The Duggar Family Is Worth a TON of Money ... And Here's How They Earned It
by Tyler Johnson at . Updated at .It should come as no surprise that the Duggar family is worth a lot of money.
But what many fans may not realize is that not all of the Duggar fortune comes from their reality TV empire.
After all, television audiences are fickle, and future success can be hard to predict.
Jim Bob is well aware of this, and since it's part of his belief system that God favors the wealthy, the Duggar patriarch is doing everything he can to stay in his creator's good graces by keeping his pockets fat -- by whatever means necessary:
1. The Counting On Clan
The Duggars' reality show remains a popular fixture on the TLC schedule.
2. Looking to the Future
But those profits need to be divided many different ways, and the family has been in the business long enough to know current success is no guarantee of future success.
3. Living Large
The Duggars certainly aren't struggling. Despite having many, many mouths to feed, Jim Bob and Michelle own several properties in Arkansas, including the 7,000-foot "compound" in which they reside.
4. The Plane Truth
The Duggars have also purchased two private aircraft. JB and Michelle's son John David is a licensed pilot.
5. Jim Bob Moneybags
All told, Jim Bob is estimated to be worth roughly $3.5 million.
6. Always Hustling
A sizable chunk of change, but when you consider the size of his brood (now up to 20 with recent adoptee Tyler), it's easy to see why the pious patriarch isn't resting easy ...
7. Irons in the Fire
Those who know him best say Jim Bob is up at dawn tending to his various business ventures -- and he doesn't take days off.
8. Hidden Treasure
The Duggars are secretive about the details of their side-businesses, but insiders say Jim Bob profits from at least five different revenue streams at all times, and he encourages his kids to do the same.
9. Counting On Big Bucks
The sweetest plum, of course, is reality TV, with the most popular Duggars reportedly receiving between $25,000 to $40,000 an episode.
10. Ups and Downs
That stream dried up when 19 Kids and Counting was canceled in 2015 amidst the Josh Duggar sex scandals, but the family bounced back with Counting On.
11. Adding Up
The Duggars filmed 229 episodes of 19 Kids & Counting, and thus far, they've shot 53 episodes of Counting On, meaning as a family, they've earned over $11 million from their reality TV work.
12. Flipping Out
Real estate has also proven massively lucrative for the Duggars, with Jim Bob getting his kids involved in the family business while they're still in their teens.
13. Growing Up, Cashing In
For example, Jim Bob recently helped 16-year-old Jason Duggar purchase a $33,000 three-bedroom house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas so that the boy can renovate it and sell it for much more.
14. Going Too Far?
Over the course of the past two years, Jim Bob has earned the ire of his neighbors, who have accused him of attempting to buy up most of the land in Tontitown, Arkansas in order to ensure maximum political clout.
15. Jim Bob vs. The People
Currently, Jim Bob is fighting for the right to rezone 23 acres of land in order to turn the tract into a "luxury RV park," a project most of his neighbors seem to oppose.
16. Bestsellers
While the Duggar men focus on flipping houses and cars, the Duggar women have been pulling their weight by penning books, such as the memoir Growing Up Duggar, which reportedly sold more than 100,000 copies.
17. Speaking Out
In addition to spreading their message on paper, the Duggar are also in demand as in demand as public speakers, often earning up as much as $25,000 for a single engagement.
18. Sponsored Content
And of course, the Duggar daughters are wildly popular on social media, where they often earn big bucks by endorsing brands such as Chick-Fil-A, Promised Land Milk, IHOP, and Old Navy.
19. The Next Generation
Now, the youngest Duggar daughters have launched a new venture by releasing their first album as singing group The Duggar Girls. Will it be successful as the family's other projects? Only time will tell.
