The Duggars built their media empire by shilling wholesome values and the joys of simple living to an audience that ate it up like so many pickles and Chick-Fil-A sandwiches.
But throughout the family’s decade in the spotlight, even diehard fans have wondered if the Duggars are living double lives – preaching the virtues of frugality and humility, while at the same time enjoying lives of incredible fame and fortune.
Over the years, fans have taken issue with Jim Bob’s “high-class hoarding,” and other ostentatious displays of wealth.
The Duggar patriarch has been accused of buying up large tracts of land with no plans to make use of them, simply so that he might appear even more powerful in the eyes of local politicians.
Not exactly in keeping with the WWJD philosophy, but believe it or not, Jim Bob’s desire for increased clout and high-end antiques isn’t even the most galling example of the family’s mixed messaging regarding personal wealth.
No, that honor belongs to the Duggars’ astonishingly large fleet of private aircraft.
You may have been aware that the Duggars own a private jet, but were you aware that they own several other small planes, as well?
The first and most famous Duggar aircraft is the one belonging to John David, who was the first in the family to get his pilot’s license.
The plane, a Cirrus SR22 was purchased as a gift for the Duggar’s second-oldest son back in 2014.
At the time, it would’ve retailed for about $ 764,900, but as In Touch Weekly points out the Duggars probably bought it used.
Which means it probably only ran them about $ 200,000.
Since then the number of pilots in the Duggar clan has grown rapidly with Josiah earning his license and Joy marrying Austin Forsyth who counts piloting among his many professions.
So perhaps it’s not surprising that Jim Bob has decided to expand the family fleet in a major way.
Just last year, the Duggars purchased four planes from the ALERT Academy, bringing their total number of aircraft to whopping eight.
The folks at In Touch did the math, and assuming that the Duggars paid an average $ 547,000 per plane (only some of the purchases were second hand) that brings the total value of their fleet to $ 3,200,000.
Yes, the family that made a name for itself preaching modesty has spent over 3 mill on private planes in the past four years.
So what exactly is the family doing with all those big birds?
Well, Jim Bob recently incorporated Duggar Aviation LLC, and the company is headquartered out of nearby Springdale, Arkansas.
At this point, however, it doesn’t seem that the family is offering up commercial flights.
That may have plans to do so in the future, but many fans are suspicious that Duggar Aviation is nothing more than a shell corporation that allows Jim Bob to write off his plane collection as a business expense.
All in a day’s work for America’s favorite Christ-lovin’ capitalists.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.
