Jackson Michie, winner of Big Brother Season 21, says he has already spent all of his $500,000 prize. He opened up about the struggles he faced after the show during an interview on Julie Chen Moonves’ “God101” series. They posted the episode on Instagram on March 2.
Michie, now 29, shared that he was in a tough place in his life when he joined the show. “I needed to do the show, but I was at a delicate place in my life,”. He had no support, especially when it came to finances or guidance. “When I won, I didn’t have the mentorship I needed,” he said. “Now, I’m in Los Angeles with the same problems I hadn’t healed from,” he added. Michie’s life after Big Brother has been harder than expected.
Struggles before Big Brother
Before appearing on Big Brother, Jackson Michie had just moved to Los Angeles from Nashville. He was looking for work and applying for bartending jobs and had barely settled in when he stumbled upon a casting call for the show. He decided to try out, and it changed his life. At the same time, Michie was struggling with health problems and battling a five-year drug addiction. He was using Xanax and cocaine, but before the show, he quit cold turkey. He knew he had to clean up his life, but it wasn’t easy.
A dangerous combination
During his time on the show, Michie built a relationship with runner-up Holly Allen. Their romance played a big part in the show. In the end, Michie won the title. He took home $510,000 and gained some fame in Los Angeles. But, looking back, he realizes how dangerous it was for him. “At 24, having all that money and fame, I had a dangerous combination,” Michie confessed. His success made it harder for him to stay grounded.
Jackson Michie’s poor decisions and rock bottom
After Big Brother, Michie made several bad financial decisions. He spent his money quickly, not thinking about the future. Eventually, he had no savings left. He found himself living without a car or job. “I blew through all my money, and my bank account was negative,”. “I had no car, no job, no plan so I went back to the place I had run from, unsure of what to do next.” It was a tough time, and Michie knew he had made mistakes.
Controversy on Big Brother
Michie’s time on Big Brother was not without controversy. Many of his houseguests accused him of bullying and racism. They pointed out that many of the first people eliminated were people of color. Fans also noticed Michie’s involvement in those evictions. He denied the accusations at the time. But now, looking back, Michie understands why fans became upset with him. “They were right. I did exactly what they said I would do,” he admitted. “I crashed and burned, hitting rock bottom more times than I can count.” Michie regrets his actions and wishes he could have handled things differently.
Turning his life around
Jackson Michie’s now says he is on a better path. He has found religion and started focusing on healing. His life has changed in many ways. In July 2023, Michie married Caitlin Goodrich. In May 2024, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Sophia Grace. He feels he has learned a lot from his struggles and is moving forward with a clearer mind. He is more focused on his family and his faith than ever before.
