The Property Brothers reflect on rise to DIY stardom

USA Today

27-05-2025

The Property Brothers reflect on rise to DIY stardom
Drew and Jonathan Scott are household names, known for their playful banter, attention to detail and commitment to quality on the home renovation projects they film for television shows such as "Property Brothers," "Celebrity IOU" and "Brother vs. Brother." The 47-year-old identical twins — Jonathan, a licensed contractor, and Drew, a real estate agent — didn't set out to become the most famous siblings in the home improvement industry. Still, they have embraced the journey and sit at the helm of what could easily be termed an empire, with a production company, multiple lines of home furnishings and décor and even a children's book series called "Builder Brothers."
Firm Foundations
The twins got their start in Calgary, Alberta. 'We grew up on a ranch, and we were always handy. So, we decided right out of high school to start renovating houses to make money to go after our creative endeavors,' says Drew, who set his sights on being an actor and director.
'We bought a $500 infomercial course that promised you to 'make millions with no money down.' They got our money; however, we did learn a couple of things that allowed us to buy our first house for only $250 out of pocket,' says Jonathan, who had aspirations of becoming an illusionist à la David Copperfield. 'That's how we launched into it. Lo and behold, we were good at real estate.'
After about 10 years of flipping homes, Drew felt the pull of acting once again. 'I started getting host auditions as a real estate expert,' Drew says. At first, he dismissed the idea, hoping to be a film actor. But after talking with Jonathan, he reconsidered. 'We thought we could probably build a brand around this. We know how to design houses. What if we do what we were doing with clients locally for a larger national or global audience?' Soon after, "Property Brothers" launched in 2011 and became a top-rated HGTV staple. Other hit shows including "Backed by the Bros" and "Buying and Selling" followed. Ever entrepreneurial, the pair, who both now reside in Los Angeles, has become the largest home show producers in the country.
Building New Things
While the duo's audience may be most familiar with their on-air work, the Scott brothers are increasingly making a name for themselves in the world of retail products. Ten years ago, they launched their Scott Living and Drew & Jonathan Home brands, featuring an ever-growing collection of wallpaper, rugs, lighting, textiles, furniture and more. Since 2015, they've collaborated with licensing partners to create more than 12,000 unique SKUs for retailers from Amazon and Wayfair to Macy's and Rooms To Go. The term 'empire' isn't a stretch: As of early 2025, their products had netted more than $3 billion in retail sales.
It may be natural to assume that the more successful the Scotts become, the less they're getting their hands dirty. While they do have a capable team to assist, they're still in the thick of the real work that goes into transforming properties — the work that catapulted them to stardom in the first place. (On the day of our interview, Jonathan came in brushing sawdust off his shoulders, having raced over from a renovation project.)
It's also personal for them: They recently completed a project for their parents, who moved from their dream home in Banff, Canada, to Los Angeles to be closer to the grandkids (Drew shares two kids with his wife, Linda, and Jonathan has two stepchildren with his fiancée, actress Zooey Deschanel). 'We had to make sure the house was everything they could ever want — that it was comfortable and that there were elements that made them feel the nostalgia of the mountains and the beauty of the rustic lifestyle,' Drew explains. 'It was a gut renovation of an 80-year-old Spanish style home in Santa Monica,' Jonathan says, finishing his brother's thought — a common occurrence. 'Nothing had ever been updated in the house, and it was in dire need of everything.' The project was documented for HGTV and the brothers shared behind-the-scenes insights on their YouTube channel. The result is a light-filled, functional house that has become a treasured home for the senior Scotts.
Good Work
Some made-for-television home renovation shows are plagued by rumors of shoddy craftsmanship and productions carting away décor and furniture when the filming stops. 'That would never work for a family in real life,' Drew says. 'I'm like, 'No, let's actually help families.' We've done 650 episodes or more of our shows (combined) now, and that's always been our philosophy. It's got to be done right whether a camera is there or not.'
That ethos of improving lives and giving back to the community flows through into their philanthropic endeavors as well. In 2017, the brothers were named Habitat Humanitarians, the highest recognition by Habitat for Humanity, and have led fundraisers and home builds across the country. Additionally, Jonathan sits on the board of electrification nonprofit Rewiring America and Drew sits on the board of The Environmental Media Association, an organization dedicated to encouraging more sustainable production. They also help in less public ways: During the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Jonathan Deschanel offered their home to firefighters to use as a basecamp.
They feel like they're just getting started. In 2024, the Scott brothers partnered on a first-of-its-kind partnership called The Healthy Home Innovation Fund to invest in innovations that can help tackle the most pressing issues facing homeowners, renters, builders and others. The organization will help fund new ideas in smart home technologies, energy efficiency, digitization, safety and more.
No matter what new endeavor they dream up or project they tackle, the brothers are committed to working together, a lifetime habit. 'We've naturally fallen into this routine where we divide and conquer,' Jonathan says. 'Drew will run with one project. I'll run with another. It's almost seamless now. We don't even have to think about it. We call it twin telepathy.'
Follow along at drewandjonathan.com and at the newly launched Drew & Jonathan YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes show recaps, news about their product launches and tips for at-home DIY projects.