Jonathan Scott

Early life and family

Jonathan Scott was born John Ian Scott on 28 April 1978 in Vancouver, British Columbia, arriving four minutes before his identical twin brother, Drew. He is the second son of Jim Scott, a former actor and stuntman from Scotland, and Joanne Scott, a paralegal. The family moved to a horse farm in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, where Jim worked as a youth counsellor. From a young age, Jonathan and Drew were immersed in entrepreneurship and manual labour. On their seventh birthday, their father encouraged them to find work, leading them to start a small business with their mother called JAM, making and selling nylon-wrapped clothes hangers. The boys also took clowning classes through the local parks department and performed in parades, earning up to one hundred dollars per hour. Jonathan's childhood fascination with magic began after seeing a New Year's Eve show, and by age ten he was crafting his own props. He studied the Tarbell Course in Magic and sought mentorship from professional illusionists David Wilson and Shawn Farquhar, joining the Vancouver Magic Circle and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. His father's frequent home renovations provided early construction experience, with Jonathan helping to build fences, decks, and barns from the age of eight. At fourteen, he and his father moved to Alberta to begin construction on the family's dream home, an experience that solidified his practical skills. He attended Thomas Haney Secondary School in Maple Ridge, where he was active in theatre and served as president of several student committees.

Early career and business ventures

Jonathan enrolled at the University of Calgary, majoring in business management, while he and Drew sought a stable career path to support potential entertainment ambitions. During their first semester, they purchased a seven-bedroom property near campus with a minimal down payment, renovated it, and rented out rooms, selling it a year later for a fifty-thousand-dollar profit. This successful house flip launched a fifteen-year side business in buying, renovating, and selling properties. Concurrently, Jonathan pursued magic professionally, moving to Vancouver at nineteen to build large-scale illusions for a planned touring show. A devastating setback occurred when another magician rented and then stole his entire illusion production, leaving Jonathan eighty thousand dollars in debt and forcing him to file for bankruptcy. He then worked as a WestJet flight attendant with Drew, which afforded them flexibility for their real estate projects. To formalize his construction expertise, Jonathan studied at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the Professional Home Builders Institute, becoming a licensed contractor. Jonathan remained in Calgary to run the business after Drew moved to Vancouver to pursue acting. Following his marriage in July 2007 and the 2008 American housing market collapse, Jonathan relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, opening a third branch of Scott Real Estate and focusing on leasing properties at below-market rates to assist renters during the recession.

Rise to television fame

The twins' transition to television began when Drew was approached for a reality show audition in Vancouver. Producers, learning Drew had a contractor twin, developed a concept that became the pilot for Property Brothers. After being rejected by multiple networks, the show was picked up for a full season by Canada's W Network, where it quickly became the channel's top-rated program. HGTV, which had initially passed on the series, later signed on as a distributor, launching the brothers to international fame. The show's format, featuring Jonathan's construction and design expertise alongside Drew's real estate guidance, resonated widely with audiences. The success of Property Brothers in 2011 led to several spin-off series, expanding their television footprint. These include Buying and Selling, which started in 2012 and helps families sell their current home while purchasing a new one. Another series, Brother vs. Brother, began in 2013 as a competition where the twins lead teams of renovators. Property Brothers: At Home premiered in 2014 and documented the extensive renovation of the Las Vegas home Jonathan and Drew purchased together. Property Brothers: Forever Home launched in 2019 and focuses on major upgrades to families' existing houses. A Very Brady Renovation also aired in 2019 and featured the brothers restoring the famous house from The Brady Bunch. By 2014, their combined shows reached more than 26 million viewers. To manage their growing production slate, the twins stopped accepting private clients and delegated their real estate business to colleagues. In 2010, they transformed their earlier film production company into Scott Brothers Entertainment, a full-scale production entity with offices in the United States and Canada.

Business and production empire

Beyond television, Jonathan and Drew have built a substantial brand across multiple industries. Scott Brothers Entertainment serves as the creative hub, producing not only their HGTV series but also digital content and specials like the 2016 web series In the Scott Seat. Their foray into retail began in 2015 with the launch of Scott Living, an outdoor furniture line on QVC that expanded to include indoor furnishings sold at major retailers like Lowe's and Costco. The brand generated over one hundred million dollars in revenue by the end of 2016. An extension called Dream Homes offers luxury architectural design and construction consulting for clients with multi-million-dollar budgets. The brothers are also published authors, releasing a home-improvement guide, Dream Home, in 2016, which debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list. They followed with a memoir, It Takes Two: Our Story, in 2017, and a series of children's books, Builder Brothers: Big Plans (2018) and Builder Brothers: Better Together (2019). In 2020, they launched a lifestyle magazine called Reveal. Their public engagements include hosting a Carnival cruise, Sailing with the Scotts, and frequent appearances as guest speakers at industry events like the Realscreen Summit and CES. The Scott brothers have authored several books that extend their brand into publishing. Their publications cover topics from practical home improvement to personal memoir and children's literature.

• Dream Home (2016): A home-improvement how-to book that debuted at ninth on The New York Times Best Seller list.
• It Takes Two: Our Story (2017): A memoir detailing the twins' personal and professional journey.
• Builder Brothers: Big Plans (2018): An illustrated children's book published by HarperCollins, including a building project.
• Builder Brothers: Better Together (2019): The sequel children's book released in the fall of 2019.
• Reveal (2020): A magazine launched by the brothers related to their home and lifestyle brand.

These publications complement their television work and product lines. Their first book, Dream Home, debuted at ninth on The New York Times Best Seller list for advice books. The twins also released a magazine related to their brand called Reveal in 2020. Their books are part of a broader brand that includes television series and a home goods line.

Other creative pursuits

Jonathan has maintained several creative passions alongside his television career. His lifelong interest in magic has seen him perform shows in Las Vegas, create illusions for other magicians, and remain an active member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians for over two decades. He occasionally performs magic tricks during media appearances and for charity events. In music, he and Drew recorded country singles as The Scott Brothers, beginning with Hold On and Let the Night Shine In for their series Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch. Hold On reached number 38 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. A third charity single, My House featuring Eric Paslay, was released in 2017 with proceeds donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The brothers have presented at the Grand Ole Opry and hosted segments at the CMA Music Fest. Jonathan has also acted in minor television roles since high school, with appearances on Breaker High and The X-Files, and served on the executive board of ACTRA, the Canadian actors' union.

Jonathan Scott's music career with his brother Drew includes the release of several country singles. They released two country singles as the group The Scott Brothers. The songs Hold On and Let the Night Shine In premiered during episodes of their series Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch. Jonathan performed Hold On at a Country Music Association event in New Orleans in September 2016.

• Hold On (2015): The first single, which premiered during Property Brothers: At Home on the Ranch and reached number 38 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
• Let the Night Shine In (2015): The second single, which debuted during the fourth episode of At Home on the Ranch.
• My House (2017): A charity single featuring Eric Paslay, with all proceeds donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The music opened doors for high profile appearances for Jonathan and Drew Scott. They were invited as guest presenters at the Grand Ole Opry in March 2016. They also hosted the Friday night Nissan Stadium show at the CMA Music Fest in 2016. Their single Hold On reached number 38 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.

Advocacy and public life

Jonathan Scott is a vocal advocate for renewable energy and sustainability. Around the year 2000, he converted his home to run on wind energy, and his current Las Vegas residence is powered by solar panels. In December 2016, he participated in the 24 Hours of Reality broadcast, advocating for policy changes to encourage residential solar power. He has worked on a documentary series about North America's energy landscape and released an ebook, Knowledge is Power, in 2019 through The Climate Reality Project, guiding consumers on integrating solar power. The Scott brothers are known for their playful on-screen dynamic and sense of humour, which has made them popular guests on talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Today. They have also been featured on programs like Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and Hell's Kitchen. Jonathan's personal life, including his 2007 marriage and subsequent separation, has been part of the public record, though he maintains a focus on his professional projects and family. He co-owns the Las Vegas home with Drew, who resides primarily in Beverly Hills, California.

Television series and filmography

The core of Jonathan Scott's public profile is his extensive work in television, primarily through the Property Brothers franchise and its many iterations. The following table outlines the principal series he has co-hosted and their premiere years. After being rejected by multiple networks, the show was picked up by Canada's W Network and later distributed by HGTV, launching a franchise that includes Buying and Selling and Brother vs. Brother. Property Brothers: At Home documented the renovation of his Las Vegas home, while Property Brothers: Forever Home shifted focus to upgrading existing residences.

In addition to these core series, Jonathan has appeared in numerous specials and guest roles. He appeared in the TLC special Drew and Linda Say I Do in June 2018 which chronicled his brother's wedding. Jonathan also delivered a best man speech at that wedding. He appeared in the first five episodes of the web series Tiny House Arrest in January 2016. His production company, Scott Brothers Entertainment, creates television, film, and digital content.

Jonathan Scott has made notable guest appearances on a variety of television programs beyond his own series. He and Drew have appeared on talk shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live and Today. They were chef's table guests in the 16th season of Hell's Kitchen. The twins also designed a house for the models on America's Next Top Model.

• Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! (2016): Appeared on an episode of the NPR radio quiz show.
• Hell's Kitchen (Season 16): Appeared as a chef's table guest, sitting with Ashley Greene in the red kitchen.
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Made multiple appearances as a talk show guest.
• Today: Regularly appears on the NBC morning show.
• Top 50 Country Countdown (2013): Hosted the annual year-end program on Great American Country.
• Dancing with the Stars (Season 25): Surprised the audience by joining his brother Drew's jive performance mid-routine.
• Playing House (2015): Played himself in an episode of the USA Network comedy.

These guest spots have helped maintain the brothers' visibility across different media platforms and audiences. They are regulars on the talk show circuit to promote their latest ventures. They have also been invited to notable events like the Realscreen Summit and CES. Their appearances on programs like Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! further broaden their audience reach.

Questions about Jonathan Scott

How did Jonathan Scott get started in television?

Jonathan Scott's television career began indirectly through his twin brother Drew. Drew was offered an audition for a show called Realtor Idol in Vancouver. While that show never materialized, producers learned Drew had a twin who was a contractor and developed a new concept around them. This led to the pilot for Property Brothers, which was initially rejected by several networks before being picked up by Canada's W Network. After becoming the network's top-rated show, it was distributed by HGTV, launching Jonathan and Drew to widespread fame.

What is Jonathan Scott's educational background?

Jonathan Scott studied business management at the University of Calgary. To formalize his hands-on skills in construction and design, he later transferred to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and the Professional Home Builders Institute. There, he completed studies that allowed him to become a licensed contractor. This combination of business education and technical training provided the foundation for his career in real estate, renovation, and television production.

Does Jonathan Scott still perform magic?

Yes, Jonathan Scott remains an active magician. He has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians for more than twenty years and has performed shows in Las Vegas venues. He occasionally performs magic tricks during media appearances and for charity events. Scott has also created illusions for other magicians in Las Vegas and has expressed a desire to pursue magic more seriously again in the future, considering it a lifelong passion.

What other businesses do Jonathan and Drew Scott own?

Beyond television production, Jonathan and Drew Scott co-founded Scott Brothers Entertainment, their production company. They launched the Scott Living home goods line, which includes indoor and outdoor furniture sold at retailers like Lowe's and Costco. An extension called Dream Homes offers luxury architectural consulting and construction. They have also authored books, released a magazine called Reveal, and previously operated Scott Real Estate Inc. Their brand encompasses a wide range of home-focused products and services.

Is Jonathan Scott involved in any charity work?

Jonathan Scott supports several charitable causes, particularly those related to renewable energy and children's health. He is a vocal advocate for solar power and has worked with The Climate Reality Project, releasing an ebook on the subject. In 2017, he and Drew released the charity single My House, with all proceeds donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He has also participated in fundraising broadcasts like 24 Hours of Reality to promote environmental causes.

Where does Jonathan Scott live?

Jonathan Scott lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2011, he and his brother Drew jointly purchased a foreclosed home there with the goal of creating a family hub. Jonathan moved in first and oversaw a major renovation documented on Property Brothers: At Home. Drew maintains a primary residence in Beverly Hills, California, but co-owns the Las Vegas property. Jonathan's home in Las Vegas is powered by solar energy, reflecting his advocacy for sustainable living.

Sources and further reading

• Jonathan Scott (Wikipedia)
• Jonathan Scott, Producer • Real Estate Investor (tvinsider.com)
• Films et séries avec Jonathan Scott (tv.apple.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.