With ‘Sister Wives’ rumored to be ending, how will Kody Brown and his various ex-wives support themselves?
Now that the four separate marriages within the Sister Wives cast are in disarray, the show’s future appears to be in limbo. Although TLC has kept mum on the program’s direction, fans feel the show is no longer focused on the original subject. Because of that, some have stated that it may be time for the show to go.
If TLC decides to go along with that line of thought, how will the massive family move forward financially? Having a decrease in income can be disastrous for any family, but with 18 children and five parents, the fallout can be even more severe. What will become of the family in the event of a series cancelation of Sister Wives?
‘Sister Wives’ Has Always Been Centered On Plural Marriage
As many fans will remember, the beginning of the Sister Wives series focused on the illegal nature of polygamy and how a family in such an arrangement functions.
The earliest episodes on TLC showed the wives working together to care for all the children in a large house in Utah, buying groceries in bulk, splitting them between each other, and coming together for family meals and holidays.
At the same time the program began, the newest wife, Robyn, joined the family with her three children. Since the house was only set up for three wives, Robyn resided in a rental home a short distance away from the others, and Kody would visit her there.
The show continued to document the family fleeing to Las Vegas to avoid legal issues and later relocating to Arizona.
Being that three out of the four marriages have now ended, and the series now has to follow four separate households, the focus of the show is no longer on polygamy. Instead, Sister Wives displays a failed plural marriage with family members residing throughout the United States.
For this reason, fans feel they are being slighted in learning about how a family of this lifestyle actually functions when the Browns are no longer in this category.
TLC Previously Changed The Family’s Pay Due To Low Ratings
After many years on air, the viewership of the Sister Wives program plummeted drastically. As a result, TLC reportedly wanted to cancel the program. However, Kody Brown came to the negotiation table with a supposed plan to make less but stay on the air.
While the company hasn’t disclosed the details, many estimate that they are earning $180,000 per season for the whole family to share.
The show has continued to stay on the air since the negotiations took place, so many refer to the strategy as a solid one. Not only did the Browns dodge cancelation, but the show seemingly recovered in subsequent seasons. It is unknown whether the pay scale went back up to compensate for the renewed interest and increased viewership.
While the wives have been compensated for their time on the show, it is unknown what the pay is for the Brown children. Paedon Brown once stated in an interview that he doesn’t earn anything from TLC.
However, he and a few of his siblings have started increasing their presence online through social media. Some have even started Patreon accounts where they react to the episodes of Sister Wives as they are released.
What Will Life Look Like Post-Show For The Family?
When it comes to Kody Brown’s ex-wives, they have already taken steps to provide for themselves and their children, separate from the show. Therefore, if the time comes for TLC to pull the plug, the women’s careers in Lularoe, Plexus, health coaching, and other business ventures will likely become their primary form of income.
Many of the Brown children have reached adulthood and are either off to college or living independently. Several now have children of their own since leaving the Brown family home. Therefore, the financial pressure to provide for 18 children isn’t as strong as it was several seasons ago.
While it has been made known what work Janelle, Christine, and Meri have taken on, less is known about any additional income that Kody and Robyn bring to the family.
Prior to the show, Kody worked in sales. He has also been involved in a side business dealing with firearms, which has since ended. While Robyn used to run her own business selling jewelry, she has not pursued those efforts since 2019. The household of Kody and Robyn also has the most mouths to feed, with all five children still living at home.
It’s safe to say that the home that will require the most significant adjustment in the event of the show being canceled is that of Robyn and Kody. Some reports have stated that they have been researching different homes in various states to reduce their living expenses, but that has yet to be verified by the couple themselves.
