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Craig Conover Biography — Quick Facts
Who Is Craig Conover?
Craig Conover is an American lawyer, reality television personality, and entrepreneur who has been a central figure on Bravo’s Southern Charm since its first season in 2014. Born on February 9, 1989, in Fenwick Island, Delaware, Craig comes from an exceptionally athletic family — his father was an All-American lacrosse player at Salisbury University, his brother was an All-American soccer player at Roanoke College, and his mother was a champion gymnast.
Craig himself was a promising baseball player whose career was cut short by an elbow injury. This pivot away from athletics led him to Charleston, South Carolina, where he attended the College of Charleston, graduating in 2009. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law in 2014 — the same year Southern Charm premiered on Bravo.
What makes Craig’s story compelling is the transformation documented on national television: from a law student who struggled to pass the bar exam and was fired from his position at the Akim Anastopoulo Law Firm (a prominent Charleston personal injury firm), to a successful entrepreneur who turned a hobby that his castmates initially mocked — sewing — into a thriving business empire.
Craig Conover’s Career Journey
Legal Career
Craig’s legal career has been anything but conventional. After graduating from Charleston School of Law, he worked as a law clerk at Akim Anastopoulo Law Firm, where he gained experience in personal injury litigation. His time at the firm was documented on Southern Charm, and viewers watched his struggles with the bar exam play out publicly — a vulnerable moment that humanized him to audiences.
After leaving the firm, Craig shifted focus but maintained his legal credentials. He serves as a Guardian ad Litem, a court-appointed advocate who represents the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes by social services due to abuse or neglect. This pro bono work reflects a dimension of Craig’s character that doesn’t always get media attention but speaks to his commitment to meaningful legal advocacy beyond billable hours.
Southern Charm — The Platform That Changed Everything
Southern Charm has been Craig’s primary claim to fame and a significant income source since 2014. The Bravo reality series follows the personal and professional lives of socialites in Charleston, South Carolina, and Craig has been an original cast member alongside Shep Rose, Whitney Sudler-Smith, Cameran Eubanks, Thomas Ravenel, and Kathryn Dennis.
At an estimated $25,000 per episode, Craig’s television salary has been a steady income stream. Over multiple seasons (with each season typically comprising 14–16 episodes), his total Southern Charm earnings through 2026 are estimated between $1.5 million and $2.5 million cumulatively. He has also appeared on Southern Charm: New Orleans, Winter House, and made cameos on Summer House (where his girlfriend Paige DeSorbo is a cast member).
Sewing Down South — From Joke to Business
The most remarkable chapter of Craig’s professional life is the rise of Sewing Down South. In the early seasons of Southern Charm, Craig’s interest in sewing was a source of humor and criticism from his castmates — particularly Shep Rose and Whitney Sudler-Smith. Craig was frequently teased for spending time at his sewing machine rather than pursuing traditional “masculine” career paths.
Rather than abandoning his passion, Craig leaned into it. In 2018, he launched Sewing Down South, initially focused on handcrafted decorative pillows. The brand quickly expanded to include:
- Custom and seasonal throw pillows
- Home décor accessories and linens
- Seasonal holiday collections
- Multiple retail locations in Charleston, South Carolina
- A robust e-commerce presence
The company’s success validated Craig’s entrepreneurial instincts and turned one of reality television’s most mocked hobbies into a legitimate business. Revenue figures are private, but based on comparable direct-to-consumer home goods brands with retail presence and celebrity backing, Sewing Down South likely generates $500,000 to $1.5 million in annual revenue.
Craig Conover Net Worth — Full Breakdown
Craig Conover’s Real Estate
In September 2017, Craig purchased a 2,000-square-foot home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for $460,000. Mount Pleasant is one of Charleston’s most desirable suburban communities, located across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from downtown. The area has experienced significant real estate appreciation, and Craig’s property is now valued at approximately $900,000 — nearly doubling his initial investment and generating roughly $440,000 in equity.
This single real estate investment represents one of the most significant components of Craig’s overall net worth and demonstrates the power of strategic property purchases in appreciating South Carolina Lowcountry markets.
Craig Conover’s Personal Life and Relationships
Craig’s romantic life has been a central storyline on Southern Charm. His most notable relationships include:
- Naomie Olindo (2015–2017): Fellow Southern Charm cast member. Their relationship and subsequent breakup played out over multiple seasons and was one of the show’s most discussed storylines
- Paige DeSorbo (2021–present): Star of Bravo’s Summer House, the couple began dating in 2021 after meeting through the Bravo universe. Their cross-show relationship has been featured on both Southern Charm and Summer House, as well as the spinoff Winter House
Craig Conover vs. Southern Charm Cast Net Worth
Published Author — “Pillow Talk”
In 2022, Craig published his memoir “Pillow Talk: What’s Wrong With My Sewing?”, which chronicles his journey from a struggling law school graduate and reality TV cast member to a legitimate entrepreneur. The book covers his battles with self-doubt, the criticism he faced from castmates for pursuing sewing, and how he ultimately built Sewing Down South into a successful brand. Based on comparable celebrity memoir deals, Craig likely received a book advance in the range of $100,000 to $300,000, with additional royalty income from ongoing sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Craig Conover’s estimated $1.5 million net worth tells the story of reinvention. From a law clerk who was fired, to a reality star who was mocked for sewing pillows, to an entrepreneur with multiple retail locations and a published memoir — Craig has built a diversified income portfolio that continues to grow. His trajectory on Southern Charm proves that the most unlikely passions can become the most profitable.
References & Sources
This article has been fact-checked and verified against multiple public sources, financial disclosures, SEC filings, Forbes reports, Celebrity Net Worth databases, and official records. All net worth estimates are based on publicly available information and financial analysis.
