HGTV Stars Who Live Insanely Lavish Lives
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Many HGTV stars came from humble beginnings before reaching superstardom. From Waco to Pittsburgh, relatively unknown contractors, realtors, and designers were plucked from obscurity and thrust into the limelight with home improvement shows that turned them into bonafide celebrities. You've got the Gaineses, the Scotts, and the Fords — now all household names worth millions of dollars.
Joanna and Chip Gaines, for instance, went from having trouble making ends meet to essentially becoming the queen and king of Waco and quite possibly all things lifestyle following their HGTV debut on Fixer Upper. Before TV fame, Joanna Gaines told People that when they got married "the only money we had was what was in Chip's pocket." There's probably a lot more in that wallet nowadays, what with millions of social media followers, a collection of published books, a lifestyle brand, and a home decor line sold at Target. But the Gaineses aren't the only HGTV stars living the American dream. Here are some former and current HGTV hosts leading insanely lavish lives.
Flip or Flop's Tarek El Moussa is living the high life as an HGTV star
Flip or Flop star Tarek El Moussa is enjoying the charmed life that often comes with TV fame, and it's filled with plenty of private jets, yachts, and dirt-bikes. In Tarek's Flip Side, an HGTV digital series, the real estate investor shared how he likes to spend his free time when he's not working hard, and much of that time is spent on his boat. "My entire life I've always been a big kid," El Moussa said. He added, "I love having toys and just experiencing life and having fun. And I work so hard and I want to not only have experiences for myself — I want them for my kids, I want them for my family, I want them for my friends."
El Moussa shares much of his lavish life with his more than 1 million Instagram followers. He's posted fun-filled photos of his vacations, such as his trip to Hawaii that included a helicopter tour, and of a glitzy private plane excursion with his friends and fiancée Heather Rae Young on New Year's Eve in 2019. What a lavish life this HGTV star leads!
HGTV star Christina Haack wed her husband in an insanely lavish ceremony
HGTV star Christina Haack of Flip or Flop and Christina on the Coast fame may be a mom and a real estate investor, but she still makes time for life's big luxuries. In December 2018, she wed her now-former beau Ant Anstead in a surprise ceremony at their awe-worthy Newport Beach home. "Seeing the happy tears of friends and family was priceless," Haack told People following their wedding day. She walked down the aisle in a gorgeous mermaid-style dress and rocked an "emerald-cut eternity band totaling 8.5 carats."
Notably, Haack is big on travel, and she has shared glimpses of her extravagant trips on HGTV's Christina on the Coast and on Instagram — showcasing everything from a dreamy Ireland vacation that included horseback riding (via House Beautiful) to a staycation at family's home, which is fit with a pool and resort-style cabanas. Jealous anyone? Well, if you have a few spare million lying around, that home could be yours. Haack listed the house for sale in April 2021.
Need more proof of her lavish ways? Haack once bought her ex-husband a vintage Porsche for his 40th birthday.
HGTV stars Joanna and Chip Gaines live an enviable country life
Joanna and Chip Gaines raise their five growing children — and a bunch of chickens and goats — in an unconventionally lavish 1895 farmhouse they restored to its former glory, adding quite a few modern touches along the way. Their 1,700-square-foot Victorian home has 40 acres of plush land situated in Crawford, Texas, a suburb of Waco, where the Gaineses became TV's sweethearts by renovating old, dilapidated homes on HGTV's Fixer Upper (via Country Living). The Gaineses' home was featured on the show, giving fans a glimpse into their country-chic digs. In an interview with Today, Joanna Gaines described her home as a warm "hug," adding, "I just love being home."
The power couple have a combined net worth of $20 million (via Celebrity Net Worth) and run their Magnolia empire out of Waco. But sometimes the HGTV stars do venture out of their neck of the woods to help celebrity friends with housework. In 2019, for example, they linked up with Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez to transform their Malibu fixer-upper, as reported by E! News. We bow down to this country queen and king.
Property Brothers' Drew and Jonathan Scott are HGTV stars who work hard and play harder
The Scott brothers (most known for their HGTV show Property Brothers) may work hard, but they play even harder. Younger brother (by four minutes) Drew Scott wed wife Linda Phan in a lavish Italian destination wedding in 2018, and they've since spent a lot of time traveling the globe, as seen on Instagram. In 2019, Phan posted a photo of the two of them on a boat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The couple reside in a Los Angeles Tudor-style home, which they purchased for a cool $2.3 million, as reported by Variety. Meanwhile, twin Jonathan Scott is dating Hollywood actress Zooey Deschanel, and they've been spotted traveling together to places like Disneyland.
Since they became HGTV stars, the twins have amassed a combined net worth of $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Yes, you read that right — $200 million! Following the success of Property Brothers, the two added a number of spinoffs to their resume, including Brother vs. Brother, and they launched an entertainment company, among other things (via People). Despite all their projects, the two somehow manage to live like rock stars.
HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier ride around in antique cars
Erin and Ben Napier, the cute married couple behind HGTV's Home Town, are famous for turning something borrowed into something new. On-screen, the Napiers find and revamp old homes into lavish ones, with a country twist, of course, in their Laurel, Miss. town. That includes their own home — a 1925 craftsman-style cottage. But they don't stop at home improvement. The husband-and-wife duo, who've experienced massive success with their hit TV show, amassing 12.2 million viewers in their third season (via Parade), have also restored at least two priceless vintage cars, as reported by Country Living. Ben Napier drives a blue 1962 Chevy pickup, which is often seen in Home Town promo videos, and Erin drives around in a 1988 Grand Wagoneer, of which she's posted photos on her Instagram. These antique gems may not be lavish in the traditional sense, but they are for the Napiers.
"Older things are the closest things we have to time machines," Erin Napier told Parade. "When you live in an old house or drive an old car, you always feel like you're living in a time when design mattered more." And they're pretty cool-looking, too. Riding around in vintage cars is definitely one way these HGTV stars lead lavish lives.
Extreme Makeover's Jesse Tyler Ferguson leads a glamorous celebrity life as an HGTV star
Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson was already a TV celebrity when he took on the role of host for HGTV's reboot of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in early 2020. And his life happens to be just as lavish as the homes he helps make over. Ferguson shares a modern, chic New York City apartment with husband Justin Mikita, whom he wed back in 2013 in a star-studded New York ceremony (via PopSugar). "I feel very at home here," Ferguson told Architectural Digest about his NYC digs with views of the concrete jungle.
The HGTV star is certainly not shy when it comes to sharing his awe-worthy life with his more than 2.9 million Instagram followers. He's regularly posted photos of the Modern Family set, his trips to elegant destinations like Paris, and his hangouts with fellow celebs, including Dan Levy of Schitt's Creek and pop star Taylor Swift. Yeah, we're jealous.
My Lottery Dream Home host David Bromstad is one HGTV star with a bold sense of style
Fans could argue that one of the appeals of My Lottery Dream Home is HGTV star David Bromstad's fun style. While the show, which premiered in 2015, has filmed at some of the most beautiful homes ever seen, Bromstad's eclectic fashion can be just as lavish. From bold prints (like his gold lamé jacket) to themed outfits (like one Mardi Gras-inspired getup), Bromstad isn't shy to try new styles on camera. His fashion sense probably comes not only from his years in interior design, but also from his time working for Disney, as noted by PopSugar. He even has several Disney-inspired tattoos, according to his Instagram.
Bromstad, who lives in Orlando, told Star Tribune whenever he's at an airport he's sometimes stopped by fans up to 30 times in just one hour. And he's at the airport a lot, whether it's for the show or for vacation, traveling to places like Amsterdam.
HGTV star Leanne Ford of Restored by the Fords fame leads a lavish home life
Restored by the Fords star Leanne Ford has experience when it comes to dreamy homes — like her former Pittsburgh home, which she put up for sale for a whopping $1.3 million in late 2019, as People reported. Ford opened her doors to House Beautiful that year to showcase the chic, minimalist home she designed. The interior of the home features pure white walls and natural wood floors to give the home a warm feel, according to the article, as well as a kitchen fit with a marble countertop.
"I've absolutely loved working on this home, and have poured so much soul into it," Ford told People of the Pittsburgh house, which boasts four bedrooms and three bathrooms. "But I've got reno in my blood, and I'm ready to tackle the next design project."
The HGTV star's family now lives in an equally lavish pad, designed by Ford, of course, across the country in Los Angeles, as noted by Realtor.com. With a house like hers, it's a wonder how she ever leaves home.
HGTV star Alison Victoria of Windy City Rehab leads a life inspired by this European city
Windy City Rehab's Alison Victoria lives a life full of travel and Parisian flair. "Paris, in general, has inspired me in all of my designs," Victoria told House Beautiful. That includes her own 5,025-square-foot Chicago brownstone, which she remodeled from the ground up. The Parisian theme is found throughout the interior of the home fit with vintage corbels, a wooden mantel that was handmade, and black-and-white art pieces. Victoria's home also features a gym and a wine room. As if it wasn't lavish enough, the floor, though wooden in appearance, is made out of porcelain and can be heated to keep its owner warm during Chicago's winter months (via House Beautiful).
When Victoria isn't home, the HGTV star is traveling the world, flying first class to European destinations like Switzerland and Paris, of course, drinking wine at the best bars, and sunbathing in Greece.
HGTV star Jasmine Roth is a globetrotter
Just like the homes she designs, Jasmine Roth of Hidden Potential doesn't live a cookie-cutter life. One could say it's actually pretty lavish. The HGTV star has gone on dozens of faraway trips to places like Greece, although her adventure as a mom has taken priority. "We have literally checked off most of our bucket list in regards to travel," Roth told People about her and hubby Brett Roth. "I think we will always be entrepreneurs and global travelers, and I hope that will be a big part of our child's life as well."
She wed her beau in Park City, Utah back in 2013, tying the knot in a lavish country-chic affair filled with plenty of bluegrass music, whiskey, and love. "The day of the wedding was perfect! Maybe not in the conventional sense (the Maid of Honor dress was forgotten and it poured rain) but in the non-conventional sense, perfect," Roth wrote on her lifestyle blog following the nuptials, sharing images of her special day with fans. The reception centered around food with plenty of locally sourced veggie and meat options for guests. A life of travel and good food is a pretty lavish one at that.
HGTV star Orlando Soria from Unspouse My House has a stunning life
Since Unspouse My House's TV debut in 2019, the show's host Orlando Soria has made waves with his fun personality and style. The HGTV star lives in a plush Los Angeles pad and has quite the Instagram following with more than 160,000 fans. His story-length captions about love and breakups and the cute photos he posts of himself in colorful, modern rooms give glimpses into his fun, adventurous life that's filled with plenty of lavish overseas trips to places like Moscow, Berlin, and the United Kingdom.
Despite his success, Soria remains humble, sharing a selfie on Instagram with a long caption in Feb. 22, 2020. "Trying to enjoy the moment of everything that is happening right now while somehow figuring out how to bottle it all up for a rainy day in the future," he wrote, in part.
HGTV star Steve Ford of Restored by the Fords lives in a lavish urban oasis
Steve Ford of HGTV's Restored by the Fords fame now lives a pretty lavish lifestyle in Pittsburgh, Penn., but it didn't start out that way. The HGTV star's current pad, which is basically the epitome of a man cave (except for the fact that it far exceeds one small room), was originally an abandoned warehouse, as he told Pittsburgh Magazine. However, thanks to his designer sister Leanne Ford, they were able to transform it into a modern space with an industrial touch. The 1,800 square-foot loft is equipped with a workshop for Ford, a fancy shower, and even some warehouse space.
When Ford isn't home, he's enjoying the great outdoors of Pennsylvania, wakesurfing, skiing, and riding Harley Davidsons around town. The HGTV star drives none other than a vintage 1979 F-150 Ford, according to his Instagram. Always along for the ride is his pitbull pup, Yoko, who's probably enjoying the charmed life just as much.
Designer and HGTV star Hilary Farr from Love It or List It lives a lavish life with her pup
Hilary Farr is an HGTV veteran and, as such, has spent much of her time surrounded by the finer things in life. She's co-hosted the network's hit show Love It or List It alongside David Visentin for a number of seasons. The interior designer also runs her own company, Hilary Farr Designs. And while she's lived quite the lavish life filled with pretty rooms, trips to Africa, and glamorous stage plays (she played Maleficent in Ross Petty's 2016 Sleeping Beauty production), sometimes it seems, at least on Instagram, that the HGTV star's fur baby, Mimi, had it even better.
Farr regularly posted photos of her dog, which she seemingly took with her everywhere she went. There's a photo of Mimi riding in style on a train, another of a portrait of Mimi like the true queen she is, and several of the pup joining Farr on shopping trips. Sadly, Mimi passed away in November 2020, but Farr and Mimi clearly lived their best lives together.
HGTV star Scott McGillivray is rich in family and in business
Before the Property Brothers' Scott twins, there was another Scott in town, and he went by the name of Scott McGillivray, former host of HGTV's Income Property, which went off the air in 2016. Thanks to the show's success, McGillivray has had quite the lavish life since — living in his dream home, producing and starring in his own web series (Scott's House Call), and serving as CEO of McGillivray Group and McGillivray Entertainment, as reported by House Beautiful. He's also quite the social media influencer on Instagram, as most of HGTV's former and current stars are.
McGillivray, wife Sabrina, and their two children live in a dreamy Canadian home, which they renovated while simultaneously documenting the journey on HGTV's Moving the McGillivrays. The luxurious, modern home features a "beautiful master suite, expansive kitchen, a 'femme-den' for Sabrina, a playroom for the kids, and a workshop for Scott," as reported by Country Living. In a post on the HGTV star's website, McGillivray wrote that he's happy to live in his house "with the people I love the most." Sounds like a rich life to us.