Todd Chrisley reveals his ‘sole intent' in prison was to make employees miserable
In May, the reality star, 56, and his wife, Julie Chrisley, 52, were pardoned by President Donald Trump after being convicted of fraud and tax evasion in 2022.
Todd and Julie began their prison sentences in 2023 and served a little over two years before gaining their freedom.
9 Todd Chrisley opens up about prison on his daughter's podcast.
Savannah Chrisley/Youtube
Since their release, the couple has been vocal about their time behind bars, even sitting down with their daughter Savannah Chrisley on her 'Unlocked' podcast on Tuesday.
'I was surrounded by miserable human beings,' Todd reflected about his time at the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida. 'Every day, I got up and it was my sole intent to make their life even more miserable because they were there to make our lives miserable.'
9 Todd Chrisley gets candid on life behind bars.
Savannah Chrisley/Youtube
Julie agreed with her husband of 29 years, stating that the correctional officers are 'miserable human beings.'
As Todd put it, 'They are not your friends. It's us against them.'
The 'Chrisley Knows Best' alum went on to describe his mindset behind bars.
9 Todd Chrisley on the 'Unlocked' podcast.
Savannah Chrisley/Youtube
'I think for me, I was always free. In my head, I was still free,' he explained. 'I did not take up residence there. I was in prison. Prison was not in me.'
Todd made the most out of his time in the facility, sharing with listeners that he 'made great friends.'
'I stayed in faith. I prayed. I read my Bible. I worked out,' the patriarch continued. 'I walked. And I wreaked havoc on anyone who was mistreating somebody else.'
9 Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley.
Instagram/@juliechrisley
One person in particular was Rick Singer, the mastermind behind the 2019 'Varsity Blues' college admissions scandal that left more than 50 coaches, parents and associates of Singer's behind bars.
The disgraced college admissions coach pleaded guilty in 2019 to racketeering, money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the federal government and obstruction of justice, and is serving out the rest of his 42-month sentence in Pensacola.
'He was talking smack, saying that he didn't wear a wire. He never told on anyone. The Feds set him up and this, that and the other,' Todd detailed.
9 Todd Chrisley speaks during a news conference on Friday, May 30, 2025.
AP
With his remarks already rubbing the former USA Network star the wrong way, months later, Singer came back and made a comment about Savannah.
'So, I walked up to him and I said, 'I'm going to say this one more time,' Todd noted. 'I'm already in prison. I will rip your head off and s–t your neck if you talk about my child again.' And I meant what I said.'
Singer said he wasn't scared of Todd, to which the entrepreneur replied, 'I don't need you to be afraid of me. Just be aware that if my daughter's name comes out of your mouth again, I will rip your head off and s–t down your neck.'
9 Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley.
Julie Chrisley /Instagram
Although Todd made the most of his days, his reality still hit him hard at times.
'I was angry at God,' he admitted during the ABC News special 'The Chrisleys: Life After Lockup' last week. 'And when I went to bed that night and the lights went out, I cried myself to sleep and I said, 'God, why are you allowing this?''
'You don't realize the things that you took for granted until you don't have it,' he shared. 'So your freedom, your ability to go to church, your ability to go out to eat, you know, to stay in your bed all day, those things are taken from you, so when you have them back, it's a blessing.'
9 Todd and Savannah Chrisley.
Getty Images
Julie, meanwhile, spoke out about what she missed the most while serving her sentence.
'My children and my husband, you know, I missed birthdays and holidays and graduations and things that I can never get back.'
The duo also reflected on coming home. When it came to Todd's first shower back in Nashville, the media personality joked to host Juju Chang that 'it was almost like your first sexual encounter.'
9 Faye Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Todd Chrisley, Savannah Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley, Julie Chrisley, Grayson Chrisley, on 'Chrisley Knows Best.'
USA Networks/Courtesy Everett Collection
As for his first meal, Todd opted for Pizza Hut, while Julie chose the fast-food chain Zaxby's.
In 2019, the two were indicted, with federal prosecutors accusing them of submitting fake documents to banks in order to garner more than $30 million in loans. They denied the allegations.
Todd was sentenced to 12 years, while Julie received a seven-year sentence.
9 Julie Chrisley and Todd Chrisley pose together.
Instagram/@juliechrisley
They had not been allowed to see or talk to one another since reporting for prison in January 2023 until their release in May.
Now, Todd and Julie are set to make their reality television comeback, with Savannah, 27, telling reporters outside her father's prison, 'We have a new show coming out on Lifetime, and it will document all of these things.'
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