How The Roloffs Really Make Their Money
The Roloff family of Little People, Big World fame is arguably killing it in the finances department. Want some proof? Parents Matt and Amy Roloff — along with their children Zach, Jeremy, Jacob, and Molly Roloff — appear to want for absolutely nothing. From the reality stars' comfortable homes (Zach and his wife, Tori Roloff, bought new digs for $560,000 in May 2018) to their frequent vacations, it's no surprise many fans can't help but wonder how they afford such luxurious lifestyles.
Some people might be surprised to learn that reality TV isn't the family's only source of income. In fact, each member of the large clan has numerous side hustles to complement their sizable LPBW checks. The Roloffs are actually pretty savvy when it comes to earning cold harsh cash, charging fans to visit Roloff Family Farms during pumpkin season and creating their own online businesses. But wait, we're not done yet — here is everything you need to know about how the Roloffs really bring home the bacon.
So much salsa, so little time
Although most people don't typically equate pumpkins with salsa, Amy had the bright idea of combining the two distinct foods to create a unique line of pumpkin salsas. Fans might remember that Amy was very passionate about the idea despite some pushback from her ex-husband, Matt. Speaking to her friends at a taste event for the line, she explained, "I love to cook. It's been fun coming up with this stuff."
Amy eventually came up with three different flavors of pumpkin salsa (pumpkin peach, pumpkin verde, and pumpkin corn), and she launched the products in August 2015 under the umbrella of Roloff Farms.
Luckily for Amy, the salsas were soon picked up by several retail chains across the United States, including Fred Meyer, Roth's Fresh Markets, and Quality Food Centers. And the line must be doing well because Matt took to Instagram in May 2018 to brag about the salsas' placement at local markets. "Tori and Jackson pointed out last week at @toriroloff ... our Roloff Farm Pumpkin salsa has been promoted to right smack dab in the middle of the store in the All Natural area... (at markets in our area)," Matt wrote. "No more spending hours trying to find it."
Good thing Matt didn't nix Amy's business idea like he originally wanted to — it sounds like the mom-of-four knows how to turn a profit.
Amy's Little Kitchen
Given Amy's salsa venture, it's really no surprise she branched out into an online baking business in December 2016. Dubbed Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen, the business sells Amy's home-cooked, seasonal treats to customers across the United States. Making matters even better for Amy? The reality star partnered up with a local bakery in Beaverton, Ore. in May 2018 to expand her business. The bakery offered to let Amy use their cooking facilities, a deal that allows her to create bigger batches of baked goods for retail.
As for the marketing side of the venture, Amy is on top of it like white on rice, often enlisting her kids — including the elusive Jacob — to help out. "I just love when I get to hang out w/ my youngest son Jacob. Even more so when having some of Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen Snickerdoodle Bread, Coffee and hearing all about his Iceland trip w/ Isabel," Amy captioned a January 2018 photo of herself and Jacob enjoying some of Amy Roloff's Little Kitchen treat on Instagram. "What a blast! Check out my January bread and other offerings at www.amyjroloff.com and Order some today! Enjoy!" Very savvy, Amy.
Making it rain during pumpkin season
One of the Roloffs' biggest money makers is Roloff Farms during pumpkin season. Every year in October, thousands visit the famed location in Helvetia, Ore. to enjoy all of the fall goodness it has to offer, including but not limited to: a kids' play area, wagon tours, and its famed pumpkin patch. Yep, it sounds like Roloff Farms is the place to be when Halloween rolls around.
Of course, fall fun doesn't come cheap. Case in point: For the 2018 pumpkin season, a wagon tour costs $10 per person, while a play area pass runs $9 per customer. And if you're interested in the All Inclusive Pass (wagon tour and Adventure Zone entry), expect to pay $14.
Although these prices seem relatively fair, keep in mind there are plenty of other expenses to account for when you visit Roloff Farms. From "food carts galore" to the family's "gift barn" (think lots of Roloff merch), costs can add up quickly. Cha-ching!
Tour Roloff Farms for a pretty penny
It's no secret that the Roloffs have plenty of fans who are willing to fork over their hard-earned dollars to meet them — a fact that Matt has capitalized on with Roloff Farms' private tours. For a hefty $300, you and two other people ($25 for each additional person) can enjoy a 30-minute "unique and private tour" given by Matt, Zachary, Amy, or Jeremy. "Hello and photo opportunities may be available with other family members who happen to be at the farm," Roloff Farms' website states.
As for what lucky guests will witness on this glorious tour? Visitors will cruise by the "famous Western Town, Molly's Castle, The Twins' Swamp Fort, Matt's Bridge, Secret Forest, and the Tower of Terror," among other attractions.
Oh, and if you're interested in booking a tour, act fast because spots fill up quickly. Just over a week before the 2018 pumpkin season was set to begin, most slots in October were already sold out.
Tori is quite creative
Tori surprised fans in December 2017 when she announced her new business on Etsy called "Z and T Creations." Although Tori's background is in teaching, she decided to branch out to designing digital calligraphy prints after her husband, Zach, bought her an iPad Pro for Christmas. "I finally opened an etsy shop!!!!! I am starting with digital files! You can download and print and then frame for decorations in your home," Tori revealed on Instagram. "I will eventually be taking custom orders so please stay tuned."
As for the store's success? Tori has sold over 600 creations — most are priced between $5 and $7 — as of September 2018. Not too shabby.
But arguably the best part about Tori's endeavor is the support she has from Zach and her baby boy, Jackson. "Jackson came to visit me and my booth this morning with Dad!" she captioned an April 2018 shot of herself selling prints at a local fair. "Love being supported by my boys!" Aww.
Books for days
It's not uncommon for reality TV stars to dabble in authorship, and the Roloff clan is no exception to this phenomenon. In fact, Jeremy, Audrey, Matt, and Jacob are all published authors.
Jacob first got the ball rolling in June 2017 with his first novel, Verbing, which he later followed with Out to See in 2018. Possibly inspired by his son, Matt published a children's book titled Little Lucy Big Race in October 2017. Jeremy and Audrey finally got in on the action in March 2018, when the couple landed a multi-book contract with a Christian subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishing.
Out of all of the writers, Matt appears to be the best at marketing his work, as he's willing to do book signings throughout the United States. "My goal is to hit all 50 states at least once," Matt said in August 2018 about his book tour plans. "The message in this book is too important for anyone to miss. See you soon!" Way to hustle, papa Roloff.
Matt is an experienced businessman
Most people don't know that Matt founded his own company — Direct Access Solutions — in 2003. The company bills itself as "the premier provider of accessibility products for traveling little people," selling everything from step stools to "universal security latch adapters" to hotel chains throughout the United States. Matt came up with the smart idea following a lot of uncomfortable hotel stays, a frustration he elaborated on in an interview with Portland Business Journal.
"I was in software and was traveling a lot and staying in a lot of hotels. Imagine going to a hotel and you can't brush your teeth in the sink or you can't reach the shower head or even sleep in the bed," the California native shared. "I remember I had a multi-million-dollar presentation to Best Buy and we worked until 2 in the morning to prep our presentation. By the time I got back to the room to get a couple of hours sleep, I had to pull the bed spread off and sleep on the floor."
Son Zach echoed Matt's sentiment during a product photoshoot for the company in May 2017. "People don't understand fully what we just go through on a regular basis. We can't reach the sink or all the tables are super high," Zach explained on LPBW (via Us Weekly). "Like the shower head, there's no possible way to reach that."
Yep, it sounds like Matt tapped into an important market with Direct Access Solutions.
Making bank on social media
Social media is a great tool for high-profile people to score extra cash, a sentiment the Roloffs — especially Audrey and Amy — would probably agree with wholeheartedly. Both Amy and Audrey have promoted Hello Fresh, a popular meal-kit delivery service, on their respective Instagram accounts. Amy also appears to have partnerships with Thrive Market, an online grocery store featuring a variety of organic and natural foods, and Teami Blends, a company that sells all-natural loose leaf teas to promote weight loss.
Considering marketing agency Mediakix estimates that reality stars earn anywhere between $5,000 to $15,000 per sponsored post (is it just us, or do these numbers make anyone else wonder what they're doing with their lives?), these partnerships are likely extremely profitable for the Roloffs. And by the looks of it, Amy is winning when it comes to the social media game — she shared six sponsored posts between January 2018 to April 2018. Get your coins, girl.
Matt sold his house for a nice chunk of change
If Matt ever wants to get in on the house flipping business à la Chip and Joanna Gaines, he might have a good shot at it. After purchasing a home near Portland, Ore. for $368,550 in 2017, Matt renovated the property and resold it for $515,000 in May 2018. Not too bad, right?
Matt's success must have gotten the wheels in his head turning because he joked about becoming a "little flipper" in the future. "About a month or so ago I promised you all I would share a complete tour of the house I fixed up.. at the time I wasn't sure if I was going to move into it or sell it," Matt wrote about the house on Instagram in June 2018. "I actually did a bunch of the work thinking it would be my home one day... then plans change.. someone offered me a deal I couldn't refuse so within an hour or so I sold it. Now I'm all motivated to become a Little Flipper man. ... Nah!!! I want to retire. #littleflipper."
We don't know about you guys, but we kind of love the "little flipper" moniker. Make it happen, Matt.
Audrey's Always More clothing line
Many fans would agree that Audrey is the most entrepreneurial out of the Roloff clan, an opinion that's evidenced by her clothing line called Always More. The line, launched in June 2016, sells a collection of apparel featuring the phrase, "Always More." Audrey explained the meaning behind the expression on the clothing line's website, writing, '"Always more' is based on the verse in Ephesians 3:20, 'Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine...'"
The mom also went on to reveal a more personal anecdote that inspired the brand, sharing, "I was a distance runner in high school and college, and these words 'always more' started out as a motivational reminder that I would write in thick black sharpie on my arm before my races. These words reminded me that no matter how tired I was, through Christ power within me, I always had more in me than my body led me to believe."
As it turns out, the "motivational" brand doesn't run cheap — an "Always More" sweater runs for $55, while a casual tank retails for $30. The line has since expanded to include jewelry, onesies, and even stickers.
Reality TV's still good for money makin'
Of course, the bulk of the Roloffs' income comes from their work on LPBW. It's estimated the show's main cast members earn $10,000 or more per episode, according to In Touch, while a lesser cast member like Molly Roloff might instead make a couple thousand dollars per episode. "For those docu-ensembles, especially if they're nobodies, per episode it ranges from low-end, like $1,500 an episode, to $3,000 at the high end," an agent explained to Business Insider. "And then after three years of success, it can go up to $7,000 to $10,000 an episode. After that, you start moving into the Kardashian level."
Considering each season of LPBW averages out at about eight or nine episodes, each star could potentially earn $80,000 annually, a figure that's pretty impressive. And speaking of impressive, take a look at the family's sizable net worths. Both Matt and Amy reportedly boast net worths of $4.5 million, while Jeremy and Zach are both reportedly worth $300,000. Yep, reality TV is a very profitable business.