Austen Kroll made his name as a Southern Charm cast member and craft beer entrepreneur. His Austen Kroll net worth estimate for 2026 ranges from $1 million to $3 million, built mainly from his Bravo salary, his Trop Hop beer brand, and brand partnerships.
- Austen Kroll's Bio and Career Snapshot
- From Washington D.C. to Southern Charm Fame
- What Austen Kroll's Net Worth Really Looks Like
- How Trop Hop and Bravo Pay Add Up
- Beer Brands, Bravo Checks, and Brand Deals
- Austen Kroll's Dating Life and Family Ties
- Where Austen Kroll Stands Among Bravo Stars
- Austen Kroll's Money Story Beyond the Show
- Frequently Asked Questions
Austen Kroll’s Bio and Career Snapshot
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Austen Kroll |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1987 |
| Age | 39 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Main Profession | Reality TV personality, entrepreneur |
| Known For | Southern Charm (Bravo) |
| Education | University of Alabama, Business Administration |
| Relationship Status | Single (as of early 2026) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1 million to $3 million |
From Washington D.C. to Southern Charm Fame
Austen Kroll was born on June 16, 1987, in Washington, D.C. His father worked for the FBI, and his mother worked in software sales. Kroll grew up with a sister, Katie, and later attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a business degree.
Before Bravo came calling, he worked in the craft beer industry. He held sales roles at Palmetto Brewing Company and Red Hare Brewing Co, learning the beer business from the ground up.
Kroll joined Southern Charm in season 4, which aired in 2017. He quickly became a fan favorite, known for his easygoing personality and his ongoing friendship, and occasional feuds, with fellow cast member Shep Rose. He has remained a main cast member ever since, appearing across more than a hundred episodes and building a following that stretches well beyond Charleston.
What Austen Kroll’s Net Worth Really Looks Like
Public estimates of Austen Kroll’s net worth vary quite a bit. Some outlets put the figure at around $1 million, tied closely to his television salary and beer business. Others place it closer to $2.5 million to $3 million, factoring in years of brand deals, podcast sponsorships, and his growing hospitality ventures.
The gap exists because reality TV pay is rarely made public. Bravo salaries tend to grow with seniority and screen time, and Kroll has been a main cast member for close to a decade. No official record confirms his exact income from the show, so most estimates rely on comparisons to other long-running Bravo personalities.
A reasonable working figure, based on available reporting, puts Austen Kroll’s net worth somewhere between $1 million and $3 million as of 2026. That range reflects steady TV income layered with smaller, less predictable earnings from his business ventures.
How Trop Hop and Bravo Pay Add Up
Kroll’s net worth breaks down into a handful of income streams rather than one dominant source. His longest-running paycheck comes from Southern Charm itself, since Bravo compensates main cast members per season and per episode.
Layered on top of that is his beer business. He founded Kings Calling Brewing Co in 2019 and later launched Trop Hop, a beer brand he has pushed to expand beyond South Carolina. Craft beverage brands like this typically earn through wholesale distribution, taproom sales, and licensing deals, though Kroll has not made Trop Hop’s exact revenue public.
He also earns from Pillows and Beer, the podcast he co-hosts with Craig Conover, which brings in advertising and sponsorship money. Add in Instagram brand partnerships, paid appearances, and his stake in the Charleston restaurant By the Way, and the picture becomes a mix of steady and variable income rather than one clean salary.
| Income Source | Estimated Role in Net Worth | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Charm Bravo salary | Major contributor | Paid per season as a longtime main cast member, though Kroll has not made the exact figure public. |
| Trop Hop / Kings Calling Brewing Co | Moderate contributor | His own beer brand, with revenue tied to distribution and sales that Kroll has not disclosed. |
| By the Way restaurant | Possible contributor | Co-owned with Craig Conover, opened in Charleston in December 2024; too new to show a clear financial track record. |
| Pillows and Beer podcast | Moderate contributor | Ad reads and sponsorships add recurring income alongside the show. |
| Social media and brand deals | Moderate contributor | Paid Instagram posts and appearance fees common among Bravo personalities. |
| Early brewing industry sales jobs | Minor, historical contributor | Roles at Palmetto Brewing and Red Hare Brewing built his beer knowledge before fame, though this income predates his current net worth. |
Beer Brands, Bravo Checks, and Brand Deals
Kroll’s beer career is the part of his story that separates him from most of his castmates. He didn’t just slap his name on a product. He worked retail and sales roles inside the industry first, which gave him real credibility when he eventually started his own labels.
Kings Calling Brewing Co launched in 2019 as his first real venture into ownership. Trop Hop followed as a separate brand, one he has talked about wanting to take nationwide. Getting a beer brand into stores outside a home region is expensive and competitive, so growth has been gradual rather than explosive.
His restaurant with Conover, By the Way, opened in Charleston in December 2024 after a lengthy build-out. Hospitality ventures like this often take a year or two to turn a profit, so it’s still early to say how much it adds to his overall finances.
Beyond business, his Bravo paycheck remains the most consistent piece. Long-running cast members typically see their per-episode rate climb over time, which likely explains why some recent estimates of his net worth run higher than older ones.
Austen Kroll’s Dating Life and Family Ties
Kroll’s love life has played out heavily on camera over the years. He’s had public relationships with castmates including Chelsea Meissner, Madison LeCroy, and Ciara Miller, each of which became a storyline on the show.
His most recent relationship was with Audrey Pratt, whom he introduced on Southern Charm season 10. The two split in 2025. On Watch What Happens Live in early 2026, he confirmed they still talk occasionally but are no longer together.
Since the breakup, Kroll has described a close friendship with castmate Salley Carson, though both have said in interviews that it isn’t a romantic relationship. Kroll has no publicly confirmed children.
Where Austen Kroll Stands Among Bravo Stars
Within the Southern Charm cast, Kroll sits in the middle of the pack financially. He’s ahead of newer additions who joined more recently, but behind castmates like Craig Conover, whose Sewing Down South business has scaled further and generated wider retail exposure.
Compared to reality TV personalities generally, his net worth reflects a fairly typical path: a long-running Bravo role paired with a side business that hasn’t fully broken out yet. That combination is common among cast members who’ve stayed on a show for years without landing a single breakout product.
Austen Kroll’s Money Story Beyond the Show
By 2026, Kroll’s net worth isn’t built on one big payday. It’s the sum of a long-running Bravo salary, a beer business he’s grown slowly since 2019, and newer ventures like his Charleston restaurant and podcast.
That mix explains why estimates vary so much between $1 million and $3 million. His income depends on a TV contract that isn’t public, a brand that’s still expanding, and side projects that are just getting started. As Trop Hop grows and By the Way settles into its first full years, his financial picture will likely become easier to track.
Editorial Note: The net worth figures in this article are informed estimates based on available public reporting, not official or audited numbers. Austen Kroll has not confirmed a specific net worth publicly, and the actual figure may be higher or lower than reported here. Estimates like this can change as his career and business ventures develop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Austen Kroll worth in 2026?
Public estimates place Austen Kroll’s net worth between $1 million and $3 million in 2026. The wide range exists because his Bravo salary and business revenue aren’t publicly disclosed, so different outlets calculate the figure differently.
What is Austen Kroll’s main source of income?
His Southern Charm salary is generally considered his most consistent income source. Beyond the show, he earns from his beer brands, his podcast, and brand partnerships on social media.
Does Austen Kroll still work in the beer business?
Yes. He founded Kings Calling Brewing Co in 2019 and later launched Trop Hop, a beer brand he has said he wants to distribute nationwide. He got his start working sales roles at Palmetto Brewing and Red Hare Brewing before starting his own labels.
Is Austen Kroll dating anyone in 2026?
As of early 2026, Kroll has described himself as single following his 2025 breakup with Audrey Pratt. He has spoken about a close friendship with castmate Salley Carson, though both have said publicly that it isn’t romantic.
How did Austen Kroll become famous?
He joined the cast of Bravo’s Southern Charm in season 4, which aired in 2017. His background in craft beer sales, combined with his personality and friendships within the cast, helped him grow into one of the show’s most recognized stars.
Did Austen Kroll go to college?
Yes. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Alabama, and he also studied abroad for a semester in Prague.
