This Is How Much Every Duggar Is Really Worth
From looking at the Duggars, you wouldn't think that children are expensive. And yet the cost is one of the biggest hangups people have about having children — especially multiple children — is the cost. Children are expensive. From diapers to formula to toys — not to mention clothing, daycare costs, eventual college costs — it's no wonder that the U.S. Department of Agriculture calculated that the cost of raising one child was around $233,000. Now, imagine if you had 19 children to raise. That's a lot of money! But that's the reality for the Duggar family, who first came to fame on the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting (formerly 17 Kids and Counting).
Obviously, the Duggars have obviously made it work. They did so by sticking to a budget, thrift store shopping, and cooking their own food more than eating out — and, you know, being reality TV stars. The family, including many of the children, started to make a good amount of money by appearing on the show and its spinoff, Counting On. But just how much is every Duggar really worth? Here's a look.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are definitely comfortable
The heads of the Duggar household, Jim Bob and Michelle, are no strangers to managing money and, of course, a giant household of kids. Considering Jim Bob's net worth, though, that isn't as difficult as you might think.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, the reality TV star is said to be worth an estimated $3.5 million. Now, to be fair, Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002, and also has several real estate investments. As such, he's had a lot of opportunities to diversify and build his wealth. Of course, being on TV didn't hurt. The family was paid handsomely for appearing on the TLC series.
E! News estimated that Jim Bob and Michelle were paid $25,000 to $40,000 per episode. That's a lot of cash. Even though TLC canceled the series in 2015, the show certainly had a long run.
Josh Duggar's post-scandal net worth has plummeted
The Duggar family has endured more than their fair share of scandals and drama, but nothing could have prepared them — or their fans — for what happened with Josh Duggar. In May 2015, a 2006 police report was leaked online, revealing that Josh had behaved inappropriately with five underage girls — two of whom were his younger sisters, Jill and Jessa Duggar (they confirmed the report in a tearful interview with Fox News, per People).
Later that same year, Josh was accused of being unfaithful to his wife Anna Duggar, after it was discovered he had an active account on a site typically populated by people looking to cheat (via People). Josh was fired by TLC in the wake of the scandals, but his problems were just beginning. Per Page Six, in May 2022, the former reality star was sentenced to a little over 12 years in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, after he was found guilty in December 2021. Anna has stood by her husband, as a source confirmed with People.
As a result of his legal troubles, Josh's net worth has plummeted to just $5,000, per Celebrity Net Worth.
John-David and Abbie Duggar are doing pretty well for themselves
John-David is one of the older Duggar siblings and appeared on Counting On after 19 Kids and Counting came to an end. And while it took John-David a little longer than his siblings to find a spouse, he eventually found Abbie. The couple not only seems very happy together, but they also seem to be in a secure place financially.
According to the TLC website, John-David has worked as a first responder and police volunteer and has even served as an elected constable in his county in Arkansas. Additionally, according to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's book, A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make It Work, John-David started his own towing company and makes money towing and fixing cars.
Clearly, John-David has multiple streams of income — and it's working for him. As Celebrity Net Worth reported, John-David is worth a hefty $500,000, a great deal more than his older brother's net worth. Hey, not having a huge scandal rock your family must pay off.
Jana Duggar remains single and well-off
If there is one Duggar family member who has truly managed to break the mold of what is expected from the ultra conservative Arkansas natives, it's Jana Duggar. One of the oldest Duggar siblings, Jana is actually John-David's twin sister and has remained single longer than any of her other sisters.
Because Jana is unmarried, Duggar rules dictate that she can't live outside the family home, so it's understandable that she also wouldn't necessarily need to have her own job. However, Jana's job status is pretty unclear. Her family has called her a concert pianist, while TLC says she enjoys party planning, home improvement, and interior design. Additionally, it's been reported that Jana is a midwife, so clearly her talents are far-reaching.
Still, Jana Duggar's net worth is very impressive, as Celebrity Net Worth reports it to be around $400,000. Honestly, for a young, single woman that's super impressive. Whether she chooses to get married or not, Jana has obviously already done very well on her own.
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard probably aren't struggling to make ends meet
Clearly, the Duggar family isn't without its faults. Still, people can't help but be fascinated by their large family, strict budgets, and interesting rules restricting what they are and allowed to do. However, when a Duggar family member goes off the rails, TLC has the power to pull the plug. Such was the case with Jill's husband, Derick Dillard, who married the Duggar daughter in 2014. The two were lead stars in the spinoff Counting On — that is, until some offensive tweets from Derick got him fired from the show in 2017.
So, what is the couple's net worth now? Well, even though Derick lost his TLC income, the pair still appeared on the show together for several years prior and if they were smart, they would've stashed away a lot of that money. That is if they ever received a regular paycheck from TLC. The two claim they were never paid for their time on Counting On until they brought in a lawyer.
Still, it's estimated that Jill Duggar's net worth is around $500,000. By other estimates, though, that number could be a bit lower, closer to $400,000.
Jessa Duggar and Ben Seewald seem to be okay with their finances
Ben and Jessa Seewald are definitely one of the most charming members of the Duggar family and the Counting On cast. The pair tied the knot in 2014 and have since welcomed three children into the world, so it would look as though the couple might want to follow in Jessa's family's footsteps and have plenty of children.
According to The Hollywood Gossip, the couple's net worth rings in right around $400,000, which they could definitely use to raise their kids. It's unclear all the ways the couple makes their money, but a good chunk of change likely came from appearing on Counting On and staying within a budget and shopping smart. In fact, Jessa has even started a YouTube channel, which has over 220,000 subscribers, where she shares money-saving tips, like how to save cash on kids' clothes. As for Ben, it's been reported that he is a preacher, which could contribute to the couple's net worth.
Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo have done well for themselves
Jinger Duggar has stood out to fans of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On for many reasons. On Counting On, especially, Jinger came across as sweet and caring, as well as a go-getter. When she, the fourth-oldest Duggar daughter, met her eventual husband Jeremy Vuolo — a former professional soccer player turned pastor — it was clear they were meant to be. However, Jinger set herself apart from her other Duggar sisters and brothers who'd already gotten married by not having a baby right away. In fact, the couple waited almost two years before welcoming their first child. In Duggar years, that's a long time.
Whatever the reason for welcoming a kiddo a little later than the rest of the Duggar brood, finances were likely not a concern; the pair is worth a staggering $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Jinger may have made some of this cash through sponsored content on her Instagram, which has over a million followers. Yes, Jinger and Jeremy are adept at making — and handling — their money.
Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had humble beginnings
Fans of Counting On will remember that when the show first premiered in 2015, Joy-Anna Duggar was still pretty young. Although she hung out with her older sisters a lot, she also still had fun playing with her younger siblings. That changed when she began a courtship with her childhood friend, Austin Forsyth, in 2016.
Joy-Anna and Austin married in 2017 and announced they were expecting their first child together just three months later, in typical Duggar fashion. Then, in March 2020, the couple announced they were once again expecting. Supporting a growing family doesn't come cheap so fans have to wonder if they're bringing in money. As it turns out, Austin's net worth is estimated at about $1.5 million, which is pretty impressive for a young newlywed.
Austin and Joy-Anna probably made a good amount of money appearing on Counting On — potentially $45,000 per episode if the pay's anything like it was on 19 Kids and Counting. Austin also has some experience flipping houses, which can rake in some serious bucks. However this couple makes their money, they've remained pretty humble about their net worth.
Joseph and Kendra Duggar are young but making money moves
Even if you aren't a fan of the Duggar family and/or their reality shows, you are probably already aware that as a Duggar child grows up, they typically all follow the same pattern: Enter into a courtship, get engaged, get married, have babies — then they have more babies. It's the Duggar way, and Joseph and Kendra Duggar are no exception. The two wed in 2017 and, like clockwork, announced they were expecting their first child just three months later.
Of course, it takes money to support a family, but Joseph and Kendra seemingly don't need much help in that department. The couple's net worth is reportedly around $400,000. Although Kendra seems to be primarily a stay-at-home mom, both she and her husband star on Counting On. And in addition to his role on the TLC series, Joseph is also a house-flipper, like his father and brother-in-law, Austin Forsyth. Flipping houses isn't all Joseph does, though, as he also studied for one year at Crown College of the Bible, so there's no telling what's in his future (though certainly more kids).
Josiah and Lauren Duggar aren't exactly struggling for cash
Josiah Duggar seemed pretty young and innocent when 19 Kids and Counting was on the air, but as he got older and began appearing on Counting On, fans knew it wouldn't be long before Josiah started courting his own special person.
At the outset of 2018, Josiah and Lauren began their courtship journey and by June, they said "I do." The two seem to be a great match, and their wedding day was obviously an extremely happy time for them. Sadly, Lauren and Josiah were only a few months into their marriage when they announced that they had experienced a miscarriage. It was obviously heartbreaking for the family, but in November 2019, the couple welcomed a healthy, beautiful baby girl.
So, do they have a large enough net worth to support their little bundle of joy and any potential future babies? You bet; Josiah and Lauren's net worth is estimated to be around $400,000. Between Josiah's salary from Counting On and working with his dad in real estate and flipping houses, Josiah and Lauren are in a great place financially.
Jedidiah and Jeremiah Duggar are making money moves
In the Duggar family, it's pretty typical for children to remain in their parents' home until they get married and start a family of their own. But when the kids start to get older and with no courtships insight, it's fair to wonder whether or not that rule can be bent. And as Jedidiah and Jeremiah have shown, there is some wiggle room. The brothers actually moved into their own house. Even though they apparently still share a bedroom, it's definitely a step towards independence and financial security.
It's unknown how much Jedidiah and Jeremiah are worth, but with the Duggar family debt-free standard and the siblings living on their own, it's safe to assume that the brothers are probably doing more than okay. They both star in TLC's Counting On and Jedidiah has previously interned at the Arkansas House of Representatives, so he may just have a lucrative future in politics. Jobs and relationships aside, Jedidiah and Jeremiah are really growing up and into their own.
The younger Duggar kids have a lot of earning potential
As the Duggar family has so many kids, some of them are all grown up and married with families of their own while the younger children are still at home doing what kids do. However, it won't be long until all the Duggar kids are out fending for themselves. Fortunately for them, though, they've had a great example in handling their money.
In an interview with Parenting.com (via Romper), Michelle explained that the family sticks to a simple financial plan. "But our goal is to not go into debt," she added. "But then you live within a certain budget and you're much more creative about how you're spending it." She continued, saying, "You look for a bargain and you learn, 'This really wasn't so important' when you look at the price tag. Or you find it used in a thrift shop or a pawn shop."
With such budget-savvy parents, it's no wonder many of the adult Duggar children have grown up to be high-earners. And the younger Duggar kids are all set-up for success, too.