Kody Brown’s Daughter Madison Brush Says Their Family Was ‘Very Poor’ Before Sister Wives

Kody Brown's Daughter Madison Brush Says Their Family Was 'Very Poor' Before Sister Wives

The 29-year-old daughter of Kody and Janelle Brown said that her dad was known for investing in “get-rich-quick schemes”

Madison Brush on her Authentic Society Podcast; Kody Brown on Sister Wives
Madison Brush talks about dad Kody Brown and the family’s finances. Photo: The Authentic Society/YouTube; TLC

Madison Brush is shedding some light on the Brown family’s financial situation prior to their breakout success on the hit TLC series Sister Wives.

The 29-year-old daughter of Kody Brown and his ex Janelle Brown opened up about the matter on her Authentic Society podcast on Monday, Dec. 9, saying, “Before the show, we were very poor. I think my dad made decent money but we had 15 kids.”

Sister Wives premiered on TLC in 2010, showing Kody, 55, and the Brown family inviting single mom Robyn Brown into the fold in the debut episode. Since then, three of Kody’s four wives — Janelle, 55, Christine Brown and Meri Brown — have left him. Robyn, 45, is now his only remaining wife.

Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, Kody Brown, Meri Brown, and Robyn Brown in 2010.
Janelle Brown, Christine Brown, Kody Brown, Meri Brown, and Robyn Brown in 2010.Shutterstock

Brush, who is currently pregnant with her fourth child with husband Caleb Brush, has been candid about her estrangement from dad Kody, with the family tension playing out on season 19 of Sister Wives. She made new claims about her dad’s attitude toward business during the podcast episode.

“My dad always chose the get-rich-quick scheme, almost always,” she said. “And that was something, that was such a foreign thought to Caleb. And I remember explaining some ideas to him and he was like, ‘No, no.’”

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Adding of the father of 18, “My dad was a sign salesman, but he was always doing something. Even after the show started. They did a lot of investments with people and stuff like that,” she said.

She also noted that all of her parents, including fellow moms Meri, Christine, and Robyn, tended to spend first instead of opting to save.

“When we got our tax returns when we were younger, my parents immediately spent it on something,” she claimed of her plural family, “and Caleb’s family were both educated and they did not. They saved it. They saved every penny they could.”

Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, Meri Brown, Robyn Brown, Christine Brown and family
Janelle Brown, Kody Brown, Meri Brown, Robyn Brown, Christine Brown and family.Puddle Monkey Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

However, Maddie, who recently started the Taeda Farms property and flower farm business with her biological mother Janelle, noted, “My mom is relatively good with money.”

And despite seeing flaws in her parents’ financial strategies, Maddie noted that her upbringing “made me the parent I am today.”

As for Kody, he recently opened up to PEOPLE about his wishes for his fractured family.

“I hope all my children marry and have children,” he told PEOPLE during a Sept. 15 interview. “That’s what I hope. And I hope they find happiness in those places.”

Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

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