Sister Wives Janelle Claims Kody Brown Mismanaged Family Finances

More than two years after ending her marriage with Kody Brown, Sister Wives star Janelle Brown is shedding light on the family’s financial dynamics.
Over the years, their financial system evolved—from a shared responsibility to what Janelle claims became an unchecked spending spree by Kody.

A Shared Financial System In The Early Years

Janelle, who became Kody’s second wife in 1993, recalled that financial decisions were a collaborative effort in the early years of their plural marriage. “We weighed in on what bills should be paid, how we were going to pay, who got priority,” she shared during the January 26 episode of Sister Wives.

This collective approach remained in place as Kody married Christine Brown in 1994 and later Robyn Brown in 2010.

At the time, all four wives contributed to a shared family fund, which was used for household expenses, children’s needs, and major investments, including property.

Kody Brown’s Increased Spending Habits

According to Janelle, things began to change in recent years. “Then the last several years, Kody would just take out funds and I don’t know what for. And the money was just being spent and lots of it. Towards the end, it was just really hard.”

Kody defended himself, asserting that as a father of 18 children and a husband to multiple wives, he had various financial obligations that “weren’t always Janelle’s business.” He maintained that much of the money went toward cars, school tuition, and insurance for their children.

Despite Kody’s explanation, Janelle and even Meri Brown expressed skepticism. Janelle, who handled bookkeeping for the family, argued that she didn’t have the level of financial control Kody claimed she did. “He loves this mantra that somehow I was the all-powerful one with all the financial control,” she countered. “I really was just the person who recorded the transactions and sent them to the CPA.”

The Dispute Over Coyote Pass

One of the most contentious financial issues within the Brown family is the Coyote Pass property in Arizona. The land was intended to be a shared investment, but with the breakdown of the plural marriage, ownership, and division of assets have become a heated topic.

Christine, after her departure from the family in 2021, relinquished her portion of Coyote Pass to Kody and Robyn. However, Janelle and Meri, still listed on the deed, are now seeking legal counsel to ensure they receive their fair share. “I trusted it would all work out in the end,” Janelle admitted. “And looking back now, I’m like, ‘Wow, it’s really dumb. Why did I not insist that we were all titled on all the pieces?’ I just was too trusting, I guess.”

Meri echoed similar concerns. “We paid for the land out of the family account,” she explained. “We paid for it equally.” However, Kody disputed this claim, arguing that he personally covered the majority of one of the lots. “We didn’t pay for Coyote Pass all equally. I paid for an entire lot all by myself, at least 92 percent of it,” he alleged.

Tensions Over Financial Transparency

Financial transparency—or the lack of it—has remained a major sticking point between Kody and his ex-wives. Janelle revealed that, over the years, she had noticed financial disparities, particularly in how money was spent on different households. “I see all the art on their walls,” she noted about Robyn’s home. “I see all these things. And that’s fine, I have money and I’ve spent it on things, too.”

Meri also questioned how family funds were allocated, particularly when it came to their children’s education. “Those family funds that I helped with went to kids’ college, went to property. It went to everything,” she said. However, she claimed that when her only child, Leon, attended Westminster College in Utah, the shared family fund did not cover their tuition, unlike the other children.

 Legal Action On The Horizon?

With financial disputes unresolved, both Janelle and Meri have considered taking legal action to protect their interests. “I feel like Kody and Robyn probably have some plan of what they want to do and how they want to handle it,” Meri shared. “And none of us are talking to each other because none of us trust each other.”

Janelle, for her part, is eager to sever her final financial ties with Kody and Robyn. “I just want this to be done because this is the only thing that still ties me to Kody and Robyn,” she stated. “I’m ready to just close that chapter.”

As Sister Wives continues to air, viewers will likely see more of the fallout from these financial disputes. The show airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.

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