Nicole Curtis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Nicole Curtis Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Nicole Curtis is a home-restoration expert, television personality and author best known for salvaging historic properties and starring in the hit series Rehab Addict.

Introduction

Born on August 20, 1976 in Lake Orion, Michigan, the accomplished builder and designer Nicole Lynn Curtis has carved out a distinctive place in the world of home-renovation television, authored a memoir, and built a business around restoring neglected architecture. Her career success has translated into an estimated net worth in the $7 – 8 million range.  In her personal life, she has been open about past partnerships and parenthood—though she keeps many details private. Below is an in-depth look at Nicole Curtis’s journey, finances, personal life and legacy.

Quick Facts

From Local Ambition to National Recognition

Nicole Curtis’s story begins in suburban Michigan. Growing up near Detroit, she was drawn to older homes with character—weekend trips with her grandparents took her to historic districts where her appreciation for craftsmanship took root. After graduating high school and working a series of jobs—including cleaning houses, waiting tables and even a stint at Hooters—she saved her earnings to buy properties to restore.

Her big break came when she secured her own show. Originally contacted as a real estate agent, she persuaded producers to let her focus on home rehab, giving birth to Rehab Addict in 2010.

Defining moments in Nicole Curtis’s journey include:

• Discovering and restoring a “dollar house” in Detroit, transforming it from near-demolition condition into a saleable property. 

• Launching Rehab Addict in 2010 and demonstrating a commitment to historic preservation over simple flipping. 

• Publishing her memoir Better Than New: Lessons I’ve Learned from Saving Old Homes (And How They Saved Me), which offered a behind-the-scenes look at her life and business. 

• Navigating a challenging custody battle while continuing her TV and renovation work. 

The Core Pillars of Nicole Curtis’s Wealth

Nicole Curtis’s estimated net worth flows from several interlocking sources:

• Television production & hosting — major earnings came via Rehab Addict and its spinoffs, both from on-air salary and producer credits.

• Design and real-estate ventures — her own design-firm, licensed real-estate work and property acquisitions fuel her business. 

• Authorship and brand extensions — her memoir and occasional product lines (paint, hardware) support diversification.

Below is a breakdown of her assets in broad categories:

Relationships & Family Life

Curtis’s personal life has intersected with her business in a few meaningful ways. She has two sons: Ethan (born in 1997) with ex-partner Steven Cimini, and Harper (born in 2015) with ex-partner Shane Maguire. 

She later dated carpenter and nonprofit-founder Ryan Sawtelle, publicly acknowledging the relationship in 2019. As of recent reports, the pair are no longer romantically involved but remain on good terms and continue to collaborate professionally. 

Key insights into Nicole Curtis’s relationships and personal life:

• She has emphasized protecting her children’s privacy, choosing not to feature them heavily on camera in recent seasons. 

• The custody proceedings over her younger son Harper involved public debates around breastfeeding and child-rearing decisions. 

• She has described how her former relationship with Sawtelle provided a stabilizing influence: “My heart is happy and having him near me brings a calm I’ve never known.” 

• Curtis remains single (publicly) and focused on her professional and parental responsibilities.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond her television career, Nicole Curtis leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Restoring historic homes, many located in Detroit and Michigan suburbs, as part of her mission to save architecture. 

• Collecting salvage materials, vintage fixtures, and architectural parts from demolished buildings, which she re-uses in her projects.

• Engaging in philanthropic or advocacy efforts tied to historic preservation and rebuilding communities.

• Driving market-sized home-renovation projects and occasionally owning rental or flip properties as strategic investments.

• Traveling for speaking engagements, design events, and split residences (Detroit and elsewhere) to balance work and family. 

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

Estimating Nicole Curtis’s net worth requires aggregating her income sources and appreciating that her business model emphasizes long-term ownership rather than rapid flipping. For instance, one “dollar house” she acquired for US $1 in 2011 later sold for US $150,000 after a substantial renovation. 

Net Worth Breakdown

One analysis, in a 2025 Yahoo article, described her net worth as approximately US $7 million.The variation arises because her portfolio includes illiquid assets (properties under renovation) and reinvestments that may not yet realize full gains.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Nicole Curtis stands out in the home-renovation genre for her authentic focus on historic preservation rather than glamorized flipping. She emphasizes the stories embedded in architecture—portraying each house as a narrative worth saving. Publicly, she is seen as both outspoken and grounded, candid about her past struggles, including financial hardship and personal setbacks. 

Her influence extends to amateur renovators, design enthusiasts and preservationists. Social-media followers admire her “Detroit hustle” roots and her willingness to take on properties most others dismiss. Her brand has become synonymous with purpose-driven rehab, and her memoir has inspired readers beyond TV audiences.

Her commitment to authenticity—revealing flaws, mistakes and lessons learned—has positioned her as a role model for resilience. She continues to speak at design and preservation events and mentors younger professionals interested in restoration.

Conclusion

Nicole Curtis’s journey—from a young woman cleaning houses and dreaming of renovation, to a nationally recognized television host and preservation advocate—illustrates the power of driving one’s passion into business. With a birthdate of August 20, and a career built on salvaging the past while shaping her future, she has earned an estimated net worth in the US $7 – 8 million range. Her relationships, including with Ryan Sawtelle, and her role as a mother of two add further dimensions to the story of her life. Ultimately, Nicole Curtis embodies the idea that restoring houses can be more than just a job—it can be a mission.