Drake Gaines: Chip and Joanna's eldest son is now a college baseball outfielder
Drake Gaines is the eldest son of Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, and he is carving out his own path well away from the cameras. Now in his junior year, Drake plays outfield for the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders while studying business entrepreneurship — following both his parents' sporting instincts and their entrepreneurial DNA. How much do you know about the young athlete?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Who is Drake Gaines?
- Early life and family
- Where does Drake Gaines go to college?
- What is Drake Gaines studying?
- Drake is studying business entrepreneurship at UMHB. With Chip and Joanna's Magnolia empire as a backdrop, the subject makes obvious sense. When he's not conquering the baseball field, Drake is pursuing a degree in business entrepreneurship. Whether he plans to launch his own company after graduation or take on a position within the family business remains to be seen.
- Drake Gaines' baseball career at UMHB
- Did the baseball talent run in the family?
- Drake Gaines' height
- What is Drake Gaines doing now?
- Drake Gaines' name meaning
- Latest news: Drake Gaines in 2025–26
- How rich are the Gaines family?
- FAQs
Key takeaways
- Drake was born on 5 February 2005 and is the first of Chip and Joanna's five children.
- He attends the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in Belton, Texas.
- Drake plays outfield (#22) for the UMHB Crusaders and stands at 5 ft 10 in and 180 lb.
- He missed the 2024 season due to injury but returned to the field for 2025.
- His parents, Chip and Joanna Gaines, have a combined estimated net worth of $50 million.
Profile summary
Full name | Drake Gaines |
Date of birth | 5 February 2005 |
Age | 21 |
Birthplace | Waco, Texas, USA |
Nationality | American |
Parents | Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines |
Siblings | Ella Rose, Duke, Emmie Kay, Crew |
High school | Valour Preparatory Academy, Waco, TX |
College | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB), Belton, TX |
Major | Business entrepreneurship |
Sport | Baseball (outfield) |
Jersey number | #22 |
Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
Bats/Throws | Right/Right |
Net worth | Not publicly known |
Who is Drake Gaines?
Drake Gaines is the oldest son of reality TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. They are best known for starring in the reality TV show Fixer Upper. Drake was born on 5 February 2005.
Though his parents are public figures, they managed to keep him and his siblings' lives mostly private. Unlike celebrity children who build public brands early, Drake has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. His public profile has come through family interviews, milestone posts, and a verified college baseball roster rather than through constant media appearances.
Early life and family
Source: UGC
Born and raised in Waco, Texas, Chip and Joanna's oldest child chose to attend the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in nearby Belton. That means he's only a 45-minute drive away from the comforts of home.
His siblings' names are Ella, Duke, Emmie, and Crew. Joanna has described sending her firstborn off to university as one of the hardest moments of parenting.
In the grand scheme of heartbreaking things, this one comes with a lot of gratitude and excitement. But still, my first child is moving away, and our family dynamic will change because of it, and that can feel like a loss of its own.
Where does Drake Gaines go to college?
If his college major is any indication, Drake Gaines plans to follow in his famous parents' footsteps. According to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor website, Drake is studying business entrepreneurship.
The Magnolia Network founder's eldest son is enrolled at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where his mom helped decorate his college apartment.
Joanna shared a glimpse of that experience on the Today Show in October 2024.
I spend all this time and plan.
In 2019, Joanna Gaines shared that her eldest had always been interested in the family business. "Drake loves the production side, so in the summer he's up with the guys, and they're teaching him how to edit," she told People.
What is Drake Gaines studying?
Drake is studying business entrepreneurship at UMHB. With Chip and Joanna's Magnolia empire as a backdrop, the subject makes obvious sense. When he's not conquering the baseball field, Drake is pursuing a degree in business entrepreneurship. Whether he plans to launch his own company after graduation or take on a position within the family business remains to be seen.
Drake Gaines' baseball career at UMHB
Drake plays baseball for the Crusaders, UMHB's baseball team. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing in at 180 pounds, he plays as an outfielder, according to the school's website.
He played four years of varsity baseball at Valor Preparatory Academy before heading to UMHB. However, he missed the 2024 season due to an unspecified injury. He was back in action for the 2025 season and is likely gearing up for 2026.
In 2025, Drake made five mound appearances, gave up five hits and three earned runs, and struck out two batters.
Did the baseball talent run in the family?
Chip Gaines also once played baseball, having played on his high school team his senior year before moving on to Northlake College. However, he didn't make the Bears after transferring to Baylor University. Chip has joked about his own baseball ambitions since.
Baseball got me in the front door at Baylor. As God would have it, I was not destined to be the next great baseball player, but I was destined to enjoy Baylor University and the dear friends that I met there.
Drake Gaines' height
According to The Baseball Cube, Drake Gaines stands at 5 ft 10 in and weighs 180 lb. He bats and throws right-handed and wears jersey number 22 for the UMHB Crusaders.
What is Drake Gaines doing now?
Drake just entered his junior year at college. Beyond baseball and his studies, Joanna shared that Drake and his girlfriend enjoy making elaborate dinners together.
They have these nights where they go all out, and they cook three, four-, or five-course meals. I feel so proud of the fact that he knows how to make himself breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
He also remains a regular presence at family events. At Christmas 2024, Joanna shared a video of Drake, 19, home from college for the holidays, using stuffed animals, string, and a wrapped present to set up an Elf on the Shelf stunt for his younger brother Crew.
Drake Gaines' name meaning
In an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Chip and Joanna revealed the inspiration for their oldest child Drake's name. Joanna responded that their son Drake was named after The Drake Hotel, which is where they honeymooned and also where they stayed on their first anniversary. The couple explained that at the time it was an iconic landmark, but that it is no longer there.
Latest news: Drake Gaines in 2025–26
In August 2026, Joanna shared a rare glimpse of all five of her children on holiday in Colorado in an Instagram Reel. Drake was featured among the siblings in the footage.
Drake has settled into life at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where he earned himself a place on the college baseball team. He is front and centre on many of the team's Instagram posts, giving fans a glimpse into his passion for sport.
Chip told Today:
“With Drake, we needed to send him to college to teach him basic survival skills, like how to do laundry."
The light-hearted dig underlines that, despite his growing independence, Drake remains one of the Gaines family's most-watched and warmly discussed figures.
How rich are the Gaines family?
Drake Gaines' net worth isn’t public. His parents, however, are a different story. Chip and Joanna Gaines have an estimated collective net worth of $50 million. Multiple outlets, including Parade and Celebrity Net Worth, consistently cite this figure.
Their wealth comes from multiple revenue streams:
- Fixer Upper and its spinoffs on HGTV and Magnolia Network
- Magnolia Realty, Magnolia Homes, Hearth & Hand for Target, and several retail and restaurant businesses in Texas
- Vacation rental properties in Texas
- Multiple award-winning cookbooks and their own television network
FAQs
- Where does Drake Gaines go to college? Drake attends the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) in Belton, Texas, where he studies business entrepreneurship and plays outfield for the Crusaders baseball team.
- How old is Drake Gaines? Drake was born on 5 February 2005, making him 21 years old as of 2026.
- What position does Drake Gaines play in baseball? He plays as an outfielder and wears jersey number 22 for the UMHB Crusaders.
- Did Drake Gaines miss a baseball season? Yes. He missed the entire 2024 season due to an unspecified injury but returned to play in the 2025 season.
- What is Drake Gaines' height? Drake stands at 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) and weighs approximately 180 lb (82 kg).
- Does Drake Gaines have an Instagram? Drake has not maintained a public personal Instagram profile. His parents — Chip and Joanna — occasionally share photos of him on their own accounts.
- How rich are Chip and Joanna Gaines? Chip and Joanna Gaines have a combined estimated net worth of $50 million, built through Fixer Upper, the Magnolia empire, retail lines, and property investments.
- Why is Drake named Drake? Drake is named after the Drake Hotel in New York City, where his parents honeymooned after marrying in May 2003.
We also highlighted facts about Meg Donnelly's relationship with Drake Rodger, her co-star from The Winchesters. Their romance, which began on set, has captivated fans as they frequently support each other at high-profile events and share personal milestones together.
Source: Legit.ng
