Image Source: YouTube/TLC
Meri Brown was the first wife of TLC star Kody Brown. The duo started a plural family that hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed watching over the last 19 seasons. However, the polygamist family has since fallen apart, with three out of the four wives leaving Kody, including Meri. Each of them has decided to pursue other things in life. So, what has that meant for Meri Brown’s net worth? Here’s everything we know about the Sister Wives star and how she’s made her money.
How Did Meri & Kody Brown Meet?
Meri Barber (Brown) was born on January 16, 1971. She grew up in a polygamist family, so when the time came for her to get married, entering a similar marriage seemed natural to her. Her father had five wives and she grew up with 25 siblings.
Kody and Meri met when she was just 18 years old. Christy, Kody’s sister, introduced them to each other. The pair went on to get married on April 21, 1990. In the 2012 book Becoming Sister Wives, she admitted that she was immediately smitten with Kody and eager to start their lives together.
Image Source: YouTube/TLC
Eventually, they brought in other wives (Janelle Brown and Christine Brown). Meri and Kody had one child together, a son named Leon. Kody also welcomed 17 other children with his other three wives, including three that he adopted.
Meri and Kody Brown divorced on September 25, 2014, so that he could marry his fourth wife (Robyn Brown) and legally adopt her children. The show Sister Wives started shortly before Robyn entered the family and viewers saw much of the courtship process between Kody and Robyn at the time.
It’s easy to think that much of Meri Brown’s net worth and current wealth stems from the TLC show. Surprisingly, she’s had several of her own ways to make money for some time. So, let’s dive into the numbers.
Meri Brown’s Net Worth
Image Source: YouTube/TLC
Right now, Meri Brown’s net worth is estimated to be about $400,000. Kody Brown is estimated to have a net worth of about $800,000 and Robyn $600,000. The first three wives (Meri, Christine, and Janelle) all have net worths hovering around $400K. The other family members’ finances don’t come into play though because they were not legally married. Only Kody and Robyn are legally married now and Meri was the only other wife who signed legal paperwork in relation to her marriage with Kody.
That said, much of Meri’s wealth has come from her work on the TLC show. The main cast on the show, which includes Kody and the wives, makes anywhere from $25,000 to $40,000 per episode.
Many fans are thinking that Sister Wives will likely taper off following Season 19. It’s been painful to watch, with much of what is playing out on television years behind what’s happening in real life (so much for reality TV). Thankfully, Meri has other ways of making money.
The Sister Wives star owns a bed and breakfast called Lizzie’s Heritage Inn in Utah. While the inn is currently closed for renovations, she still offers merchandise for sale on the B&B’s website. This includes mugs, hoodies, ornaments, bath bombs, and more.
On top of that, she has her own website, which details some of the other things she’s earning money from. LuLaRoe is something she’s been heavily involved with over the years. She’s also got her hand in a company called “Worthy Up,” which seems to provide motivation for people. Meri also earns money by doing Cameo videos for fans. There are several other brands mentioned on her website, but it isn’t immediately clear how she’s connected to them.
Additionally, Meri has more than 1 million followers just on Instagram, and numbers stacking up on other platforms as well. Given her social media presence, she’s able to get endorsement deals that will pay nicely as well.
Meri Brown’s net worth isn’t huge, but it is something that will likely continue to grow. She has gained a significant fanbase over the years and now that she and Kody split for good, people are taking sides (and not Kody’s). That will likely bode well for her finances in the future.
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