Chris Appleton has gone from sweeping floors in a Leicester salon to styling Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande, writing a bestselling memoir and, this autumn, swapping the hairdryer for sequins on Strictly Come Dancing 2026. His time on the dance floor was short, but it has a lot of viewers asking: what is Chris Appleton’s net worth, and how much does a Hollywood hairstylist actually earn?
What is Chris Appleton’s net worth?
Unifresher estimates Chris Appleton’s net worth at around £7 million in 2026, within a likely range of £4 million to £10 million.
Here’s our thinking. Appleton has spent more than a decade at the very top of celebrity hairdressing, working with some of the most famous women in the world. In a January 2026 podcast interview he said the most he had ever charged for a single job was around $100,000, although he stressed that was a one-off that involved travel, and pointed out that roughly half goes in tax and his agent takes a cut too. Even so, a stylist in that bracket can realistically turn over well into six figures, and possibly seven, in a good year from session work, red carpets and shoots.
On top of that sits the brand money. Appleton is Global Creative Director at haircare company Color Wow, has worked with Schwarzkopf Professional as an ambassador, and regularly appears on US TV including The Kardashians, The Drew Barrymore Show and Today. His 2026 memoir and his Strictly fee add further income. Set against that are high US tax rates, agent and management fees, the cost of living in Los Angeles and a divorce in 2023–24. Weighing it all up, around £7 million feels like a fair, conservative estimate, but only Chris and his accountant know the real number.
Who is Chris Appleton?
Christopher David Appleton was born on 14 June 1983 in Leicester, the third of five children. He started out styling his mum’s hair as a kid and was working in a local salon by the age of 13 or 14, travelling down to London to assist on shoots and take classes whenever he could.
He has two children, Billy and Kitty-Blu, from a long relationship with his former partner Katie Katon, whom he met as a teenager. He came out as gay in his twenties and has spoken openly about being dyslexic, being bullied at school and his mental health, much of which he covers in his book.
Chris Appleton’s hairdressing career
From Leicester to the A-list
Appleton’s big break came with Rita Ora, his first celebrity client. That opened the door to a client list that now reads like a red-carpet guest list: Kim Kardashian and the wider Kardashian-Jenner family, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Sofía Vergara, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande. He is widely credited with creating Grande’s famous high ponytail. If you’re curious how much that look has helped her, read our guide to Ariana Grande’s net worth.
Kim Kardashian’s go-to stylist
His close working relationship and friendship with Kim Kardashian made him a celebrity in his own right. He has been a recurring face on The Kardashians since 2022, and his slick, glossy styles regularly go viral. His work has also appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair.
TV regular
Beyond the Kardashians, Appleton has become a familiar face on American daytime TV, with regular appearances on Today and The Drew Barrymore Show. He also popped up on Selling Sunset in 2025. Want to see who’s richest from that show? Check out our Selling Sunset cast net worth guide.
Chris Appleton’s brand deals and book
Like most top stylists, a big part of Appleton’s income comes from partnerships rather than haircuts. His most important is with Color Wow, where he is Global Creative Director and helped create the brand’s Money Masque. He has also been named a Global Color Ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional.
In January 2026, he released his first book, Your Roots Don’t Define You, a mix of memoir and self-help with a foreword by Kris Jenner. It covers his childhood in Leicester, coming out and his very public divorce, and it was reported to have made the New York Times bestseller list. Speaking about the book on a podcast, he also revealed that one-off $100,000 fee, which got plenty of people talking (NewBeauty has the details).
Chris Appleton’s marriage to Lukas Gage
In April 2023, Appleton married actor Lukas Gage, best known for You and The White Lotus, in a small Las Vegas ceremony attended by Kim Kardashian and Shania Twain and filmed for The Kardashians. The marriage was short-lived: it was widely reported that a divorce was filed in November 2023, citing irreconcilable differences.
Chris Appleton on Strictly Come Dancing 2026
Appleton was the fourth celebrity announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 and was partnered with fan favourite Amy Dowden. He described the move as “coming home to the UK”.
Sadly, it wasn’t a long stay. The pair scored 16 points for their tango to Alice Merton’s “No Roots” in week one, placing 12th out of 15, then 17 for a Baywatch-inspired cha-cha-cha in Movie Week. That put them in the dance-off against Jaime Winstone and Carlos Gu, and the judges chose to save Jaime, making Chris and Amy the first couple to leave the 2026 series on 4 October. Afterwards he said he had felt “so out of my comfort zone” but “saw myself in a way I’ve never seen myself”.
See how he compares to the rest of the line-up in our Strictly Come Dancing 2026 cast net worth breakdown.
FAQs about Chris Appleton
What is Chris Appleton’s net worth?
Unifresher estimates Chris Appleton’s net worth at around £7 million in 2026, within a range of £4 million to £10 million, based on his celebrity styling fees, brand partnerships, TV work and book, minus tax and costs.
How old is Chris Appleton?
Chris Appleton was born on 14 June 1983, so he is 43.
Where is Chris Appleton from?
He is from Leicester, England, and is now based in Los Angeles.
Who was Chris Appleton’s Strictly partner?
He was partnered with professional dancer Amy Dowden. They were the first couple eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing 2026, after a Movie Week dance-off.
Who has Chris Appleton styled?
His clients have included Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Sofía Vergara and Rita Ora, who was his first celebrity client.
Was Chris Appleton married?
Yes. He married actor Lukas Gage in April 2023, and the pair split later that year, with a divorce reported to have been filed in November 2023.