Tim Norman Biography, Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth & 2026 Update

Tim Norman biography is one of the most searched reality TV stories in America. Best known as the outspoken son of Robbie Montgomery on OWN’s Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s, the St. Louis businessman went from running a famous soul food empire to serving a life sentence in federal prison for the murder-for-hire of his nephew.

As of September 2026, Tim Norman age is 47, and his career, family tragedy, and net worth remain topics of major public interest. This updated profile covers his early life, height, career rise, recent activity in prison, personal life, and legal case in full detail.

Quick Facts

If you follow reality TV and soul food business stories, you may also be searching for Robbie Montgomery biography, Miss Robbie age and health, Oprah Winfrey Network stars, Jenifer Lewis, Kandi Burruss, and Sweetie Pie’s cast updates. Tim Norman’s story is often compared to other OWN reality personalities and St. Louis entrepreneurs whose fame turned into legal trouble.

Early Life & Education

Tim Norman was born James Timothy Norman on July 13, 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the only son of singer-turned-restaurateur Robbie Montgomery, a former Ikette who sang backup for Ike and Tina Turner before founding the Sweetie Pie’s soul food chain.

Growing up in St. Louis, Tim was raised around music, food, and strong family values. His mother worked hard to build a better life after leaving the music industry due to health issues. Tim spent much of his childhood in and around his mother’s kitchen, learning recipes that would later become famous on national television.

He attended local schools in St. Louis and graduated from high school in the late 1990s. Unlike many TV stars, Tim did not attend college. Instead, he learned business on the job, helping his mother open the first Sweetie Pie’s restaurant in 1996. Early on, he showed interest in music management and street promotion, but his mother pushed him toward the family restaurant business.

As a teenager and young adult, Tim faced trouble with the law. In the early 2000s, he served time in prison for armed robbery. He has spoken openly on Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s about that period, saying it changed his outlook and made him want to rebuild his life through the family business. That redemption story became a central part of the Tim Norman biography during his TV fame.

Career Journey and Recent Activity in 2026

Tim Norman career can be divided into three clear phases: his rise as a restaurant manager, his peak as a reality TV star from 2011 to 2018, and his fall following his 2020 arrest and 2022 federal conviction.

Beginnings at Sweetie Pie’s – 1996 to 2010

Tim started as a helper at Sweetie Pie’s The Original location on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis. He worked as a cashier, cook, and manager. By the mid-2000s, after returning from prison, his mother gave him more responsibility. He helped open the second location, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust in 2012, and pushed for expansion, catering, and branded products like sweet tea and seasonings.

Known for his tough management style, Tim often clashed with staff but was credited with bringing modern marketing ideas to the business. Local media in St. Louis praised the family for creating jobs and preserving soul food culture.

Reality TV Fame on OWN – 2011 to 2018

In October 2011, Oprah Winfrey Network launched Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s. The show followed Robbie Montgomery, Tim Norman, and their staff. Tim quickly became the breakout star because of his blunt personality, business ambition, and complicated relationship with his mother.

The series ran for 9 seasons and over 100 episodes until 2018. It earned NAACP Image Award nominations and made Sweetie Pie’s a national name. At the peak, tourists lined up in St. Louis to meet Miss Robbie and Tim. He appeared on talk shows, food festivals, and OWN specials, and managed the group’s social media and expansion plans.

During this period, Tim launched Sweetie Pie’s merchandise, pursued a third location in Houston, Texas, and worked on a cookbook project with his mother. His estimated income from TV salary, restaurant profits, and appearances was at its highest between 2013 and 2017.

Business Troubles and Arrest – 2018 to 2022

After the show ended in 2018, cracks appeared. Reports of unpaid taxes, business debts, and family disputes surfaced. On March 14, 2016, Tim’s 21-year-old nephew Andre Montgomery Jr. was shot and killed in St. Louis. At first it was treated as a street shooting.

In August 2020, the FBI arrested Tim Norman on federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, wire fraud, and mail fraud. Prosecutors said he took out a $450,000 life insurance policy on his nephew and hired others to kill him. In September 2022, after a high-profile trial in St. Louis, a federal jury found him guilty on all counts.

In March 2023, he was sentenced to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conspiracy, plus additional time for fraud.

Tim Norman Recent Activity and Legal Status in 2026

Updated in 2026, Tim Norman remains in federal custody serving a life sentence. The Federal Bureau of Prisons lists him as an inmate at a high-security facility. His appeals were denied in 2024, and as of early 2026, no new trial date has been granted.

Recent activity reports from 2025 and 2026 show that his legal team filed motions claiming ineffective counsel, but federal judges upheld the conviction. His mother Robbie Montgomery, now in her 80s, has largely stepped away from public life. The Sweetie Pie’s restaurants in St. Louis closed permanently, with the last location shutting down after tax liens and loss of management.

In 2026, Tim Norman occasionally makes headlines when prison interviews, court filings, or documentaries revisit the case. He is no longer active in business or television.

Personal Life

Tim Norman personal life has always been closely tied to his family, especially his mother Robbie Montgomery and his son.

Family

• Mother: Robbie Montgomery – Founder of Sweetie Pie’s, former Ikette singer
• Father: James Norman Sr. – Largely private, separated from Robbie early
• Son: Tim Norman Jr. – Born in the 2010s, lives with family in St. Louis
• Nephew: Andre Montgomery Jr. (1995-2016) – Son of Tim’s sister, victim in murder case
• Grandmother Figure: Miss Bertha – Often featured on the show

Marriage and Relationships

Tim Norman has never been married. His most public relationship was with Jenae Wallick, Miss Louisiana USA 2013, who appeared with him on Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and on Marriage Boot Camp. The couple got engaged on TV but split in 2016.

He was also linked in media reports to several St. Louis women, but none led to marriage. He is currently single and incarcerated.

Dating History

Before his arrest, Tim kept his dating life mostly private except for his storyline with Jenae Wallick. The show portrayed their ups and downs, including arguments about business, trust, and wedding plans. After their breakup, he focused on raising his young son and running the restaurants.

Hobbies and Community Work

Before prison, Tim was known for mentoring young men in St. Louis, hiring ex-offenders at Sweetie Pie’s, and supporting back-to-school drives and food giveaways. He enjoyed fitness training, soul music, and cooking competitions. Those community ties made his later conviction even more shocking to fans.

Awards & Achievements

• Star of OWN’s Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s (2011-2018), 9 seasons
• Helped grow Sweetie Pie’s into a nationally recognized soul food brand
• Show nominated for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Reality Series
• Recognized by St. Louis City leaders for job creation and youth employment
• Featured in national food and culture coverage for preserving soul food traditions

Physical Statistics

Tim Norman height is 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm), which made him stand out on television next to his mother. His weight has been reported between 195 and 210 lbs over the years, with an athletic build during his TV peak.

Quotes

‘I went from a prison cell to primetime TV. I know what second chances mean, and I tried to give that to others.’

‘My mama built this with her hands. My job was to protect it and grow it for the next generation.’

‘In this business, it’s family first, but business has to be business.’

Controversies

The main controversy in Tim Norman biography is his federal murder-for-hire conviction. Prosecutors proved that in 2014 and 2015, Norman obtained a life insurance policy on his nephew Andre Montgomery Jr. and conspired with insurance agent Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam and others to have him killed for a payout.

Andre Montgomery Jr. was shot on March 14, 2016. Phone records, insurance documents, and testimony from co-conspirators were key evidence. Yaghnam pleaded guilty, and hitman Travell Anthony Hill testified against Norman.

Norman maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming family love and denying any plot. The jury deliberated for several days in September 2022 before convicting him. The case was covered by national news and true crime shows, ending his TV career and leading to the closure of the family business.

Earlier controversies included tax liens against Sweetie Pie’s locations, lawsuits from landlords, and on-air fights with staff and family members. None compared in scale to the criminal case.

Favorites

Earnings and Net Worth in 2026

Tim Norman net worth in 2026 is estimated at around $300,000, though exact figures are hard to confirm because of legal fees, closed businesses, and court-ordered restitution.

At his peak around 2015, his net worth was widely reported near $500,000 to $800,000 from OWN salary (reported $15,000 to $20,000 per episode), restaurant profits, catering, and appearances. After 2020, his income stopped. Lawyers’ fees, loss of restaurant licenses, and federal fines wiped out most assets.

As of 2026, he earns no business income while in federal prison. Any remaining value is tied to past TV royalties and personal property. Industry benchmarks for reality stars of his level show how quickly earnings can fall after a show ends, especially with a criminal conviction. Unlike active restaurateurs, Norman has no current salary or endorsement deals.

Interesting Facts

• Tim is the only child of Robbie Montgomery, making the family business deeply personal.
• He served state prison time before fame and often hired other formerly incarcerated people.
• Sweetie Pie’s was named after Tina Turner, who called Robbie ‘Sweetie Pie’ during their Ike and Tina days.
• Tim once planned to expand Sweetie Pie’s to Houston and Los Angeles.
• His trial in 2022 lasted nearly three weeks and drew national media to St. Louis.
• Despite conviction, some early fans still run support pages calling for a new appeal in 2026.

Did You Know Already?

• Did you know Tim Norman managed both Sweetie Pie’s locations before age 35?
• Did you know his nephew Andre Montgomery Jr. also appeared on Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s?
• Did you know OWN cancelled new episodes after Tim’s arrest, though reruns still air?
• Did you know Robbie Montgomery was 71 when the show first premiered in 2011?

Social Media Links

Tim Norman is not personally active on social media in 2026 due to incarceration. Past verified and fan-run accounts include:

• Instagram: Past handle @thetimnorman – currently inactive
• Facebook: Sweetie Pie’s official page – closed after restaurant shutdown
• X (Twitter): Past handle @thetimnorman – inactive since 2020
• YouTube: OWN clips of Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s remain available

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tim Norman biography in short?

Tim Norman is an American former reality TV star and restaurateur from St. Louis, born July 13, 1979. He is best known for OWN’s Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and for his 2022 federal conviction for murder-for-hire of his nephew.

How old is Tim Norman in 2026?

Tim Norman age in 2026 is 47 years old. He was born in 1979 and will turn 47 in July 2026.

Who was Tim Norman nephew Andre Norman?

His nephew was Andre Montgomery Jr., often searched as Andre Norman. He was 21 when he was killed in St. Louis on March 14, 2016. He was the grandson of Robbie Montgomery and appeared on the family TV show.

Where is Tim Norman now in 2026?

As of 2026, Tim Norman is in federal prison serving a life sentence. His conviction was upheld on appeal, and he has no release date.

What is Tim Norman height and net worth?

Tim Norman height is 6 feet 1 inch. Tim Norman net worth in 2026 is estimated around $300,000, down from his TV peak due to closed restaurants and legal costs.

Is Sweetie Pie’s still open?

No. All Sweetie Pie’s locations in St. Louis are closed as of 2024-2026 following tax issues, the criminal case, and Robbie Montgomery’s retirement from daily operations.

Conclusion: Where Is Tim Norman in 2026?

Tim Norman’s life story moved from reality TV success to one of the most shocking falls in food television history. In 2026, he remains behind bars while his family legacy lives on through reruns and St. Louis food culture. If you found this Tim Norman biography helpful, please share it with others who follow true crime and reality TV news.

Key Sources: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, St. Louis Post-Dispatch court coverage, OWN Network show archives, Associated Press trial reporting.