Michael Cordray is an American real estate professional, historic-home restoration expert, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for Restoring Galveston, the Magnolia Network series he stars in alongside his wife, Ashley Cordray.
The couple became known for purchasing neglected homes in Galveston, Texas, and restoring them while preserving their original architectural character. Their restoration company, Save 1900, grew from a part-time passion into a full-time business and eventually became the foundation for their television career. Texas A&M’s coverage of the couple’s story traces that progression from their first Galveston renovation to their television opportunity.
Today, Michael Cordray Net Worth career extends beyond television. His professional activities have included historic-home restoration, real estate, hospitality projects, commercial-property restoration, and businesses connected to Galveston’s history.
So, what is Michael Cordray’s net worth in 2026?
There is no independently verified public figure for Michael Cordray’s personal net worth. Various websites publish estimates, with some placing his wealth in the low-single-digit millions. For Worthova, a reasonable editorial estimate is approximately $1 million to $5 million in 2026, but this should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed financial statement.
Quick Facts About Michael Cordray
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Michael Cordray |
| Profession | Real Estate Professional, Restoration Expert, Entrepreneur, TV Personality |
| Known For | Restoring Galveston |
| Business | Save 1900 |
| Wife | Ashley Cordray |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown | Galveston, Texas |
| Education | Texas A&M University at Galveston |
| Degree | Maritime Administration |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $1 million–$5 million in 2026 |
| Television Show | Restoring Galveston |
| Former Show Title | Big Texas Fix |
| Main Business Focus | Historic Homes, Restoration & Real Estate |
| Children | Three daughters |
Who Is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray is a Galveston-based restoration professional and television personality who built his career around saving historic homes from neglect and demolition.
His professional story began before television.
Michael and Ashley Cordray started buying and restoring older Galveston properties before their television career took off. Their first major project began with a neglected house that Ashley wanted to purchase and renovate. What started as an ambitious side project eventually developed into their full-time business, Save 1900.
Save 1900 takes its name from the Great Storm of 1900, the devastating hurricane that profoundly affected Galveston.
The company’s stated mission is to save neglected and deteriorating historic homes before they are demolished, while preserving the stories and architectural features that make them significant.
That preservation-focused approach eventually attracted television producers.
The result was Big Texas Fix, which later became Restoring Galveston.
What Is Michael Cordray’s Net Worth in 2026?
Michael Cordray’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million to $5 million in 2026.
This is an estimate rather than a publicly verified financial figure.
Michael and Ashley Cordray have not published personal financial statements showing their assets, liabilities, business equity, investment accounts, or annual income. Because of that, websites claiming an exact net worth should be treated cautiously.
The estimated range is based on the publicly documented scale of their professional activities, including:
- Save 1900
- Historic-home restoration
- Real estate projects
- Television
- Hospitality properties
- Commercial-property restoration
- The Cordray Drug Store
- Property-related business activities
- Long-term ownership and renovation of historic properties
It is also important to distinguish Michael Cordray’s personal net worth from the couple’s combined wealth or the value of their businesses.
A company’s value does not automatically equal its owner’s personal net worth.
How Michael Cordray Built His Wealth
Michael Cordray’s financial story is closely connected to the business he built with Ashley.
Unlike television personalities who become famous first and then create businesses, Michael and Ashley had already developed their restoration career before becoming television stars.
The First Galveston Restoration Project
The Cordrays’ restoration story began when Ashley convinced Michael to purchase a neglected Galveston property.
Texas A&M Foundation reports that the house was listed for approximately $55,000 when the couple decided to take on the renovation. That first project helped turn their interest in old houses into a serious business.
The experience also demonstrated the basic model that would eventually define their career:
buy an overlooked historic property → restore it → preserve its character → improve its value → move on to another project.
Save 1900
Save 1900 became the foundation of the Cordrays’ professional career.
The company focuses on neglected and historic Galveston properties, with an emphasis on preserving architectural features rather than simply replacing everything with modern construction.
The company’s own story says Michael and Ashley are committed to saving as many dilapidated and neglected homes as possible before they are lost to demolition.
This creates several potential sources of economic value:
- Property appreciation
- Restoration profits
- Real estate transactions
- Rental opportunities
- Hospitality projects
- Commercial-property development
- Increased value of restored historic buildings
Michael Cordray and Restoring Galveston
Television transformed the visibility of Michael Cordray’s work.
The couple first appeared in Big Texas Fix, a renovation series focused on their Galveston projects. The program later became Restoring Galveston.
HGTV describes the series as following Michael and Ashley as they restore homes in their hometown while attempting to preserve Galveston’s history and architectural styles.
The show premiered in 2019, and by 2024 the series had reached its seventh season. Current listings identify Michael and Ashley as the show’s hosts.
The television exposure matters to Michael Cordray’s career for more than the potential value of television compensation.
It also provides national visibility for the couple’s restoration work.
Every project featured on television can demonstrate their craftsmanship, design approach, construction skills, and knowledge of historic architecture to a much larger audience.
Big Texas Fix and Restoring Galveston
Big Texas Fix
Big Texas Fix was the earlier title associated with the Cordrays’ television career.
The show introduced viewers to their approach to renovating Galveston properties and helped establish them as recognizable figures in home restoration television.
Restoring Galveston
The series was subsequently renamed Restoring Galveston.
The show’s central concept remained the same: Michael and Ashley work on older Galveston properties, attempting to bring them back to life without erasing their historical character.
The show has featured Victorian homes, Craftsman properties, cottages, apartments, commercial buildings and other historic structures. Season 7, for example, included an 1886 Victorian restoration, a 1903 Craftsman project, a beach bungalow and the conversion of a 1922 filling station into a hot-dog business.
That breadth demonstrates that the Cordrays’ business is not limited to one type of residential renovation.
Michael Cordray’s Real Estate Business
Real estate is an important part of the Cordrays’ business model.
Their strategy revolves around finding older properties with potential and determining how restoration can make them useful and valuable again.
Michael has explained that the couple works with properties in Galveston because they believe the city’s historic housing stock deserves preservation.
Their projects can involve:
- Purchasing older homes
- Structural rehabilitation
- Interior restoration
- Exterior preservation
- Modernizing utilities
- Restoring original features
- Vacation-rental development
- Commercial-property restoration
- Hospitality projects
Realtor.com has also highlighted the Cordrays’ role in restoring and selling historic Galveston homes through their television work.
Why Historic Restoration Can Build Wealth
Historic restoration is different from ordinary home remodeling.
A standard renovation might focus on replacing outdated finishes with contemporary materials.
Historic restoration often requires much more specialized work.
Projects can involve:
- Original windows
- Historic flooring
- Custom millwork
- Decorative trim
- Vintage fixtures
- Structural repairs
- Foundation work
- Masonry
- Older electrical systems
- Plumbing upgrades
- Roof repairs
That can make restoration expensive and time-consuming.
However, carefully restored historic properties can also become highly desirable because they offer architectural details that are difficult to reproduce in new construction.
For someone with experience in purchasing, renovating, and managing historic properties, this creates opportunities to add value through restoration.
Michael and Ashley Cordray’s Business Partnership
Michael’s financial story cannot be separated completely from Ashley Cordray.
The couple operates as both life partners and business partners.
Texas A&M’s account of their career describes how their first home-renovation project developed into the Save 1900 business and eventually into television.
Their responsibilities complement each other.
Michael is strongly associated with the construction, restoration, and property side of their work, while Ashley contributes heavily to design, project decisions, and the creative side of their renovations.
Their partnership became one of the central features of Restoring Galveston.
Michael Cordray’s Other Business Ventures
The Cordrays’ business activities extend beyond individual house restorations.
One notable example is the Cordray Drug Store, a historic commercial property that the couple transformed into an ice cream shop and short-term rental.
The Houston Business Journal reported in 2022 that Michael and Ashley opened the Cordray Drug Store ice cream shop after restoring the property. The project also included an Airbnb apartment.
The business has additional personal significance because the original Cordray Drug Store had historical connections to Michael’s family.
Galveston Monthly reported that the original drug store was owned by Michael’s great-granduncle Edmund Lawrence Cordray and his wife, Mary Agnes Hancock.
This project demonstrates how the Cordrays combine:
historic preservation + real estate + hospitality + family history.
Restoring Galveston: The Inn
Another major project was the restoration of a historic boarding house into a boutique hospitality property.
Restoring Galveston: The Inn followed Michael and Ashley as they renovated a 1912 inn.
The project included restoration of the exterior, entryway, lounge, bar, guest suites, landscaping, pool area, and other features. Episode information documents the progression from structural restoration to the final opening.
This project is particularly relevant to Michael Cordray’s business story because it demonstrates an expansion from residential restoration into hospitality.
Instead of simply restoring a home for resale, the Cordrays were developing a property intended to operate as an income-producing destination.
Michael Cordray and the Galveston Hot Dog Stand
Season 7 also featured a different type of project: the transformation of a 1922 filling station into a hot-dog business.
The episode description explains that Michael and Ashley preserved the property’s history while turning the former filling station into a functioning restaurant.
This is another example of the couple’s broader approach.
Their work is not limited to restoring houses.
They have also demonstrated an interest in turning historic structures into modern businesses while retaining elements of their original identity.
Michael Cordray’s Education
Michael Cordray attended Texas A&M University at Galveston and graduated in 2006.
Texas A&M’s coverage identifies Michael as a 2006 graduate and Ashley as a 2009 graduate.
His educational background is interesting because it was not originally centered on television or residential construction.
Instead, Michael studied maritime administration before his career evolved into real estate and historic restoration.
His story is therefore an example of a professional path that developed substantially after college.
Michael Cordray’s Early Career
Before Restoring Galveston, Michael was not a household-name television personality.
He and Ashley were building their restoration business and developing their knowledge of Galveston’s older properties.
Texas A&M described their renovation work as beginning as a part-time passion before becoming a full-time business.
That distinction is important.
The television career came after the restoration business had already begun.
This makes Michael’s career different from the typical reality-TV model in which a person becomes famous and then creates a business around their television identity.
For the Cordrays, the business created the television opportunity.
Michael Cordray’s Family and Personal Life
Michael Cordray is married to Ashley Cordray.
The couple met while studying at Texas A&M University at Galveston and eventually combined their personal relationship with their shared interest in historic homes. Texas A&M’s account describes how their relationship and first restoration project developed together.
They have three daughters.
Although the family occasionally appears in their television and social-media content, Michael and Ashley generally keep many details of their children’s private lives away from the spotlight.
Their family life is closely connected to Galveston, where their restoration business and many of their projects are located.
Michael Cordray’s Connection to Galveston
Galveston is more than the location of Michael’s business.
It is central to his identity.
The Cordrays have repeatedly explained that their goal is to preserve the city’s historic homes and architecture.
Save 1900’s own story describes Galveston as a city with an extraordinary architectural history and emphasizes the couple’s desire to save properties that might otherwise be demolished.
The City of Galveston has also recognized Michael and Ashley Cordray for their preservation work. A city document records a special recognition for Saving 1900 / Restoring Galveston.
Their work therefore has a community-development component in addition to its commercial purpose.
Michael Cordray’s Assets and Lifestyle
Michael Cordray does not publicly disclose a detailed personal asset portfolio.
That means claims about specific luxury cars, investment accounts, private property holdings, or exact cash reserves should not be presented as established facts without documentation.
What is publicly visible is his involvement in property restoration and businesses connected to historic real estate.
Potential wealth-producing assets associated with his professional career include:
- Historic properties
- Renovation businesses
- Hospitality properties
- Commercial real estate
- Equipment used in restoration
- Business interests
However, the value and ownership structure of these assets are not fully public.
Michael Cordray Net Worth vs. Michael and Ashley Cordray’s Combined Wealth
This distinction is important.
A number of websites publish a combined net-worth estimate for Michael and Ashley Cordray.
But a combined household estimate should not automatically be presented as Michael’s individual net worth.
The couple works together, owns or operates businesses together, and has shared real estate interests. Therefore, publicly available information often does not provide enough detail to separate every asset and liability between them.
For that reason, Worthova’s estimate for Michael should remain an individual estimated range, rather than simply copying a combined figure.
How Michael Cordray Makes Money
Michael Cordray’s potential income sources can be summarized as follows:
| Income Source | Role in His Career |
| Historic Home Restoration | Core professional activity |
| Real Estate | Property acquisition, renovation and related transactions |
| Television | Restoring Galveston and related media work |
| Hospitality | Historic-property projects and short-term accommodation |
| Commercial Restoration | Restoration of historic businesses and structures |
| Business Ownership | Save 1900 and related ventures |
| Publicity & Brand Exposure | National recognition generated through television |
The exact amount earned from each category is not publicly disclosed.
Does Michael Cordray Make Money From Restoring Galveston?
The television series is undoubtedly a major part of Michael’s public career, but his exact compensation has not been publicly disclosed.
It is therefore not appropriate to assign a specific annual salary without a reliable source.
The show’s commercial value extends beyond the television contract itself.
National exposure can increase recognition for the Cordrays’ restoration business, introduce their work to potential customers, and create additional media and business opportunities.
Realtor.com reported that the show has followed Michael and Ashley as they restore and sell historic Galveston properties.
Michael Cordray Net Worth Growth
There is insufficient public financial information to produce a reliable year-by-year net-worth chart.
Instead, Michael’s career development provides a more useful picture:
| Period | Career Development |
| College Years | Studied at Texas A&M University at Galveston |
| Early Career | Developed an interest in Galveston real estate and restoration |
| First Restoration | Purchased and renovated a neglected Galveston property with Ashley |
| Save 1900 | Turned restoration into a full-time business |
| Television | Appeared in Big Texas Fix |
| Restoring Galveston | Built a larger television audience through Magnolia Network |
| Hospitality | Expanded into projects such as the historic inn |
| Commercial Properties | Restored projects including the Cordray Drug Store and filling station |
| 2026 | Continues to be associated with historic restoration, real estate and television |
This approach is more reliable than assigning unsupported dollar values to each year.
Major Career Achievements
Building Save 1900
Michael and Ashley transformed a shared interest in old homes into a full-time restoration business.
Becoming a Television Host
Their work eventually became the basis for Big Texas Fix and Restoring Galveston.
Restoring Historic Galveston Properties
The couple has worked on numerous historic homes and buildings throughout the city.
Expanding Into Hospitality
The restoration of the 1912 inn demonstrates their move into hospitality-related property development.
Restoring the Cordray Drug Store
The couple transformed the historic property into an ice cream shop and Airbnb apartment.
Preserving Galveston’s Architectural Heritage
Their work has helped draw national attention to Galveston’s historic homes and preservation challenges.
Michael Cordray’s Restoration Philosophy
The Cordrays’ approach is based on preservation rather than simply modernization.
Their projects often attempt to retain:
- Original flooring
- Historic doors
- Old windows
- Architectural trim
- Original layouts
- Vintage fixtures
- Historic exterior elements
At the same time, they introduce modern systems and amenities that make the properties practical for contemporary use.
That balance is one of the reasons Restoring Galveston has developed a recognizable identity within the home-renovation genre.
Interesting Facts About Michael Cordray
- Michael Cordray is a Galveston native.
- He graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2006.
- He and Ashley began restoring homes before television.
- Their restoration company is called Save 1900.
- Save 1900 refers to Galveston’s devastating 1900 hurricane.
- The couple first appeared on television through Big Texas Fix.
- The show later became Restoring Galveston.
- Michael and Ashley have three daughters.
- They restored the historic Cordray Drug Store into an ice cream shop and rental property.
- They also restored a 1912 boarding house featured in Restoring Galveston: The Inn.
- Their television work has included residential and commercial restoration projects.
- Their business remains strongly connected to Galveston.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michael Cordray
What is Michael Cordray’s net worth in 2026?
Michael Cordray’s net worth is estimated at approximately $1 million to $5 million in 2026. This is an editorial estimate because there is no publicly verified personal financial statement showing his complete assets and liabilities.
How did Michael Cordray become famous?
Michael became widely known through Big Texas Fix and its successor, Restoring Galveston. Both shows feature his restoration work with his wife, Ashley Cordray.
What is Michael Cordray’s business?
Michael and Ashley Cordray operate Save 1900, a restoration and real estate business focused on historic Galveston properties.
What is Restoring Galveston about?
Restoring Galveston follows Michael and Ashley as they restore historic and neglected properties in Galveston, Texas, while attempting to preserve the city’s architectural character.
Is Michael Cordray still on Restoring Galveston?
Michael Cordray remains listed as a host of Restoring Galveston. The show’s seventh season premiered in November 2024 and continued into January 2025.
Who is Michael Cordray’s wife?
Michael Cordray’s wife is Ashley Cordray. She is his restoration-business partner and co-host of Restoring Galveston.
Where does Michael Cordray live?
Michael’s professional and family life is closely associated with Galveston, Texas, where the Cordrays operate their restoration business and have completed many of their projects.
How many children does Michael Cordray have?
Michael and Ashley Cordray have three daughters.
What did Michael Cordray study?
Michael studied at Texas A&M University at Galveston and graduated in 2006.
What is Save 1900?
Save 1900 is Michael and Ashley Cordray’s restoration business. Its mission is to save neglected historic Galveston homes and preserve their architectural character.
Did Michael Cordray restore the Cordray Drug Store?
Yes. Michael and Ashley transformed the historic Cordray Drug Store into an ice cream shop and an Airbnb apartment.
What happened to Big Texas Fix?
Big Texas Fix was the earlier title of the Cordrays’ renovation television series. It was subsequently known as Restoring Galveston.
Final Thoughts
Michael Cordray’s career is a story of historic preservation, real estate, entrepreneurship and television.
His path to public recognition began long before Restoring Galveston. Alongside Ashley Cordray, he turned an interest in Galveston’s neglected historic homes into Save 1900, a full-time restoration business dedicated to giving older properties another life.
Television then brought their work to a much wider audience.
Big Texas Fix introduced viewers to their restoration philosophy, while Restoring Galveston established Michael and Ashley as recognizable figures in the home-renovation space. The series has since covered a wide range of projects, from Victorian homes and Craftsman houses to commercial properties and hospitality projects.
Their business has also expanded beyond individual houses. The Cordray Drug Store became an ice cream shop and rental property, while their 1912 inn project demonstrated their interest in historic hospitality properties.
As for Michael Cordray net worth, the exact number remains private. An estimated $1 million to $5 million in 2026 provides a reasonable editorial range, but it should not be presented as a verified personal financial figure.
What can be established more confidently is the business behind the estimate: Michael Cordray has spent years turning neglected Galveston properties into restored homes, businesses and hospitality spaces while building a recognizable television career around that work.