As Season 19 of Sister Wives rolls on, Kody Brown’s former wives continue to reveal previously unknown details about the Brown family, many involving the TLC stars’ finances and how, in many cases, funds were dispersed unfairly among the four wives and their respective children.
On Sunday’s episode, Meri Brown– who officially ended her spiritual union with Kody in January 2023– spoke to her BFF Jenn Sullivan about the Brown “family fund,” which Kody and this then-four wives reportedly contributed to regularly at one point.
“ … our funds were all together and those family funds that I helped with went to the kids’ college [tuition], went to property,” Meri told Jenn. “It went to everything. We had a family fund.”
Despite contributing an equal amount to the “family fund,” which was used to purchase the family’s Coyote Pass property in Arizona, Meri claimed that Kody admitted to her that he never intended for her to receive a fair share of the land, claiming she was “not entitled to an equal portion” because she only has one child. (Kody’s other ex-wives, Janelle and Christine, each had six kids with him, while his current wife, Robyn, has five.)
“He’s like, ‘Well, you don’t need as much because you don’t have as many kids,’” Meri recalled. (As fans of ‘Sister Wives’ know, Meri and Kody share one child together– Leon, who came out as transgender and queer in June 2022 and uses they/them pronouns.)
In addition to Kody attempting to slight her in the Coyote Pass dispute, Meri went on to reveal that money from the “family fund” had also been used in the past to cover “the majority of the kids’” college tuitions, but not Leon’s.
“I paid for Leon’s college,” Meri claimed, adding that she also single-handedly covered Leon’s car payments in the past, suggesting that other kids in the family had vehicles that were paid for through the “family fund.”
“I really don’t know how much of the family fund actually paid for other kids’ school or cars, but I know that my kiddo’s school was not taken care of from the family fund,” Meri said.
Since last appearing on ’Sister Wives,’ Leon married their longtime partner Audrey Kris, who is also transgender. The couple secretly tied the knot in October 2022 and currently reside in Colorado. While Meri maintains a close relationship with Leon, it’s been reported that Kody and Leon have been estranged since Leon’s gender-affirming top surgery. (Leon revealed on social media in January 2023 that they had undergone the procedure.)
While Leon’s relationship with Kody is reportedly non-existent, they seem to maintain a good relationship with many other family members, including Kody’s ex-wives Christine and Janelle, as well as many of their siblings. Both Leon and Audrey were in attendance for Christine’s 2023 wedding to David Woolley– an event that neither Meri nor Kody were invited to attend.
When asked about the alleged unfair use of “family fund” money on Sunday’s episode, Kody argued that there were 18 kids in the Brown family, before going on to accuse Meri of “complaining.”
“ … You know, that’s just water under the bridge,” he insisted. “I don’t even want to discuss it. Meri can do all the complaining about whatever happened that she wants.”
As for Meri, she argued during the episode that she did not receive alimony after her split from Kody, nor was she “looking for that”; however, because she “put a lot into this marriage emotionally, financially [and] personally,” she believes she’s entitled to a fair deal regarding Coyote Pass.
“ … I think it’s fair [I get] the property investment,” she said. “I think it’s fair that I walk away with that at least.”
After Sunday’s episode aired, clips of earlier ‘Sister Wives’ episodes started popping up on social media showing that Meri was, indeed, told that the family wouldn’t pay for her child’s college expenses, even though other kids in the family had the family’s financial backing.
In one clip, posted to TikTok by the user @AyCarumbaTLC, Kody and the Sister Wives were discussing how much of the family’s finances each of the college-aged kids were using. Janelle’s son, Logan, had his on-campus college paid for, as well as his car, while the family fund was also paying for Christine’s daughter Aspyn to live on-campus at her college and have a car. During the episode, Kody suggested that Meri pay out of her pocket— rather than the family’s pocket– for Leon to go to the college she wanted to go to (which, to be fair, was about four times the cost of Logan’s college.)
@aycarambatlc Meri put into the family fund as much if not more but when she needed the support for her daughter or her Airbnb she was told no! You only have one child and you get nothing. #meribrown #janellebrown #sisterwives #christinebrown #robynbrown #sisterwivestiktok #kodybrown #sisterwivestlc ♬ original sound – AyCarambaTLC
New episodes of ‘Sister Wives’ air Sundays on TLC.
RELATED STORY: Ysabel Brown Says She Believes Stepdad David Woolley Proposed to Her Mom Christine Brown “Too Soon”
(Photos: TLC; Instagram)
12 Responses
No, she just didn’t appear so was not paid for screen time like the rest. Funny thing about contracts and money and being a parent and having to plan. It sure didn’t stop Meri from trying to cheat on Kody only to be catfished which also didn’t stop Meri from purchasing her childhood home for a B and B that was never mentioned again for two seasons lol. Whatever, Mer. She is always moping about something.
I’m sorry but these ladies should have kept separate accounts for just themselves only. No legal marriage means no security. You have to plan for a way out if things go sideways. Especially if you have kids to care for and the dad has no legal ties. This whole situation is one big scam for the sister wives without the marriage certificate and legal martial status. Always protect yourself in case you have to bolt quickly.
“No legal marriage means no security”
Thus the appeal of polygamist men. Their women can’t leave.
Meri got as much (in the early years, anyway) for her one child as Janelle and Christine. with six children each. That did not seem fair to me, at all. But, in more recent years, Meri has earned a good amount by selling thru an MLM, and if she was sharing that income with the “family,” she has helped with the other members’ expenses. She should get as much from that property as the other 3 people will get, if they ever unload it. I wouldn’t trust Kody or Robyn as far as I could throw them. They would gladly take as much as they can scam, and not lose sleep over their greediness. Those two are snakes.
Sadly, the “family” fiances were and are a hot mess. Scrotty bamboozled them all. Most of the adults have filed for bankruptcy protection at one point or another. Scrotty couldn’t pass up a get rich quick scheme that his OG wives financed to the detriment of their financial well being. And please, let’s not forget forget Eyebrows’ premarital Victoria Secrets/Sears/Target $32,000 credit card bail out. Even Jenelle inferred they robbed Peter to pay Paul instead of having and sticking to a family monthly budget.
All of the adults have been getting paid by TLC since the show started in 2010. Meri may have gotten the short end of the stick with regards to her child’s tuition and car payments but Christine be had to come up with the down payment for her daughter’s surgery. All the OG wives made their fair share of poor financial choices and got screwed over financially at one point or another. Meri is not alone in that kettle of fish.
Meri is annoying how she likes to act like she didnt know she was getting a raw deal. She knew but like all “pick mes” she was willing to go along with the foolishenss to buy Kodys love and show how dedicated she was to him Meri didnt adovcate for her kid and bring Kodi to task for his portion of support. Now shes mad watching him provider for Robyns kids like second nature.
serious question: Both of these girls transitioned from female to male, are together, but don’t consider themselves gay? I have so many questions….
I have a 17 year old daughter who is very “hip” to the things. She says they are considered “gay” usually. I don’t understand it either. Their life not mine.
What should have happened is they should have paid the same amount towards Leon’s college as they did for Logan and Aspyn. If $6500 was the amount then that is what you get and anything above that you have to cover with student loans or Meri could pay if she wanted.
Agreed. That absolutely was the fair way of doing things.
To be honest, I don’t think it’s unfair that Meri had less space as a mom of one with her kid living out of state. Her massive Vegas house never made sense. Or the stupid must-have wet bar!
But as far as the “divorce” then I think the normal rules should apply and the assets should be split according to the laws of the state, just like for everyone else.
I also think that she got the huge house in Flagstaff because she was told that she would host holidays there, because Robynn had no intention of hosting at her house, but then covid hit and the insane rules ruined that.