Chip Gaines And Joanna Gaines Reveal How They Met and Hooked Up

Chip and Joanna Gaines have a love story that started in a manner that would make for an enjoyable romantic comedy.

The couple has been married for almost two decades and has become one of the most reputable home design experts. 

Yet the billionaire husband and wife would have missed out on creating an impeccable legacy when Chip played a risky game while trying to win Joanna over.

While making a memorable appearance on Drew Barrymore's eponymous talk show on Tuesday, April 4, Chip and Joanna got candid about how they first met each other.

Barrymore brought up the wife's famous 2001 ad, which she did after college. The promotion was for her father, Jerry Stevens' Firestone tire store in Waco, Texas.

Chip saw this commercial and became enamored by Joanna. He expressed that every male in central Texas was propelled to the town to see the "beautiful and talented Joanna Stevens."

The lovestruck husband gushed that watching the "Magnolia Table" founder's lips and eyes while she described tire technology arose an insatiable desire in him.

The host asked the couple what their first date was like, and Joanna revealed they first met at the tire shop. She was leaving when Chip walked in.

The Albuquerque native immediately stopped Joanna when he noticed she was the girl in the commercial, earning him an eye roll from her. Nevertheless, Chip continued to make his move.

The two chatted for an hour, and by the time he left, Stevens' daughter had the impression he was a great customer and a sweet guy.

The smitten duo later went on their first date, which Joanna recalled was filled with her husband's interesting conversations.

Despite the successful dinner, Chip almost dropped the ball when he played a risky game of 'Chicken.' This involved him holding back from calling Joanna until she made a move, but he picked the wrong adversary. He recounted:

"I was going to see how long it would take for her to call me back. But I ran into a brick wall in that regard. Months and months go by, and my friends and I are like, ‘What is happening.’”

Joanna recalled that her girlfriends also asked if she would call instead, but she said no. Three months later, Chip gave up and rang her, saying he was done playing games. He recalled:

“[I said] Let’s quit jacking around. And she was like, ‘Nobody’s been jacking around. What’s wrong with you?’ And I was like, ‘I’ve been waiting on you to call.’ She was like, ‘I’m not calling you.’”

It turns out honesty is the best policy in the game of love, as the pair went on another date that night, leading to their engagement a year later.

The lovestruck husband joked that things would have worked out better if his wife had called him. She also chalked up her lack of prior boyfriends to her "traditional" views on dating.

Joanna and Chip have been together for a whopping decade plus eight years, yet are still head over heels for each other.

The Blast disclosed that the 43-year-old tributed her husband via social media on November 14, in honor of his 47th birthday. 

Joanna took to Instagram with a sweet picture of her and her husband holding hands while strolling through beautiful scenery. She captioned the post with:

 “You make life better for all of us. Happy birthday to the very best @chipgaines”.

The spouses enrolled at the same college yet were oblivious to each other's existence until the “No Pain, No Gaines” author fell for Joanna's Firestone tire shop commercial.

The couple's love life blossomed into what is a marriage of 18 years and counting. The couple has starred together in over five shows, including "Fixer Upper," "First Time Fixer," and "Chip and Joanna Gaines: in The Room."

The lovebirds have also co-published several positively acclaimed books on lifestyle and design, including "The Magnolia Story," which talks about their journey towards co-founding The Magnolia Network.

Chip and Joanna have built a billion-dollar empire and are parents to five offspring, which comprise three sons, Drake, Duke, Crew, and two daughters, Ella Rose and Emmie Kay.