Austen Kroll is best known for navigating friendships, relationships, and Charleston’s social scene on Bravo’s Southern Charm. Away from the cameras, however, he has built a career that includes a craft beer company, restaurant interests, podcasting, public appearances, and other media opportunities.
So, what is Austen Kroll’s net worth? Most published estimates place his wealth somewhere between $1 million and $5 million. A cautious estimate would put it in the lower-to-middle part of that range, although no exact figure has been independently verified.
Kroll has not released financial statements, details of his Bravo contract, business valuations, mortgage balance, or investment portfolio. Any precise number presented online should therefore be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed account of his finances.
What Is Austen Kroll’s Net Worth in 2026?
A reasonable estimate of Austen Kroll’s net worth in 2026 is approximately $1 million to $5 million. The wide range reflects the limited financial information available to the public.
Some entertainment publications have placed his wealth near $1 million, while others have reported figures as high as $5 million. Neither end of the range is supported by audited records, and celebrity wealth websites often repeat one another without explaining how they calculated their numbers.
The lower estimate may focus mainly on television income, property equity, and established business activity. The higher estimate may assign more value to his ownership interests in Trop Hop, hospitality ventures, and his long-term earning potential as a reality television personality.
His known financial picture can be summarized as follows:
| Income or asset | What is publicly known | What remains private |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Charm | Main cast member since Season 4 | Salary, bonuses, and contract terms |
| Other television appearances | Appeared on Winter House, Summer House, and Bravo specials | Payment per appearance |
| Trop Hop | Founder of the craft beer brand | Revenue, profit, debt, and ownership structure |
| By The Way | Co-founder and business partner in the Charleston restaurant and bar | Size and value of his stake |
| Podcasting | Co-hosted Pillows and Beer with Craig Conover | Advertising and touring income |
| Charleston property | Purchased a downtown home in 2021 | Mortgage balance and current equity |
These activities show that Kroll has several potential sources of income. They do not, however, prove that he is worth a particular amount.
His Career Before Southern Charm
Kroll graduated from the University of Alabama and spent time travelling before establishing himself in Charleston. His early professional experience was closely connected to the craft beer industry.
He worked at Palmetto Brewing Company and later became a territory sales manager for Red Hare Brewing Company. These were important roles because they gave him practical experience in production, sales, distribution, retailer relationships, and the competitive craft beverage market.
That background separates his beer venture from a typical celebrity licensing arrangement. He had worked in the industry before launching a product carrying his name and public image.
Kroll joined Southern Charm in 2017, when the show entered its fourth season. He was initially introduced as part of Shep Rose and Craig Conover’s social circle, but soon developed storylines of his own. His relationships and business ambitions gradually made him one of the program’s regular personalities.
Television Is Likely His Most Dependable Income Source
Reality television has probably provided Kroll with his most consistent high-profile earnings. He has remained a central cast member of Southern Charm for multiple seasons, giving him a much longer run than many reality personalities achieve.
A long-serving cast member will generally have more negotiating power than a newcomer. Compensation may also include reunion episodes, promotional work, network appearances, and obligations connected to filming. Nevertheless, Bravo has not disclosed Kroll’s contract.
A figure of $25,000 per episode is frequently repeated online. It may be plausible for an established cast member, but it has never been publicly confirmed by Kroll or the network. Multiplying that reported rate by the number of episodes and presenting the result as fact would create a misleading impression.
His wider television history adds another layer. Kroll appeared on the first two seasons of Winter House and has made appearances connected to Summer House and other Bravo programming. Each project may produce additional compensation while also keeping him visible between seasons of his main show.
Television exposure has value beyond a direct paycheck. It helps him attract podcast listeners, promote Trop Hop, bring customers to hospitality businesses, sell event tickets, and negotiate sponsorships. In that sense, the show functions as both employment and a marketing platform.
Trop Hop Turned His Beer Experience into a Business
Kroll’s most recognizable independent venture is Trop Hop, a beer brand created through King’s Calling Brewing Company. The original product became associated with his efforts to move from beer sales into brand ownership.
Trop Hop gained regional retail exposure, including distribution through Harris Teeter locations. Kroll later expanded and relaunched the brand with additional products, including a light lager. The company’s official material continues to identify him as its founder.
The brand could contribute to his wealth through product sales and increases in the value of his ownership stake. However, gross sales should not be confused with personal income. A beer company must pay for brewing, packaging, shipping, distribution, retail margins, marketing, insurance, staff, and regulatory compliance.
Even if a brand sells a substantial volume of beer, its founder may receive only a fraction of the revenue. Money may also be reinvested to increase distribution rather than paid out as profit.
There is no public documentation showing Trop Hop’s annual revenue or Kroll’s percentage of ownership. It is therefore reasonable to describe the company as a meaningful business asset, but not to attach a confident multimillion-dollar valuation to it.
Restaurant Ventures and the Value of His Public Profile
Kroll has expanded into hospitality as well. In December 2024, he and Craig Conover opened By The Way in Charleston in partnership with Uptown Hospitality Group. The establishment operates as a neighborhood restaurant and bar serving American food, cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks.
The partnership structure is important. Kroll and Conover are associated with the concept and promote the venue, but By The Way is also backed and operated with an experienced hospitality group. Kroll should not be treated as the sole owner of the entire business.
His financial return could come from an equity interest, profit distributions, promotional arrangements, or a combination of these. Those details have not been made public. Restaurants can become valuable assets, but they also face significant operating costs and unpredictable margins.
Kroll and Conover were also connected to Carriage House, a New York City restaurant that opened in 2023. As with By The Way, the financial size of Kroll’s interest has not been disclosed.
These ventures demonstrate how he can convert television recognition into real-world foot traffic. A familiar name may help a new venue receive attention that an ordinary restaurant would have to purchase through advertising. Whether that attention produces long-term profit depends on the quality and stability of the underlying operation.
Podcasting, Live Events, and Brand Partnerships
Kroll and Conover launched the Pillows and Beer podcast in 2021. The program gave them a space to discuss their lives outside Southern Charm and generated a large catalogue of episodes.
Potential podcast revenue can come from advertising, sponsorships, live shows, merchandise, and distribution agreements. None of its financial results are publicly available.
During a 2025 episode of Southern Charm, Conover offered Kroll $30,000 for his share of the podcast. Kroll rejected the proposal. That offer should not be viewed as a formal valuation because it occurred within a personal and professional dispute rather than an independent business appraisal.
Kroll may also earn money from sponsored social media content, guest appearances, fan events, and commercial partnerships. His audience gives him access to opportunities that would not exist without television, although sponsorship income can change significantly from year to year.
His Charleston Home Is a Significant Asset
Kroll purchased a four-bedroom home in downtown Charleston in 2021. Public property information indicates that the house sold for approximately $605,000.
The property may now be worth more than its original purchase price, given changes in Charleston’s housing market and improvements made to the home. Still, the property’s market value is not the same as Kroll’s equity. Any outstanding mortgage must be deducted before the house’s contribution to his net worth can be calculated.
The home is one reason a seven-figure estimate appears reasonable. It is a tangible asset with a documented purchase price. Yet it cannot justify a $5 million estimate on its own, particularly when the associated debt is unknown.
Why Online Estimates Differ So Much
Calculating celebrity wealth becomes especially difficult when the person owns private businesses. Kroll’s television earnings are confidential, and his companies do not publish financial reports.
Several unknowns can dramatically change the calculation:
- The amount he receives from Bravo and other television projects
- His actual percentage of each business
- Whether those businesses are profitable
- The remaining mortgage on his home
- Personal investments, savings, taxes, and other debts
- Revenue from endorsements, events, and podcast advertising
Net worth also differs from annual income. A person can earn several hundred thousand dollars in one year while having a lower net worth because of taxes, business expenses, debt, and lifestyle costs. Conversely, someone may have valuable ownership interests without receiving much cash from them immediately.
Conclusion
Austen Kroll’s net worth is most responsibly estimated at between $1 million and $5 million, with the available evidence supporting a cautious lower-to-middle seven-figure assessment. His financial position appears to come from a combination of reality television, craft beer, hospitality partnerships, podcasting, appearances, and Charleston real estate.
The $5 million figure is possible if his business stakes have significant value, but it is not publicly proven. Until Kroll or his representatives disclose verified financial details, his exact fortune remains private. What is clear is that he has used Southern Charm as more than a television job, turning its visibility into several businesses that may continue building his wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Austen Kroll make his money?
He earns money through reality television, his Trop Hop beer brand, restaurant partnerships, podcasting, public appearances, and possible sponsorship agreements.
How much does Austen Kroll earn per episode?
Several websites report a rate of about $25,000 per episode, but Bravo and Kroll have not publicly confirmed that amount.
Does Austen Kroll own Trop Hop?
Kroll is publicly identified as the founder of Trop Hop. His precise ownership percentage and the company’s financial value have not been disclosed.
Does Austen Kroll own a restaurant?
He is a co-founder and partner in By The Way, a Charleston restaurant and bar created with Craig Conover and Uptown Hospitality Group.
Is Austen Kroll richer than Craig Conover?
There is not enough verified financial information to make a reliable comparison. Both have television income and private business interests whose values are not publicly known.
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