Skip to main content

Ten years ago, Jacob Roloff stepped away from Little People, Big World. 

After a decade as a cast member on his family’s TLC series, Jacob – then 19 – revealed that he had no interest in continuing to film. One reason for his exit? Storylines and scenarios that he said were shaped by producers rather than based in real life. (Later, Jacob alleged that he had been molested by a LPBW producer.)

“The family that is filmed is not my family,” he wrote on Instagram in 2016. “They are the Roloff Characters and I have scarcely anything in common with them, nor do I want to be a character myself.”

Once he was legally an adult, Jacob withdrew from the spotlight. He moved to northern California, where he worked on a farm, married his wife Isabel, and welcomed a son. Gradually, he began sharing more of his life on social media. A few years ago, he and Isabel returned to Oregon to work with his dad, Matt Roloff, on Roloff Farms. 

Isabel Roloff says she and Jacob Roloff might be interested in filming new reality show 

Related

‘Sister Wives’ Returns for Season 21, But Without Kody and Robyn Brown

For a time, it seemed that Jacob might be the Roloff child who would take over the farm operation from his father. (His siblings Jeremy Roloff and Zach Roloff had previously expressed interest in purchasing the property, but they were never able to reach an agreement with Matt.) Now, those plans have changed, Jacob revealed. In a recent social media post, the 29-year-old said that he and his family would “likely” be leaving the farm early next year because of a dispute with “management” (i.e., his father). 

What’s next for Jacob and Isabel if they leave Roloff Farms isn’t clear. But in a comment on TikTok, Isabel indicated that they were considering all options. One person wrote that they would “love” to see a show with the pair and their son. 

“We’ve discussed it, and have reached out to past producers of the family show, haven’t heard back about it yet,” Isabel replied. 

Jacob Roloff says his dad relied on ‘Little People, Big World’ fame to keep the farm afloat

Little People, Big World came to an end in 2024 after 25 seasons. Since then, Jacob alleges that Roloff Farms has been struggling. The family runs a popular pumpkin festival in the weeks leading up to Halloween. But beyond that, it’s not clear what the business plan is. Jacob says his father is more interested in trying to sell the large house where he and his siblings grew up. The 5,800-square foot home, which is on a parcel adjacent to the larger farm, has been on and off the market for three years with no takers. His son says Matt is refusing to accept the financial reality of his situation.  

“It’s a wonder that the farm seems to have had no off-ramp to the show ending, and then 4 wasted years of betting on The Name, and nothing else, and now it may be too late for any fix,” Jacob wrote in a comment on TikTok. “The market will continue to not be friendly to the big house sale, and if it all gets listed as two lots, I can’t see that going any better. People say if I ran it it would be bankrupt in a few years, well…………”

In various TikToks posted in recent days, Jacob stressed that he didn’t feel entitled to own the farm. However, he said he did want to make sure it was being managed well. He’s said he’s offered to take over day-to-day operations so that Matt can retire and possibly move out of state. But Matt has refused to cede control or give his younger son access to the farm’s books. Some commenters suggested that Matt might be trying to conceal debt or other questionable financial practices. 

“[I’ve] been wanting to untangle the rats nest for years,” Jacob replied. “Maybe it’s not meant to be untangled or demystified. I couldn’t guess why.”

For more​​ news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram. 

Best in News