After more than three decades defined by the complexities of plural marriage, Meri Brown is finally stepping into a spotlight that belongs solely to her. The 55-year-old reality star, who spent 32 years as the first wife of Kody Brown, is navigating the uncharted waters of singlehood with a renewed sense of self and a budding romance that signals a significant departure from her past. As the dust settles on the official dissolution of her polygamous union, Meri is opening up about her life today, her struggles with the dating world, and the intricate financial and emotional ties that still bind the fractured Brown family.
Central to Meri’s new chapter is a man named Ron. The pair met during a speed-dating event featured in the twentieth season of the long-running series, and since then, their connection has quietly blossomed. During a recent "One-on-One" special, Meri glowed as she described the easy chemistry they share. She emphasized that while they are intentionally taking things slow, the comfort level between them is unlike anything she has experienced in years. For a woman who spent decades competing for time and attention within a four-way marriage, the simplicity of being "just herself" around Ron is a revelation. She teased the audience about his looks, calling him "cute," but was quick to clarify that they aren’t rushing into labels. Instead, they are "hanging out" and building a foundation of friendship—a stark contrast to the high-pressure environment of her previous life.
This newfound happiness comes after a series of public and private trials. Following her 2023 split from Kody, Meri briefly dated a man named Amos, but the relationship was short-lived. Her journey back into the dating pool has been further complicated by her unique history. Meri has been candid about the "baggage" that comes with being a public figure from a plural family. She noted that some potential suitors are intimidated by her background, fearing she might still desire a polygamous lifestyle or simply being overwhelmed by the intense scrutiny of her life. Trust remains a major hurdle for her, especially given that she was the victim of a high-profile catfishing scheme more than a decade ago. That experience left deep scars, making her protective of her heart and skeptical of those who claim to love her. Today, she is clear about her non-negotiables: any partner must love dogs, enjoy traveling, and embrace her signature "snort laughter."
Interestingly, Kody Brown seems to be cheering from the sidelines. Now living in a monogamous relationship with his fourth wife, Robyn, Kody expressed a surprising amount of support for Meri’s pursuit of Ron. He noted that seeing Meri in a "happy element" was a welcome change, admitting that it had been a long time since he had seen her display such vibrant energy. While Kody’s support might seem magnanimous, it comes at a time when his relationships with his other ex-wives, Janelle and Christine, remain deeply strained.
The transition from a large, interconnected family to separate entities has been anything but smooth, particularly when it comes to the family’s finances. One of the most contentious points of the recent season involves the "Coyote Pass" property in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the distribution of assets. For years, the Brown family operated under a "one big pot" financial philosophy, but as the marriages crumbled, that pot became a source of resentment. It was revealed that both Meri and Janelle contributed significant funds—including profits from the sale of their homes in Las Vegas—to help Robyn purchase her $1.6 million five-bedroom home in Arizona.
As the family worked to sell the 14-acre Coyote Pass property, Meri and Janelle fought to ensure they were compensated for those earlier "gifts." Meri, in particular, found herself at odds with Kody and Robyn when they allegedly pressured her to sign a confidentiality agreement before finalizing the land deal. Meri was indignant, questioning why they were attempting to "silence" her. Ultimately, the property sold in April 2025, with an agreement that the proceeds be split four ways, but the bitterness remains. Janelle, who was never legally married to Kody, lamented that if she had been his legal wife, she would have pursued half of his assets. Instead, she is walking away with her share of the land, viewing it as a "parting gift" and a way to finally close the door on Kody for good.
While Meri and Janelle are focused on financial independence, Christine Brown has moved on to a fairytale ending of her own. In October 2023, she married David Woolley in a televised ceremony that Kody admitted to watching. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Kody confessed that seeing Christine happy was "a dream come true" for her, though he couldn’t help but add a bit of his trademark ego, suggesting he should have had the right to "vet" or "discriminate" against David since his youngest daughter, Truely, lives in David’s home. Christine, for her part, has described her marriage to Kody as "a lot of work," citing his specific dietary needs and grooming habits as exhausting. In a bizarre twist of family history, she also confirmed a long-standing joke: she and Kody are actually third cousins, once removed—a common occurrence in the small, interconnected world of fundamentalist Mormonism.
The emotional fallout of Kody’s failed plural marriage extends far beyond his wives. His relationships with the majority of his 18 children are in various states of disrepair. Madison Brush, Janelle’s eldest daughter, has reportedly not spoken to her father in years. The estrangement is so severe that Madison did not even inform Kody of her fourth pregnancy; he only found out through other channels. Kody has labeled this "the failure of the family," blaming "trash talk" and "challenged loyalties" for the rift. However, his daughter Mykelti Padron offered a different perspective, suggesting that if Kody took accountability for his actions instead of blaming the children or their mothers, reconciliation might be possible.
Even Robyn, the only wife who remains by Kody’s side, has felt the weight of the family’s collapse. She spoke of feeling "betrayed" by Christine, claiming that her attempts to act as a "marriage counselor" backfired and led to a loss of trust. Robyn also revealed that despite Kody’s public declaration that he is done with polygamy, women still email him asking to join the family. While Robyn briefly wondered if a new sister wife could bring back the life she once wanted, she ultimately dismissed the idea, noting that it is "inappropriate" for women to bypass the wives and go straight to the patriarch.
As for Kody, he has offered a variety of explanations for why his grand experiment in plural marriage failed. He recently touched on the concept of "male menopause," suggesting that a drop in testosterone and a general exhaustion with the "hard work" of maintaining four unions led to his withdrawal. He admitted that his devotion to Robyn—and the jealousy it sparked in his other wives—was a major catalyst for the end. He described his current dynamic with Meri as "explosive," noting that they have a tendency to escalate conversations into arguments within seconds.
Despite the "explosive" nature of her past, Meri Brown is looking toward a quieter, more stable future. She is drawing "hard boundaries" with her ex-husband and focusing on the people who truly support her. Whether her relationship with Ron turns into a lifelong partnership or remains a "really cool friendship," it represents a victory for a woman who spent decades lost in the shuffle of a crowded marriage. Meri is no longer just a "sister wife"; she is an independent woman reclaiming her laughter, her trust, and her heart. The sale of Coyote Pass may have marked the end of an era, but for Meri, the real story is just beginning.
