If you’ve ever stayed up late watching a rusted-out 1967 Mustang get sliced, diced, and reborn into a gleaming masterpiece on Overhaulin’, you know the name. Chip Foose isn’t just a guy who likes cars. He’s the guy who changed how we look at them. Honestly, the net worth of Chip Foose is one of those numbers that gets tossed around a lot in gearhead circles, usually sitting right around $18.5 million as of early 2026.
But a number like that doesn't really tell the whole story. You can't just look at a bank balance and understand how a kid who started working in his dad’s shop at age seven became a global brand. It’s about the sketches. It’s about the wheels. It’s about a guy who literally lost everything when his former employer went bust and had to start over from a back bedroom.
Where the Money Actually Comes From
Chip didn't get rich just by being on TV. That’s a common misconception. While Overhaulin’ made him a household name across 150+ episodes, the real meat of his financial portfolio is built on a diversified empire of design.
He’s basically the "triple threat" of the automotive world. He designs, he builds, and he brands.
Foose Design and the High-End Builds
Most of his wealth is tied up in Foose Design, based in Huntington Beach, California. This isn't your neighborhood Maaco. When you want a Foose-built car, you aren't just paying for parts and labor. You’re paying for a piece of rolling art.
We’re talking about six-figure builds, sometimes creeping into the seven-figure range for one-off prototypes. These projects take thousands of man-hours. He’s won the "Ridler Award" four times and "America’s Most Beautiful Roadster" seven times. That kind of pedigree allows you to charge a premium that most shops can only dream of.
The Wheel Empire
Have you noticed how many cars at a local show are sporting Foose wheels? That’s not an accident. His licensing deal with MHT Luxury Alloys (and later variations of that partnership) has been a massive revenue stream for decades.
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It’s passive income at its finest. He designs a look—like the iconic five-spoke patterns—and every time a set sells at a retail shop, Chip gets a cut. It’s way more scalable than building one car at a time by hand.
Corporate Consulting and Hollywood
This is the part people usually forget. Chip has worked on some of the biggest movies in history.
- Blade Runner
- RoboCop
- Gone in 60 Seconds (specifically the 2000 remake)
- Cars and Cars 2 (Pixar actually brought him in to consult on paint and graphics)
When Disney or a major casino like Detroit’s MotorCity Casino needs someone to make something look "cool" and "automotive-forward," they call Chip. He was a primary design consultant for that $275 million casino expansion. That’s a "consulting fee" that probably has quite a few zeros attached to it.
The Overhaulin’ Effect on the Net Worth of Chip Foose
Let's talk about the show. Overhaulin’ debuted in 2004 and ran, in various forms and reboots, for nearly 20 years. Television money is weird. In the early days, he was likely getting a standard talent fee. But as the show became a pillar of the Discovery Channel and Velocity (now MotorTrend), his role evolved into Executive Producer.
Being the boss of the production means you own a piece of the pie. Even now, with the show in syndication and streaming globally, those royalty checks keep the net worth of Chip Foose stable. Plus, the show served as a massive, hour-long commercial for his shop.
The "marketing value" of being on TV for two decades is worth more than the salary itself. It kept his waitlist years long.
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Why $18.5 Million Might Be a Conservative Guess
Some analysts argue that his actual value is higher when you factor in his personal car collection and real estate. Chip owns some of the most significant custom cars in existence, including the "Hemisfear" (the Foose Coupe). One of these sold at auction for $340,000 years ago.
He also has a massive warehouse in Huntington Beach. Southern California real estate isn't cheap, especially when it's filled with state-of-the-art fabrication tools and a fleet of priceless hot rods.
The "Boyd Coddington" Disaster
It wasn't always smooth sailing. Back in the late 90s, Chip was the president of "Hot Rods by Boyd." When that company faced a messy bankruptcy, Chip was suddenly out of a job.
He didn't have a safety net.
He and his wife, Lynne, started Foose Design in 1998 from their home. They had to hustle for every single client. This part of his history is why he’s so diversified today. He learned the hard way that you can't rely on someone else's business.
Diversified Revenue Streams at a Glance
If you were to break down his income today, it would look something like this:
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- Direct Commissions: Custom builds for private collectors (the "whales").
- Licensing: Wheels with MHT, tools with 3M, and even die-cast models with Revell.
- Apparel and Art: Selling his original sketches and Foose-branded gear online.
- Media: YouTube revenue, TV royalties, and public appearances at SEMA or car shows.
- Industrial Design: Consulting for Ford and other major manufacturers.
The Human Factor: Does He Still Work?
What’s interesting is that Chip is still "on the tools." Unlike some celebrity builders who just put their name on the building and go golfing, you can still find Chip in the shop with a pen in his hand or a sanding block.
He’s 62 now. He doesn't need to work 14-hour days anymore. But the passion is clearly there. That’s probably why his brand hasn't faded like other 2000-era TV builders. He’s stayed relevant by being technically better than almost everyone else.
Actionable Takeaways from Chip’s Career
If you’re looking at the net worth of Chip Foose and wondering how to replicate even a fraction of that success, here are the real-world lessons:
- Own Your Intellectual Property: Chip doesn't just build cars; he owns the designs. By licensing those designs for wheels and toys, he earns money while he sleeps.
- Diversify Early: When his main job disappeared in 1998, he survived because he had the skills to consult and draw for others.
- Quality is the Best Marketing: Winning the Ridler or the AMBR is the ultimate business card. It allows you to set your own price in a crowded market.
- The Power of the Sketch: Chip’s ability to draw a car in five minutes and make it look "right" is his superpower. Find your unique "speed-skill" and lean into it.
The net worth of Chip Foose is a reflection of a 50-year obsession with the automobile. From the $18.5 million estimate to the countless awards on his shelf, he has proven that being a "starving artist" is a choice—if you’re willing to turn that art into a brand, the sky's the limit.
To see Chip's current projects or browse his official artwork, your best bet is to check out the official Foose Design website or follow his YouTube channel, where he frequently breaks down his design process for modern builds.