Chip Carter Gaines (born November 14, 1974) is an American actor, producer, television personality, contractor, and author who, along with his wife Joanna Gaines, stars on the show Fixer Upper, which began airing on HGTV in 2013. By the time they filmed the pilot for Fixer Upper, the pair had already renovated 100 houses as a part of their business.[1][2]

Chip Gaines
Gaines in 2022
Born
Chip Carter Gaines

(1974-11-14) November 14, 1974 (age 50)
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, author, producer, reality star
Years active2013–present
Spouse
(m. 2003)
Children5

The Gaineses also helm the media brand Magnolia, which encompasses the Magnolia E-commerce site, the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia collection of home décor items for Target, the lifestyle magazine Magnolia Journal, the Magnolia Network television channel on which Fixer Upper and its spinoff series now air, the Magnolia Realty real estate brokerage (originally established by the pair in 2003), and the Magnolia App.[3]

Gaines is also the New York Times bestselling author of two self-help books and the co-author of the memoir The Magnolia Story with Joanna.[4]

Personal life

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Chip Gaines was born on November 14, 1974, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; at the age of eight, he moved to Colleyville, Texas.[5] He attended Grapevine High School, where as a junior and senior he played second and third base for the school's baseball team. He then attended North Lake College for a year, where he continued to play baseball; during one of his games, he was scouted by Baylor Bears baseball coach Mickey Sullivan. Gaines transferred to Baylor for his sophomore year; shortly after, Sullivan retired, and Gaines got cut from the baseball team.[6][7] He graduated from Baylor in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration.[7]

In 2001, Gaines met and began dating Joanna Stevens; they would later marry in 2003.[5] The couple currently have five children and live in Waco, Texas.[8]

Early career

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Gaines began his career in real estate by flipping houses while in his second year at Baylor. After he and Joanna married, the couple continued with his property flipping business, which later expanded to include a retail component. Before Fixer Upper, the Gaines had already established themselves as local real estate renovators in the Waco area, employing a small staff and having up to thirty different contractors.[1][9]

Fixer Upper and Magnolia brand

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The pilot of Fixer Upper aired in May 2013,[10] with the first full season beginning in April 2014.[11] Season two began in January 2015;[12][13] season three began in December 2015; and season four began in November 2016. The fifth and final season premiered on November 21, 2017.[14][15]

Fixer Upper became popular soon after its debut, and the series is largely credited with the rise in popularity of "Farmhouse-chic" interior design in the late 2010s.[16][17] In 2018, Zillow reported that homes with architectural features mentioned on the show, such as wainscoting, shiplap, clawfoot bathtubs, and barn doors, sold at an average of 30 percent above expected value.[18] In addition, the show generated an increase in tourism and economic development in Waco, where the show was taped.[19]

In 2016, Joanna and Chip Gaines started a quarterly lifestyle magazine Magnolia Journal, published by Meredith (later Dotdash Meredith).[20][21]

 
Hearth & Hand shop in Target in Santa Rosa, California

As of November 1, 2017, Joanna began selling her "Hearth & Hand with Magnolia" collection at Target Corporation stores. The collection, available in stores and online, features 300 pieces including bedding and lifestyle products.[22] In February 2019, she created an exclusive collection for Anthropologie of "globally inspired" rugs and pillows.[23]

On April 10, 2019, the Gaineses announced the launch of a "new media company." They will serve as chief creative officers and current HGTV president Allison Page will serve as president of the new joint venture, which will reportedly include a TV network and a streaming app.[24]

In November 2019, the Gaineses opened a coffee shop, Magnolia Press, in Waco, Texas. The store was in addition to two others they already had, Magnolia Table and Silos Baking Co.[25]

On April 26, 2020, the soft launch of the cable channel Magnolia Network kicked off with a four-hour presentation on the DIY Network: Magnolia Presents: A Look Back & A Look Ahead.[26] Discovery Inc. announced that Fixer Upper would be revived as a launch program for Magnolia Network—a new channel overseen by the Gaineses that replaced HGTV's sister channel DIY Network.[27]

DIY Network's rebranding as the Magnolia Network was originally going to be completed on October 4, 2020, but the date was pushed back due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.[28] On August 4, 2020, it was announced that the network was scheduled to launch in 2021, with Fixer Upper resuming production before the launch of the new network on January 5, 2022.[29] The revival, Fixer Upper: Welcome Home, premiered in January 2021 as part of the Magnolia Network soft launch on Discovery+.[30][31] 2022 saw Fixer Upper: The Castle and 2023 will see Fixer Upper: The Hotel.[32][33]

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Chip and Joanna Gaines belong to the evangelical Antioch Community Church, which has been criticized for its anti-gay views.[34] In 2016, the Gaineses were criticized after they appeared on video for a conversation with their local pastor Jimmy Seibert, of the Antioch International Movement of Churches, who had openly denounced homosexuality and gay marriage and professed his support for conversion therapy.[34]

In June 2017, the Gaineses announced that they "settled with the United States Environmental Protection Agency over allegations that they violated rules for the safe handling of lead paint during home renovations." They paid $40,000 in fines and said they would comply with such regulations going forward and that they "remain committed to raising awareness in our community and our industry."[35]

Bibliography

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Memoir

  • The Magnolia Story (with Joanna Gaines) (2016) ISBN 9780718079185

Self-help books

  • Capital Gaines (2017) ISBN 9780785216308
  • No Pain No Gaines (2021) ISBN 9780785237914

References

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  1. ^ a b Copeland, Mike (June 7, 2013). "Waco construction couple waits for word about TV series, fields inquiries from across nation". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  2. ^ Aurthur, Kate (November 29, 2016). "Chip And Joanna Gaines' Church Is Firmly Against Same-Sex Marriage". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Askinasi, Samantha Grindell, Rachel. "How Chip and Joanna Gaines turned a tiny shop and real-estate company into a Magnolia empire". Insider. Retrieved September 6, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Author". Thomas Nelson. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Brodesser-Akner, Taffy (September 21, 2016). "Are You Ready to Meet Your Fixer Uppers?". Texas Monthly. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Raised in Colleyville, Chip Gaines had dreams of baseball stardom before HGTV fame". Dallas News. November 6, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Home Makers". Baylor Magazine, Summer 2015 | Baylor University. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Weiss, Jacqueline (June 21, 2023). "All About Chip and Joanna Gaines' 5 Kids". Peoplemag. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Potts, Leanne (October 13, 2016). "The Fixer Uppers: How Chip and Joanna Gaines Remodeled Their Way Into Our Hearts and Homes". Parade.
  10. ^ Smith, J.B. (April 23, 2014). "Waco-based HGTV home-remodeling series begins". WacoTrib.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  11. ^ Smith, J.B. (February 16, 2014). "Neglected North Waco houses transformed as HGTV cameras roll". WacoTrib.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  12. ^ "Magnolia Homes: Exciting News to Share". Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  13. ^ "Fixer Upper Season Two". Magnolia Homes. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  14. ^ Savitsky, Sasha (September 26, 2017). "'Fixer Upper' ending after Season 5, Chip and Joanna Gaines announce". Fox News. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  15. ^ "Our last season - Magnolia Market". Magnolia Market. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  16. ^ Lauren, Amanda (May 15, 2018). "The 'Fixer Upper' Effect: Farmhouse Designs Dominate The Starter Home Market". Forbes. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  17. ^ Mandell, Lisa Johnson (July 9, 2018). "Joanna Gaines Reveals Easy Ways to Add 'Modern Farmhouse' Flair to Any Home". Realtor.com. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  18. ^ Matthews, Lyndsey (May 4, 2018). "These 'Fixer Upper' Features Can Make Your Home More Valuable". House Beautiful. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  19. ^ Smith, J.B. (November 21, 2017). "'Fixer Upper' effect: Waco's economy benefits from Chip and Joanna Gaines lifestyle empire". USA Today. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  20. ^ Winterfeldt, Maggie (October 11, 2016). "We Did Not See This HUGE News Coming From Chip and Joanna, but We Love It!". POPSUGAR. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "Magnolia Journal". Meredith Direct Media. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  22. ^ Morgan, Brittney (November 1, 2018). "Joanna Gaines' New Hearth & Hand Holiday Collection Will Get You So Excited For Christmas". House Beautiful. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  23. ^ Geddes, Jennifer Kelly (February 19, 2019). "6 Gorgeous Picks From Joanna Gaines' New Anthropologie Line". realtor.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  24. ^ Harnick, Chris (April 10, 2019). "Chip and Joanna Gaines' TV Comeback Revealed: Get the Scoop on Their New Network". eonline.com. E!. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  25. ^ Calderone, Ana (November 19, 2019). "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Coffee Shop Is Officially Open for Business! See Inside". People. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  26. ^ Hurtado, Alexandra (April 21, 2020). "Everything We Know about Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network–Including Why It's Delayed". Parade.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  27. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network Announces Return of Hit Series Fixer Upper, Expands Original Programming Slate" (Press release). Magnolia Network. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  28. ^ Barrientos, Selena; Corbett, Kelly; Garcia, Isabel (April 21, 2020). "Here's Everything You Need to Know About Chip and Joanna Gaines' Upcoming Magnolia TV Network". HouseBeautiful.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  29. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network Announces Return of Hit Series Fixer Upper, Expands Original Programming Slate" (Press release). Magnolia Network. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  30. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 11, 2021). "Chip & Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network To Launch Slate On App & Discovery+ First, DIY Takeover To Follow". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  31. ^ Hayes, Dade (September 28, 2021). "Chip And Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network Reveals Linear Launch Date, Rebrand Of DIY To Kick Off With 'Fixer Upper: Welcome Home'". Deadline Hollywood.
  32. ^ "Chip and Joanna Gaines' 'Fixer Upper' Castle Brings Magnolia Network its Biggest Linear Ratings Hit Since 'Welcome Home' (EXCLUSIVE)". December 2022.
  33. ^ "Magnolia Network's 'Fixer Upper' Franchise Expands with New Installment 'The Hotel' Starring Chip & Joanna Gaines; Watch Teaser". April 12, 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Fixer Upper Star Asks for "Slack" in Wake of Anti-gay Church Controversy". Vanity Fair. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  35. ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (June 7, 2018). "HGTV's Chip and Joanna Gaines Will Pay Fine Over Lead Paint Violations". The New York Times. Retrieved November 26, 2018.