Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Eldest Son Drake Is a College Student Now! See His Most Adorable Photos

A Sad Goodbye

In August 2024, Joanna said goodbye to Drake after dropping him off at his college apartment. “Second year in college… saying goodbye doesn’t get easier,” she captioned the psot. “Lots of love to all the parents sending their kids off to school this season.”

Family Vacation

Joanna captured this candid snapshot of her boys during a family trip to St. Lucia in August 2024. “Fun in the St Lucia sun,” she captioned a montage of clips from the vacation. It’s clear from this photo that they all enjoyed their quality time together!

High School Graduation

Joanna shared this sweet photo of Drake holding Crew at his high school graduation.

“It feels like just yesterday that we were cheering him on as he took his first steps,” the mom of five wrote on Instagram at the time. “But last weekend, as he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma (!!) we were cheering him on as he took his first steps into a world beyond what he’s known. We’re so proud of you, Drake.”

Huge Moment

Joanna’s son looked all grown up as he went for his driver’s permit test in February 2020. He looks just like his dad, Chip!

“Drake waited in line for an hour and finally got called up to get his driver’s permit, and then my 15-year-old little boy drove home with Chip, and all of a sudden he is all grown up,” Joanna wrote alongside a photo of her son at the DMV. “Parenthood is all about training these babies up to eventually let them go. May we savor all the big and quiet moments along the way.”

Big Brother

“Microwaved nachos, sleeping bags and sibling fireside chats make for a good start to the holiday weekend,” Joanna captioned a photo of Drake and his sister ahead of Christmas 2019.

 Joanna said she comes up with new ways to keep Drake, Duke, Ella, Emmie Kay and Crew entertained without having to depend on phones for satisfaction.

“Every day, I’ll set cards out, puzzles, just to give them options,” she once explained on Today. “I think originally the kids thought — especially the boys — ‘Oh, this is gonna be wonderful, we get hours and hours of game time.’ And I’m kind of a strict mom when it comes to that, so giving them ideas outside of screen time and stuff like that.”

Adorable Bond

The Magnolia Journal writer shared a pic of Drake and Crew enjoying “tea time” in November 2019.

Game Night

Joanna gave fans a glimpse inside their family’s game night in July 2019.

Gaming

The pair’s sons enjoyed some brotherly bonding while playing video games in August 2018.

Golf Buddies

Chip spent some time on the golf course with Drake in May 2018. Duke even made an appearance!

Friday Fun

“It’s Friday!” Joanna captioned a pic with Drake wearing a mask in January 2018.

While Drake used to help out on the set of Fixer Upper, he’s had to come up with other ways to work on his skills since the hit HGTV show went off the air in 2018. Joanna dished he had been helping her edit cooking tutorials to share on social media.

“Drake has filmed us making the chocolate chip cookie recipe from the first [Magnolia] cookbook,” the proud mama captioned an Instagram video baking chocolate chip cookies in her lavish kitchen in March 2020. Although her kiddo didn’t make an appearance in his mom’s clip, she made sure to give Drake proper credit.

Set Life

The doting dad uploaded the cutest selfie with Drake while “wrapping up” the fourth season of Fixer Upper in October 2016.

College Visit

Drake and Duke joined their dad for a visit at his alma mater, Baylor University, in August 2016.

Having a Blast

“Boys and girls … START YOUR ENGINES!!” Chip hilariously captioned a pic of his sons riding dirt bikes on their farm in July 2016.