At a Glance
- Meri Brown says she handed over every dollar from her Las Vegas house sale to ex-husband Kody Brown and his wife Robyn
- The money funded the 2019 purchase of Robyn’s Flagstaff home, according to Meri’s on-camera admission
- Kody confirms both Meri and Janelle later asked for their money back; only Janelle has been repaid
- Why it matters: The revelation adds financial fuel to the family’s public split and raises questions about how plural-marriage assets are handled when wives leave
Meri Brown, one of the four original wives on TLC’s Sister Wives, has publicly confirmed for the first time that the entire proceeds from her Las Vegas home sale went straight to Kody Brown and Robyn for their Arizona house purchase.
The disclosure came during part two of the Sister Wives: One-on-One special that aired January 18, when Meri told host Sukanya Krishnan she had “consented to never talk about” the arrangement-until now.
How the Money Moved
Meri stated she was the “only one” who lived in the Las Vegas property for a “majority of the time” and that she “made all the payments.” When the house sold, she accepted that Kody’s name on the deed entitled him to half the proceeds. She then says she loaned her share to Kody and Robyn.
- The loan funded Robyn’s Flagstaff home in 2019
- Meri’s friend Jenn Sullivan interjected, confirming “every penny” went to the couple
- Meri classifies the transfer as a loan, not a gift
Kody acknowledged earlier in the episode that both Meri and Janelle contributed cash toward Robyn’s house. After the relationships collapsed, both women requested repayment. Kody told Krishnan that Janelle has since received the amount she sought, but “negotiations with Meri were never reached.”
Timeline of Tension
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Family relocates from Las Vegas to Flagstaff, buys 14-acre Coyote Pass property |
| 2019 | Meri’s Vegas house sells; funds flow to Robyn’s home purchase |
| Nov 2021 | Christine leaves the plural marriage |
| Dec 2022 | Kody and Meri announce split after 32 years of marriage |
| Feb 2024 | Janelle exits; Meri follows 14 months after Christine |
| Apr 2025 | Coyote Pass finally sells for $1.5 million |
Meri has previously hinted at legal involvement over Coyote Pass, citing a lack of “trust” among Kody, Robyn, and Janelle. She now says she needed to get “lawyers involved” because of those tensions.
What Kody Says
Kody insists the intent to repay Meri remains: “I just told Meri on the phone, ‘Hey, we’re going to take care of this.’ We always intended to take care of it.”
No repayment timeline or amount has been disclosed on camera.
Key Takeaways
- Meri characterizes the house-sale proceeds as a loan, leaving open the possibility of legal action
- Kody admits only partial resolution: Janelle has been paid, Meri has not
- The financial rift adds another layer to the family’s on-air breakup now playing out in its 19th season
