‘Alaskan Bush People’ How Did The Brown Family Get Discovered?

For several years, Alaskan Bush People brought the life of the Brown family to fans as they moved from Alaska to Washington before the series aired its last season. It all started with Billy Brown and his wife Ami as they raised their children in the bush of Alaska. However, for fans who might have joined the family late, there are questions about how this all started.
Here is how the Brown family was discovered on the hit Discovery Channel reality TV show.
How Did Alaskan Bush People Start?
Alaskan Bush People began in the bush of Alaska, with Billy Brown teaching his kids how to survive off the land without needing to accept anything from society or the government. While they eventually had to give in after Ami Brown’s cancer, the family has kept what their dad taught them close to their heart.
There is a book for anyone who wants to learn more about Billy Brown and his rules to live by as he and his wife Ami took their lives into the bush to live off the land. Brown published his autobiography, One Wave at a Time, in 2007. The book’s synopsis read that Billy’s parents died when he was 16. He left for the wilderness in Alaska.
“Stranded on an uninhabited island off the coast of Alaska for nearly 18 months with his wife and two small children, Billy began to look within himself for the strength and skills necessary to bring his new family through their ordeal.”
Billy then raised his kids in the Alaskan bush, teaching them to survive off the grid. This included Matt, Bam, Bear, Gabe, Noah, Snowbird, and Rain.
When Did Alaskan Bush People Come To Discovery Channel?
Up next for the Brown family was a producer discovering One Wave at a Time. This producer then pitched Billy the idea of creating Alaskan Bush People as a reality TV series following Billy and his kids (via PEOPLE).

At one point, Alaskan Bush People averaged over five million viewers per episode. Although this number dropped to around a million in later seasons, it remained one of Discovery’s most-watched shows. The family always talked about how rough their lives were but said it was worth it.
Interestingly, for a family who lived off the grid and wasn’t concerned about material possessions, Billy was estimated to have built up a $60 million fortune (via ScreenRant). After his death, his family has claimed financial struggles, so that number has been put into question. However, Ami’s cancer battle, their Washington home burning down, and legal problems might have eaten into their fortune.
Alaskan Bush People has been off the air for over two years, and there is no word on whether it will ever return. However, for 14 seasons, the show entertained fans and made the Brown family stars.
Are you a fan of Alaskan Bush People? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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