These reality TV stars were supposed to spend almost two decades in prison. Then Donald Trump called.

Todd and Julie Chrisley were reality TV royalty in the US.

Their television show, Chrisley Knows Best, was USA Network’s "most-watched current original series" in 2022, according to NBC Universal, with an average of 1.8 million viewers.

The show followed multi-millionaire real estate developer Todd, his wife Julie, and their five children, showcasing their affluent Southern lifestyle and family dynamics across 10 successful seasons.

The Chrisleys were so popular that a spin-off show about their children, Growing Up Chrisley, had four seasons. Todd even hosted and executive produced a speed-dating series, Love Limo, though it never made it to air.

In November 2022, their reality TV empire came crashing down when the couple were sentenced to a combined 19 years behind bars for financial crimes. Todd received 12 years while Julie was sentenced to seven years, with both facing three years of supervised release afterwards.

According to the Department of Justice, the Chrisleys conspired to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million USD to fund their lavish lifestyle, using the money for "luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel," even after filing for bankruptcy.

Last week, US President Donald Trump pardoned the couple just two years into their sentence. The decision has divided public opinion.

Todd and Julie dominated US reality TV for years. Image: Getty.

From reality TV to prison.

The Chrisleys' legal troubles began in August 2019, during the seventh season of their show, when they were indicted on multiple tax evasion and bank fraud charges.

They were accused of evading nearly $2 million USD in state taxes between 2008 and 2016. While they settled with the Georgia Department of Revenue, federal charges remained.

"Both face one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, five counts of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of tax fraud. Julie Chrisley faces additional counts of wire fraud and obstruction of justice," FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

During a three-week trial in May 2022, prosecutors claimed Todd and Julie submitted fake documents exaggerating their wealth to banks to secure more than $30 million USD to fund their lifestyle, while hiding money from the IRS.

On June 7, 2022, Todd and Julie were convicted on all counts.

In an episode of their Chrisley Confessions podcast that aired that same month, Julie expressed her distress: "Everyone knows that we're living through a nightmare… I do feel like I live in fear."

They were sentenced in November 2022.

Julie and Todd with their children Savannah and Chase. Image: Getty.

The presidential pardon.

The Chrisleys' daughter, Savannah, an avid Trump supporter who spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, actively campaigned for her parents' release.

According to NBC, the couple's lawyer, Alex Little, prepared materials for the Justice Department claiming their conviction "exemplifies the weaponisation of justice against conservatives and public figures, eroding basic constitutional protections."

Both their efforts paid off. On May 27, 2025, Trump called Savannah to announce he would be pardoning both Todd and Julie.

Donald Trump granted the couple pardons. Image: Instagram/@chasechrisley.

The next day, both were released from their respective prisons — Todd from Pensacola, Florida, and Julie from the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, per Fox News.

At a press conference following their release, Todd thanked Trump and maintained his innocence.

"As bad as this experience has been, there's also been a lot of blessings to come from it," he said.

"Even though this pardon has happened, I was still convicted of something I did not do. It could be you. It could be any of you."

Todd also shared the family would be making a return to television, saying they had "much bigger story to tell now than we ever have".

Savannah Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Chase Chrisley and Lindsie Chrisley. Image: Getty.

The Chrisleys' pardon was part of a larger set of controversial pardons, including other public figures such as American rapper NBA YoungBoy and a Virginia sheriff accused of taking bribes.

Critics say it's setting a damaging precedent.

US cultural critic Brian Moylan said the Chrisleys had spun a tale of witch hunts when that was never the case.

"There's no nefarious plot here; that would be more interesting," he wrote for MSNBC.

"Law enforcement agents aren't targeting reality TV stars, they're just following the evidence. And sometimes that evidence is beamed directly into millions of homes across America."

In another piece for MSNBC, senior national security and intelligence analyst Frank Filiuzzi said Trump was allowing corruption to flourish.

"Under Trump, corruption isn't what it used to be," he wrote.

"It used to be a shameful act conducted in shadowy backrooms or darkened corner tables. When a disgraced official was caught and convicted, they often slinked off to serve their sentence in silence and humiliation.

"Now, instead of begging for forgiveness from the public, the guilty are unashamedly pleading for a pardon from the president… At least for those with money or political favor, there may ultimately be no consequences."

This article was published in November 2022 and has been updated.

Feature image: Getty.