Todd Chrisley, the reality TV star best known for “Chrisley Knows Best” is once again in the news. As someone who has recently come home from a rough stretch, he was just released from prison on May 28, 2025. Convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in a jury trial, Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 16 months probation. That caused his sentence to drastically decrease when former President Donald Trump pardoned him. This decision helped him get free much quicker than he expected.
Prosecutors allege that Chrisley was the mastermind behind a “fifteen-year fraud spree.” This fraud sent them to prison in November 2022, when he and spouse Julie Chrisley served their time side by side. The restitution originally ordered against the couple was $17.8 million. With those convictions, Todd Chrisley never wavered in his claims of innocence.
“I was convicted of something I did not do,” he stated during a news conference held on May 30 in Nashville, Tennessee. He appeared alongside his daughter Savannah Chrisley and his lawyer to thank God for saving him. He expressed appreciation to everyone who’s supported him during this horrible ordeal.
Shortly after being released, Chrisley took to Instagram to reflect on the transition back home. “I woke up the first morning and I was looking around. I’m like, ‘This is really real. I’m home,’” he remarked, reflecting on the emotional weight of his newfound freedom.
The reality star has five children—Chase, Savannah, Grayson, Chloe, and Kyle Chrisley—two of whom he had with his first wife. As a stepparent to Chloe, Todd Chrisley continues to uphold family values while navigating the aftermath of his legal battles.
After his release, Savannah and Todd are excited to use this experience to push for criminal justice reform. They’re determined to use that platform to effect real change. Savannah understood that there were complexities to her parents’ convictions. She said, “At the end of the day, I’m going to sit and say as his daughter, I believe in law and order. If I think that my parents did what they’re accused of doing—then hell yes, there are consequences. We assure you that their actions will not escape our attention. She expressed her belief that the sentence was disproportionate: “Do I think the consequence should have been 12 years? No, I do not. Even if that were true, that’s not a fair sentence. I know in my heart of hearts that it is not the case.”
Todd Chrisley’s scheduled release could coincide almost perfectly with the start of his new reality television program. Later this year, he and his family will bring the show to air on Lifetime. The series will follow their journeys to reconstruct their lives after serving time, as they participate in meaningful conversations about the need for justice reform.
“I want to thank every person that has prayed for us, that has stayed in the fight, and that fought for the truth to come out,” Todd Chrisley said, acknowledging the support he received during his legal struggles.
In response to their experiences, Todd Chrisley has made it his mission to destigmatize incarceration. “I understand the shame that’s around [incarceration], but I refuse to feed into that because shame is like a cancer that just spreads, and I have no shame,” he emphasized.
Todd and Savannah Chrisley are certainly looking to put this chapter of their lives behind them. Their goal is to regain their stake in the entertainment industry as they continue to cast a spotlight on the issues within justice reform and resonate with others who endure the same hardships.
