All About Chip and Joanna Gaines' 5 Kids (2024)

Chip and Joanna Gaines might be best known for renovating homes on TV, but to their five kids, they're just Mom and Dad.

The couple got married on May 31, 2003, in their hometown of Waco, Texas, and have gone on to build a successful home renovation business. The Fixer Upper stars have since welcomed five children as well: Drake, 19, Ella, 17, Duke, 16, Emmie, 14, and Crew, 6.

The father of five has said he and his wife have been able to juggle their business and parenting responsibilities by finding the balance between enforcing rules and giving their kids some leeway.

"I grew up in an environment that was pretty much 'back by dark' — [my parents] didn't generally know what we were doing, and it was all good, clean fun," Chip told PEOPLE in 2018. "So I thought, 'Oh, I'm gonna be a wild parent.' "

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He continued, "When I got to be a parent, I don't know what it is about it … I feel a little bit like a drill sergeant sometimes. Some elements of my personality, as a parent, I'm not real crazy about."

But no matter how much success the Gaines family might experience with their Magnolia empire, they always try to ensure their kids have a "normal" upbringing.

"They're so young and we want to give them the chance to have a normal childhood," Joanna shared with PEOPLE. "When we wake up in the morning, I think we're normal. But then you go to Target and it's definitely different. We're both in awe."

The couple are also trying to "instill kindness" in their children. "Every day we try to teach our own kids to be kind to themselves, to each other, to neighbors and especially to those who look like they are alone," Joanna told PEOPLE in November 2019.

Here's everything to know about Chip and Joanna Gaines' five children.

Drake Gaines, 19

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Chip and Joanna first became parents when they welcomed their son Drake on Feb. 5, 2005. Drake was named after the Drake Hotel in New York City, where the couple went on their honeymoon.

Drake, who has taken an interest in baseball and watersports, appears to have a good sense of humor, often joking around with his dad. Fans got a peek into their father-son relationship during Fixer Upper's final season when Drake made a brief appearance on the show.

"Did you think when you were on the mound, 'I wish I was as handsome as my dad?' " Chip asked Drake after watching his baseball game.

"Uh, no, because it's already true," Drake quipped.

As Drake has grown up, Chip and Joanna have had to adjust to big life changes — like helping their eldest get his driver's license. "I was so excited leading up to it, and Jo was too, kind of," Chip shared with PEOPLE in 2021.

However, the excitement for Joanna was short-lived: "Then we get this kid his license, and the first morning he goes to drive, Jo bawls her eyes out. She was just devastated and wanted no part. She wants to hire him a chauffeur!"

In August 2022, Joanna reflected on sending her son off to college in an essay for Magnolia Journal. "Soon, our oldest son, Drake, will be leaving home for college," she wrote. "In the grand scheme of heartbreaking things, this one comes with a lot of gratitude and excitement … But still, my first child is moving away, and our family dynamic will change because of it, and that can feel like a loss of its own."

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Joanna marked Drake's high school graduation in May 2023 with an Instagram video showing pictures from her oldest's childhood.

“It feels like just yesterday that we were cheering him on as he took his first steps," Joanna wrote in the caption, "but last weekend, as he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma (!!) we were cheering him on as he took his first steps into a world beyond what he’s known."

Ella Gaines, 17

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Chip and Joanna welcomed their first daughter, Ella Rose, on Oct. 20, 2006.

In 2019, when Ella was 13, Joanna shared that her daughter takes after her. "Ella is like me," she told PEOPLE. "I think she'll follow in my footsteps and have her hand in a lot of things. Right now she wants to cook, be a lead designer and have a donut truck."

Ella has already forayed into the food industry, running a bakery from the family's kitchen. "Her new summer business is selling baked goods at the office when she goes to work with me," Joanna wrote on Instagram in 2018. "Tonight we stayed up late and she made Aunt Opal's banana pudding and the chocolate chip cookies from my cookbook."

The now-teenager also appears to have a green thumb. During an episode of Fixer Upper, Ella and her younger sister Emmie helped Joanna tend their backyard rose garden.

"I love teaching the girls about what all goes into gardening, but I would say my favorite part about it is just getting to spend some time with them," Joanna said on the episode.

In October 2022, Ella turned 16 years old and got her driver's license. The proud mom was emotional about the milestone birthday, writing alongside a video of their house decorated for the occasion, "My sweet girl turns 16. I'm trying my darnedest not to cry like a big fat mama baby when she drives off by herself tomorrow 🥹."

Duke Gaines, 16

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The Fixer Upper stars welcomed their second son, Duke, on May 23, 2008.

Duke takes after big brother Drake and their dad with his good sense of humor. In season 5 of Fixer Upper, Duke, Chip and Tim Tebow were working on a wheelchair-accessible home when Duke decided to scour for scrap metal. He later turned in the metal for cash and went on a shopping spree.

"Duke and I went to work a couple of weeks back, we salvaged a bunch of metal and we kept some of that money on the side so that we could bless the Copp family," Chip shared on the episode. "And sweet Duke decided he wanted to buy just some necessities."

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Duke wanted to give a tricycle and baseball cards to the family, but his dad got distracted by various items in the store. "Shopping with my dad is kind of impossible," Duke said.

"Why is it impossible to shop with me?" Chip asked.

"Because you look at everything and you're like 'Ooh we should buy this,' " Duke joked.

His sense of humor was on display again in October 2022 when he wore a giant inflatable minion costume from Despicable Me for Halloween. Joanna shared a photo of Duke posing with a group of friends wearing simple costumes, captioned, "Duke did not get the memo 😂. She also included a video of Duke hilariously trying to fit through a doorway.

Emmie Gaines, 14

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Chip and Joanna's second daughter, Emmie Kay, was born on Jan. 5, 2010.

Like her older sister, Emmie has begun a food business of her own. She and her brother Duke sell produce and eggs door-to-door and have even asked their parents for a farm truck for the business.

"We printed labels for them, and once a week they go out and sell," Joanna told PEOPLE in 2019. "They're just like Chip: They don't take no for an answer!"

And with her big sister, Emmie is in charge of caring for the chickens on their family farm, something dad Chip is "really proud" of.

"We've got some baby chickens that Ella and Emmie are responsible for growing up to mature chickens," he said on an episode of Fixer Upper. "Those chickens were all hatched, they were being taken care of accordingly. Those girls were personally responsible for those things."

Emmie likes to bake as well, and she's even created her own cookie recipe. "She was determined to make up her own cookie recipe and I left the kitchen so she could surprise me (and so i wouldn't micromanage her work in the kitchen😅). Let's just say this was one of my favorite cookies I've ever tasted!" Joanna wrote on Instagram in November 2019. "I also love what she named them in her little cookbook, 'Emmie Kay's chocolate chip kisses cookie' ❤️."

Crew, 6

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Chip and Joanna's fifth child, son Crew, arrived on June 21, 2018.

Chip announced his son's arrival on Twitter, secretly including the baby's moniker before sharing it publicly. "The Gaines crew is now 1 stronger!" he wrote. "10 beautiful toes and 10 beautiful fingers all accounted for, and big momma is doing great!" Crew's name is a break with tradition, as his older brothers both have names starting with "D."

Despite the age gap, Crew and his older siblings are very close. "I think it's sweet because they're older now, and I can see them wanting to be a part of this," Joanna told PEOPLE shortly after Crew's birth. "We're all rallying around this baby, which I feel is a sweet gift to our family."

Crew's energy has also given Joanna a new perspective on life. "I feel younger than ever because I now see the world like Crew sees it," she told PEOPLE in 2020. "I'm very thankful."

She continued, "When Crew is in the car with me, it's always, 'I see a sun, I see a tractor, I see a boat.' He's finding the simplest things, and in his mind it's an amazing discovery, but to us it's just stuff. When you look at things through the eyes of your children, it brings you back to that place of awe and wonder."

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Crew has been following in his parent's footsteps since he was an infant. He has accompanied Chip and Joanna to work and has served as his mom's sous chef in the kitchen.

"He's my little sidekick," Joanna said of Crew when he was just 9 months old. "He comes to work with me every day and goes to all my meetings."

She added, "I always tell Chip, 'This boy is going to be able to run the company by age 5!' "

When he's not helping out with the family business, Crew is indulging his creative imagination. In October 2022, Joanna shared a video of the mother-son duo enjoying outdoor adventures together on Instagram.

"He woke up this morning and said he wanted to be a 'tire man' and then he changed his mind and wanted to be a butterfly catcher and that turned into becoming a fire maker," Joanna wrote alongside the video. "This little guy makes life fun ✨."

All About Chip and Joanna Gaines' 5 Kids (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Chip and Joanna Gaines' oldest son? ›

Drake Gaines, now 18, is the oldest son of reality TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. He's now all grown, and recently he left home for Baylor University. In addition, he has developed an interest in baseball and water sports. Tuko.co.ke has shared an article about the best reality shows on DSTV that you should watch.

How many biological children does Joanna Gaines have? ›

In 2001, Chip Gaines, who had overlapped with Joanna at Baylor in 1998 but never met her, encountered her while she was working at her father's tire shop and recognized her from the commercials. The two began dating, and in 2003, they were married in Waco. They have five children: Drake, Ella, Duke, Emmie, and Crew.

Why did Chip and Joanna son move out? ›

She was just devastated and wanted no part. She wants to hire him a chauffeur!" In August 2022, Joanna reflected on sending her son off to college in an essay for Magnolia Journal. "Soon, our oldest son, Drake, will be leaving home for college," she wrote.

Where does Drake Gaines go to school? ›

Joanna Gaines gave her eldest child Drake Gaines a hug before sending him off to study business entrepreneurship at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX - which is located only 44 miles South of their Waco, TX hometown.

What religion are Chip and Joanna? ›

They said they were Christian and seemed to be conservative in their views, but one of the first cracks we noticed was that they did not make their faith a primary focus. It was rarely talked about and hard for you to research.

Did Chip and Joanna sell the castle? ›

The Gaineses Decided Not to Sell

This decision is made with much enthusiasm and anticipation as the beloved Castle's story continues with Magnolia.” As of today, nearly a year later, Chip and Joanna Gaines still own the castle.

Are Chip and Joanna Gaines billionaires? ›

The Gaines' have an estimated net worth of $50 million collectively.

Did anyone not like their house on Fixer Upper? ›

Over the past four years, Chip and Joanna Gaines have helped people in Waco, Texas, flip and design their dream homes. But Ken and Kelly Downs say that living in their "Fixer Upper" home has been more like a nightmare.

Do Chip and Joanna really get along? ›

Joanna Gaines reveals how she and Chip have made their 20-year marriage work. The couple tied the knot in 2003 and share five children, as well as a successful business empire. Joanna and Chip Gaines continue to raise the bar when it comes to their thriving Magnolia home design empire and their relationship.

Are Chip and Joanna really happy? ›

Chip and Joanna Gaines are entering a new phase of their relationship — and loving it. "I would say, as we're getting older, I'm shifting and I'm more like Chip, and Chip is more like me," says Joanna of her husband of 20 years in this week's PEOPLE cover story. "Jo and I are in this beautiful moment.

Does Joanna Gaines have any degrees? ›

The beloved Fixer Upper star earned her bachelor's degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, back in 2001. While one might assume that her degree was in design, Joanna actually obtained a degree in communications. Her lack of formal design education did not stop her from becoming a renowned design expert.

Did Chip Gaines finish college? ›

He graduated from Baylor in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. In 2001, Gaines met and began dating Joanna Stevens; they would later marry in 2003. The couple currently have five children and live in Waco, Texas.

Where do Gaines live now? ›

Chip and Joanna Gaines live in a farmhouse in Waco, Texas.

Today, the Gaineses still live in Waco on a farmhouse they bought in 2012, as Country Living reported. Chip and Jo keep their home largely private, though they share peeks of it on their shows and social media.

Where do Chip and Jo's son go to college? ›

Joanna revealed that Drake is attending Baylor University. Though the couple hasn't told what Drake Gaines is majoring in, Joanna did open up about her son's emotional milestone. According to Jo's essay for Magnolia Journal, her eldest son, Drake, moving away was heartbreaking but came with excitement and gratitude.

Did anyone not like their fixer upper house? ›

Unfortunately, amidst these modern farmhouse trends, some of the Gaines' creations may not have lived up to the original owners' expectations. Several of their fixer-uppers have gone unwanted, whether it's the location, undesirable aesthetics, or a rushed job that felt unfinished.

Where does Drake Gaines play baseball? ›

Drake Gaines - Baseball - University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Athletics.

When did Joanna Gaines have her 5th child? ›

The "Fixer Upper" star and her hubby, Chip Gaines, welcomed their fifth child, Crew, on June 21, and now she's getting candid about her surprise baby boy in an emotional essay in the fall edition of The Magnolia Journal.

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