14, 1974, in New Mexico and raised in Texas, he was flipping houses and running rental properties around Waco long before television came calling. On screen he handled demolition and construction; off screen he’s a devoted father and the co-founder of the sprawling Magnolia business empire.

Joanna Gaines is an interior designer, television personality, and bestselling author whose warm modern-farmhouse style turned her into the breakout star of Fixer Upper. Born April 19, 1978, in Kansas to a Korean mother and a German-Lebanese father, she grew up in Texas and graduated from Baylor University with a degree in communications before discovering her passion for design. Beyond television, she’s the author of multiple books, the founder of the Magnolia Journal magazine, and the creative force behind one of America’s most recognizable home-decor brands.

Relationship Timeline

  • 2001: Chip spots Joanna’s photo in her father’s Firestone tire shop in Waco, asks for her number, and talks his way into a first date. It wasn’t quite love at first sight — there was a three-month gap before their second date while Chip waited out a bet with a friend.
  • 2002: After a year of dating, the couple briefly takes a week off early in the relationship to sort out their feelings. They reunite days later, more certain than ever.
  • May 31, 2003: Chip and Joanna marry at the Earle-Harrison House in Waco, Texas, moving that same year into a tiny 800-square-foot fixer-upper of their own — the home they still call their favorite.
  • 2005–2010: The family grows quickly: Drake arrives in 2005, Ella Rose in 2006, Duke in 2008, and Emmie Kay in 2010, all while the couple builds Magnolia Homes and renovates houses around Waco.
  • 2013: Fixer Upper premieres on HGTV and becomes a cultural phenomenon, turning the couple’s Waco renovations into appointment television.
  • 2015: Magnolia Market at the Silos opens in Waco, anchoring their brand with a retail and restaurant destination.
  • 2018: Their youngest son, Crew, is born on June 21; Fixer Upper ends its original run as the family steps back to focus on their business and children.
  • 2019: The couple buys the abandoned 1890 Cottonland Castle in Waco, dreaming of a long restoration.
  • 2022: Magnolia Network officially launches with Warner Bros. Discovery, and their castle renovation airs as Fixer Upper: The Castle.
  • May 2026: Chip and Joanna celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary.
  • 2026: After a failed 2023 auction and years of public tours, the couple lists Cottonland Castle at $2,699,000 in June and finds a buyer by the fall — closing a chapter that began nearly two decades earlier.

Meet the Gaines Kids

The question “chip and joanna gaines kids” brings millions of searches for a reason — fans have literally watched this family grow up on television. Here’s where each of the five stands in 2026:

  • Drake Gaines, 21 — The eldest, born February 5, 2005 (named after the Drake Hotel in New York, where his parents honeymooned). He plays college baseball at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and has even filmed some of his mom’s Instagram videos.
  • Ella Rose Gaines, 19 — Born October 20, 2006, she’s now in college herself after heading off to university, making Joanna a self-described emotional wreck during move-in seasons.
  • Duke Gaines, 18 — Born May 23, 2008, he’s the middle child and a high school senior at Valor Preparatory Academy in Waco. Joanna has shared several emotional tributes to his senior year milestones, including prom in the spring and senior night on the football field in September 2026.
  • Emmie Kay Gaines, 16 — Born January 5, 2010, she keeps a lower profile than her siblings but appears in the family’s occasional group photos.
  • Crew Gaines, 8 — Born June 21, 2018, the youngest is still in elementary school and, per Joanna’s own joking admission, the reason she once said she wanted to keep having babies to avoid ever facing an empty nest.

The Gaineses are famously protective of their children’s privacy and keep them largely out of the spotlight, sharing only occasional family moments — like a rare all-five-kids photo from their Colorado family trip in the summer of 2026 — with their followers.

Latest Updates

The biggest Gaines family headline of 2026 is real estate: the couple finally sold Cottonland Castle, the 6,176-square-foot historic Waco property they spent years restoring. Listed in June 2026 at $2,699,000 with Magnolia Realty, the furnished castle found a buyer by September 2026, according to reports — ending a saga that began when they purchased the neglected 1890 landmark in 2019.

On the family front, it’s milestone season. In September 2026, Joanna shared a rare photo of son Duke at his high school senior night, writing about the emotion of watching her middle child enter his final year. Earlier in October, she posted a homecoming video of Duke in his football uniform, captioning it about feeling “all the feels.” In August, the whole family spent time together at their Colorado mountain home — a trip Joanna said made her “mama’s heart so happy,” with fishing, family hikes, and fort-building with little Crew.

Professionally, Magnolia continues to run at full steam, and the couple celebrated their 23rd anniversary in May 2026. There’s been no sign of strain in their marriage — if anything, 2026 finds them leaning into family milestones as their household shifts toward the empty-nest years, with two children already in college and Duke’s graduation approaching. For more relationship explainers and celebrity family profiles, check out more explainers at AllAboutFacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Chip and Joanna Gaines still married?
Yes. They married on May 31, 2003, and celebrated their 23rd anniversary in May 2026. They show no signs of splitting and regularly appear together on Magnolia Network projects and family trips.

How many kids do Chip and Joanna Gaines have, and what are their ages?
Five: Drake (21), Ella (19), Duke (18), Emmie (16), and Crew (8). Drake and Ella are in college, Duke is a high school senior, Emmie is in high school, and Crew is in elementary school.

Did Chip and Joanna Gaines get divorced?
No. Despite occasional tabloid speculation over the years, the couple has never filed for divorce or separated. They continue to run their businesses together and share family milestones publicly.

What happened to the castle Chip and Joanna Gaines renovated?
After buying the abandoned 1890 Cottonland Castle in 2019, documenting the restoration in Fixer Upper: The Castle (2022), and seeing a 2023 auction fall through, the couple listed it in June 2026 for $2,699,000 and secured a buyer by September 2026.

Faizi is a content writer at AllAboutFacts (hotteamnames.com), covering vocabulary, language tips, and everyday explainers.

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