NEED TO KNOW
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have been through a lot of ups and downs during their 41 years of marriage.
The couple originally came to fame when their TLC reality show, 19 Kids & Counting, premiered in 2008. Not only are Jim Bob and Michelle known for their oversized brood of 19 children — all of whom have names starting with the letter “J” — but also for their devotion to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).
The Duggars’ journey began with their wedding on July 21, 1984, and the subsequent birth of their first child, Joshua Duggar, in 1988. Over the next several decades, they expanded their family with 18 more children. Jim Bob and Michelle’s youngest child, Josie Duggar, was born in 2009.
19 Kids and Counting ended in 2015 amid claims that their son Josh had molested multiple girls, including his sisters, but a spinoff, Counting On, ran from 2015 to 2021. The series ended in 2021 amid Josh’s arrest for receiving and possessing child pornography. In 2022, he was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Jim Bob was also embroiled in his son’s scandals in 2015 as police reports at the time indicated the father of 19 knew about Josh’s alleged molestation for months before seeking help.
In a statement at the time, Jim Bob and Michelle said, “Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong.” The couple were never charged in the case.
Now, 10 years after the cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting and 41 years into the Duggars’ marriage, here’s everything to know about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s lives now.
Where are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar living now?
The Duggar Family/Instagram
The Duggars continue to live in Arkansas, where they have been residing for many years, and where 19 Kids and Counting was set. The couple live in a large compound which features multiple homes.
The Duggars noted in a 2020 episode of Counting On that while their children are allowed to leave the compound at age 18, many choose to stick around for various reasons.
In a home tour given by Michelle in May 2011, she talked about how the property expanded over the years, saying, “The house grew, from two of them to three of them! It worked out perfectly.”
What are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar doing for work?
The Duggar Family/Instagram
Jim Bob and Michelle have kept busy with various ventures following the end of 19 Kids and Counting. Jim Bob, a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, made a political comeback attempt in 2021 when he announced his candidacy for the Arkansas State Senate. However, his campaign was unsuccessful.
The father of 19 posted a statement on his Facebook shortly after losing, writing, “Whoever wins the Republican primary will have my support and prayer for victory as he faces a Democrat opponent on February 8.”
Alongside his political activities, Jim Bob has remained involved in the real estate industry — both he and Michelle hold real estate agent licenses. The Duggars have been known for their house flipping endeavors, purchasing, renovating and selling properties for profit. In February 2020, the pair sold a home in Springdale, Ark., for $1.38 million after purchasing it for just $230,000 in 2014.
In January 2025, Jinger told PEOPLE that her dad “really taught us to have a hard work ethic” because of how he worked.
“He took on so many jobs. The car business, the towing business. He would do real estate,” she said. “He tried to do all the things. He had multiple jobs he was juggling for so many years.”
Beyond real estate, the duo have written books and given a myriad of public speeches over the years, sharing their experiences and insights on family life, faith and personal growth. Jim Bob and Michelle are also still very involved with the IBLP.
Do Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have relationships with their children?
The Duggar Family/Instagram
While Jim Bob and Michelle maintain relationships with many of their children, there are a few notable exceptions. Their relationship with their daughter Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, remains strained. Jill and Derick have been vocal about their estrangement, citing control issues and financial disputes as major factors.
Jill has shared in interviews and her books that she had to seek therapy to deal with the emotional toll of her family’s dynamics. In September 2023, Jill told Vanity Fair, “There’s limited contact with my dad. We’ve had to draw some pretty strict boundaries just for our own health and well-being.”
Despite these tensions, Jim Bob and Michelle did attend the memorial service for Jill’s stillborn daughter, Isla Marie, in April 2024, as seen in photos from the event.
Jill and Derick appeared to spend time with her parents while celebrating Christmas in December 2024, though Derick later clarified in an Instagram comment that this “doesn’t mean everything is all hunky dorey.”
Still, Jill did give Jim Bob a rare shout-out on Instagram in honor of Father’s Day 2025, writing that he “kept things exciting and adventurous growing up.”
The Duggar Family/Instagram
A few of Jim Bob and Michelle’s children have moved on from their traditional upbringings as well.
In her 2022 memoir, The Hope We Hold, daughter Jinger Duggar reflected on her journey away from some of the teachings of the IBLP. She expressed concern about how her parents might perceive her choices, particularly her decision to start wearing pants, which was against the modesty guidelines she was raised with.
Jinger shared in the book, “I felt emotional as I worried that my parents would think I didn’t appreciate how I was raised.” She also told PEOPLE in January 2023 that “Fear was a huge part of [her] childhood.”
While not a child of theirs, Jim Bob’s niece, Amy Duggar King, who was known as Cousin Amy on 19 Kids and Counting, has no contact with her uncle and aunt. While Amy had often been seen as the “rebel” of the family due to her more liberal lifestyle and views, she has maintained a connection with some of her cousins. Amy openly criticized some of the Duggar family’s beliefs and practices in the Shiny Happy People documentary.
How many grandchildren do Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have?
The Duggar Family/Instagram
It’s no secret that the Duggars have a large and ever-expanding family, now including at least 32 grandchildren.
Their eldest son, Josh, has seven children with his wife, Anna: Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson. Jill has three sons with her husband, Derrick, named Israel, Samuel and Frederick, while Jessa Duggar has five children with her husband, Ben Seewald.
Jinger, now living in California, has three kids with her husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Joy-Anna Duggar has welcomed three children with her husband, Austin Forsyth, named Gideon, Evelyn and Gunner, while Joseph Duggar, along with his wife Kendra Duggar, have at least four children.
Additionally, Josiah Duggar has three kids, named Bella, Daisy and Ezra, with his wife, Lauren Duggar, while John-David Duggar and his wife, Abbie Duggar, have two children named Grace and Charlie. Jedidah Duggar shares four children with his wife Katey Nakatsu. Jed’s twin Jeremiah also has three children with his wife Hannah.