‘Sister Wives’ Robyn Brown: Just How Much Value Did She Bring to the Family?

Back when Sister Wives was a series documenting the daily interactions of a polygamist family, Robyn Brown mulled her place within the Brown clan. In one of the TLC series‘ earliest episodes, she hoped Kody Brown’s three previous wives, Meri, Janelle, and Christine, saw the value she brought to the family. However, just how much did Robyn do for the Browns?

Robyn Brown once said she brought value to the Brown family, but how?

In an early season of Sister Wives, Robyn Brown said she hoped her sister wives saw her value. This was early on, when Robyn didn’t have a job, lived separately from the family in her apartment, and utilized several of Kody’s older daughters to help with childcare.

By becoming Kody’s fourth wife, Robyn added monetary value to the family but not by contributing financially. The value she contributed was more mouths to feed, rent to cover, and a reported mountain of credit card debt.

Janelle Brown, vocalized her concerns over Robyn’s addition to the family when the clan was financially stretched to its limits. However, Robyn remained jobless and didn’t offer much childcare help, leaving that to Christine Brown.

Throughout Sister Wives’ history, Robyn had only one job. This disaster of a project was called My Sister Wife’s Closet. This vanity business made very little money for the Brown family and took away the opportunity for a steady income.

So, how much value did Robyn bring to the family? A lot, if you look at the bigger picture, as the clan evolved.

Robyn Brown’s value was allowing the other women to realize Kody’s mistreatment

While Robyn Brown didn’t bring any monetary value to the Brown family, she did bring even more significant value to Kody’s wife. She allowed them to realize Kody’s mistreatment.

As Robyn and Kody’s relationship evolved, several critical elements of their union were revealed. Kody wanted to spend all his time with his new wife. He would move mountains to give her what she wanted.

Meri, Janelle, and Christine were so used to living without Kody’s time and resources that it became their way of life. When Robyn entered the picture, they realized how unfairly they had been treated throughout their marriages.

Robyn’s big wedding versus Janelle and Christine’s smaller affairs; her 10-day honeymoon when the other wives didn’t have that luxury; her need to have Kody adopt her children; and his divorce from Meri so her children would be legally Brown family members.

As the years passed, Kody continued favoring Robyn above all his other wives. Kody once said during the tell-all for last season, “It’s not about a favorite. It’s about finding favor,” when asked if Robyn was his favorite wife.

Ultimately, most of the family’s resources were used to enjoy Robyn and Kody’s lavish lifestyle. This was clearly evident after the family listed their home for sale for $1.65M, and interior photos show thousands upon thousands of dollars of paintings, statues, geodes, musical instruments, and other items purchased by the couple. The home is currently up for sale.

How could Robyn bring value to the Brown family? By paying back old debts

Robyn Brown could bring the most value to the Brown family by paying back old debts. She and Kody could pay back the women for the money they reportedly took from the family pot for many years.

TLC paid the family as a whole. Therefore, all five adults were equally compensated for each episode they shot for the network. According to OpenCorporates, their prior company, Kody Brown Family Entertainment LLC, was established in Nevada in 2019, with Kody’s ex-wives attached, and their TLC payments were held there. Then, each adult could draw from that account when needed.

Janelle was apparently onto what the couple was doing when she said there was enough money to put a down payment on Christine Brown, Robyn, and Kody’s homes in Flagstaff during an episode. Still, there wasn’t enough to pay off Coyote Pass so they could build on the property.

Now that Coyote Pass is paid off, Janelle appears to have had enough of Kody’s stonewalling. In a season 19 trailer, she tells Christine she may have to “lawyer up” to get back the money she put into the property.

Will Robyn ever truly bring value to the family by doing the right thing financially for Kody’s three previous wives? That would be one way she could prove she believed in their family and wasn’t in it for her selfish reasons.

Sister Wives airs Sundays beginning Sept. 15 at 10 p.m. ET. It is the show’s 19th season on TLC.