The Duggar Family Today: 7 Shocking Secrets And Where The '19 Kids And Counting' Stars Are Now In 2025
The world's most famous mega-family, the Duggars, have seen their reality TV empire collapse, but their lives continue to unfold in dramatic and often controversial ways. As of December 25, 2025, the family that once starred in the hit TLC show 19 Kids and Counting (originally 17 Kids and Counting, then 18 Kids and Counting) is navigating a new reality far from the cameras, defined by tell-all books, new babies, and the dark shadow of scandal. This in-depth update reveals the current status of the family, the shocking secrets exposed, and what life looks like for Jim Bob, Michelle, and all 19 children today.
The cancellation of both 19 Kids and Counting and its spin-off, Counting On, marked the end of an era for TLC. The family's strict, fundamentalist lifestyle, once a source of fascination for millions, has been scrutinized like never before, largely due to the criminal conviction and imprisonment of the eldest son, Josh Duggar, and the subsequent tell-all memoir by his sister, Jill Duggar Dillard. This article dives into the most current and essential updates from the Duggar world.
The Complete Duggar Family Biography: The 19 Children and Their Current Status
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are the patriarch and matriarch of the family, known for their conservative Christian beliefs, strict adherence to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), and the practice of giving all their children names starting with the letter 'J.' As of late 2025, the family continues to grow with new courtships, marriages, and pregnancies.
Here is the full list of the 19 Duggar children and their most recent public status:
- 1. Joshua James Duggar (Born 1988): Married to Anna Keller. Currently incarcerated after his 2021 conviction on child pornography charges. They share seven children.
- 2. Jana Marie Duggar (Born 1990): Fraternal twin. Unmarried, though recent rumors and reports in late 2024/2025 suggest a potential courtship or relationship with Stephen Wissmann. Confirmed to be expecting a boy in 2025.
- 3. John-David Duggar (Born 1990): Fraternal twin. Married to Abbie Grace Burnett. Confirmed to be expecting a girl in 2025.
- 4. Jill Michelle Duggar (Born 1991): Married to Derick Dillard. Author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Counting the Cost. They have three sons and are publicly estranged from the main Duggar family.
- 5. Jessa Lauren Duggar (Born 1992): Married to Ben Seewald. They recently welcomed their sixth child in late 2024/early 2025. She is active on social media, documenting her large family life.
- 6. Jinger Nicole Duggar (Born 1993): Married to Jeremy Vuolo. They live in California and have two daughters. Jinger is noted for distancing herself from her family's strict dress code and lifestyle. She and her husband spent the holidays with the Duggars for the first time since 2016 in late 2025.
- 7. Joseph Garrett Duggar (Born 1995): Married to Kendra Caldwell. They have multiple children.
- 8. Josiah David Duggar (Born 1996): Married to Lauren Swanson. They have two children.
- 9. Joy-Anna Duggar (Born 1997): Married to Austin Forsyth. They have three children and are active on their YouTube channel.
- 10. Jedidiah Robert Duggar (Born 1998): Fraternal twin. Married to Katey Nakatsu. They have multiple children.
- 11. Jeremiah Robert Duggar (Born 1998): Fraternal twin. Married to Hannah Wissmann. They have children.
- 12. Jason Michael Duggar (Born 2000): Recent speculation suggests he may be planning a marriage to Maddie in May 2025.
- 13. James Andrew Duggar (Born 2001): Reportedly in a courtship with Hannie in late 2025.
- 14. Justin Samuel Duggar (Born 2002): Married to Claire Spivey.
- 15. Jackson Levi Duggar (Born 2004): Recently featured in family updates.
- 16. Johannah Faith Duggar (Born 2005): Unmarried.
- 17. Jennifer Danielle Duggar (Born 2007): Unmarried.
- 18. Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar (Born 2008): Unmarried.
- 19. Josie Brooklyn Duggar (Born 2009): Unmarried.
The Two Major Scandals That Ended the Duggar Reality TV Empire
The Duggar family's decade-long run on TLC, first with 19 Kids and Counting and later with Counting On, came to a screeching halt not once, but twice, due to the actions of the eldest son, Josh Duggar. The continuous stream of revelations has permanently altered the family's public image and their standing with the network.
1. The 2015 Cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting
The original show was officially cancelled in 2015 after news broke that Josh Duggar had molested multiple young girls, including four of his sisters, more than a decade earlier. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar admitted they felt like "failures" after the news broke. The network initially tried to salvage the franchise with the spin-off Counting On, focusing on the lives of the older, married daughters like Jill and Jessa, but the damage was done.
2. The 2021 Cancellation of Counting On
The spin-off show, Counting On, was finally given the axe in 2021 following Josh Duggar's arrest and subsequent conviction on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. TLC released a statement saying they believed the family should handle the matter "privately," a clear sign that the brand was no longer viable for the network. This second, more severe scandal fully dismantled the Duggar's reality television presence, leaving many of the adult children without their primary source of income and public platform.
The Duggar Family's Wealth, IBLP, and the Tell-All Era
The Duggars’ transition from reality stars to private citizens has been anything but quiet. The focus has shifted from their wholesome image to the controversial fundamentalist ministry that shaped their lives: the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).
The Exposing of IBLP in *Shiny Happy People*
In 2023, the Amazon Prime docuseries, *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets*, brought the family's connection to the IBLP and its founder, Bill Gothard, into the mainstream spotlight. The four-part documentary explored the alleged cult-like practices, strict rules on courtship and dress, and the culture of silence that critics say allowed abuse to be covered up. The series positioned the Duggars not just as a large family, but as representatives of an "insidious organization."
Jill Duggar Dillard’s New Life and *Counting the Cost*
Perhaps the most significant post-TV development is the emergence of Jill Duggar Dillard as a vocal critic of her upbringing. In 2023, she and her husband, Derick Dillard, released their memoir, *Counting the Cost*. The book became a *New York Times* bestseller, detailing the alleged emotional and financial control exerted by Jim Bob Duggar and the IBLP. Jill’s public break from her parents’ ideology—including wearing pants, drinking alcohol, and sending her children to public school—has been a major source of news and a defining moment in the family's history, as she is now in a "rebuilding" phase.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s Financial Standing
Despite the loss of their primary TLC income, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar maintain a substantial net worth, estimated to be around $3.5 million. Their wealth is reportedly diversified, stemming from their long-running television earnings, extensive real estate investments in Northwest Arkansas, book sales, speaking engagements, and a used car business. Jim Bob, a former politician and real estate agent, has established a financial foundation that continues to support the family's patriarch and matriarch even without a reality show.
The Future of the Duggar Name in 2025 and Beyond
The Duggar name is no longer synonymous with wholesome family values; it is now intrinsically linked to controversy and a fundamentalist ministry. However, the children continue to live their lives, often in the public eye through social media and independent YouTube channels.
The ongoing stream of new life—such as the 2025 pregnancies of Jana and John-David, and Jessa and Ben Seewald’s expanding family—shows that the Duggar dynasty continues to grow, albeit away from the TLC cameras. The narrative has shifted from being a show about a large family to a complex, ongoing saga of religious trauma, emancipation, and the enduring power of family secrets.
The younger generation, like Jinger Vuolo and Jill Dillard, are actively forging their own paths, rejecting the strict rules they were raised under and offering a rare, unvarnished look at life after the cameras stopped rolling. Their stories, not a TV show, are now the main source of interest for those following the family in 2025.
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