Matt vs Zach Roloff: ‘Little People, Big World’ Family Feud, Explained

Simon Delott

It’s been Matt vs Zach Roloff on Little People, Big World for years.

What went wrong?

Family relationships are complex and fueled by a lot of conflicting emotions. Family feuds can carry a special kind of bitterness.

Fans want to understand where things went south for Matt and Zach. Its all starts

Matt and Zach Roloff on Air
Matt and Zach Roloff aren’t getting along well these days. They’ve been clashing over the future of their family farm. (Image Credit: TLC)

What Happened Between Zach Roloff and His Dad?

When Matt Roloff gave up his Silicon Valley job to buy farmland, he consigned his family to farm life.

Zach Roloff spent his childhood on Roloff Farms, just as the other siblings did.

And, when Jacob was on his walkabout and Molly moved off to live a more normal life, Zach continued working with his dad on the farm — always with the belief that he would one day run the farm, or help run it.

Matt Roloff speaks to the confessional camera.
Speaking on Season 25 of Little People, Big World, Matt Roloff worries about missing time with his grandkids. (Image Credit: TLC)

Matt and Amy Roloff’s marriage lasted for two decades

As anyone who watches Little People, Big World can attest, Amy and Matt Roloff have very different personalities. This has brought them into direct conflict numerous times over the years.

Now, they have both moved on. Amy married Chris Marek and Matt, who was already with Caryn Chandler, is building his mansion on what remains of Roloff Farms.

But the divorce of their long-lasting marriage meant that Matt bought out Amy’s share of Roloff Farms. At the time of the split, everyone — including Amy — assumed that Matt would one day pass on the farm to one or more of their children.

A dark mode screenshot of Matt Roloff announcing that he is attempting to sell a parcel of Roloff Farms in 2022.
In May of 2022, Matt Roloff confirmed that he had put part of Roloff Farms on the market in a Facebook post. (Image Credit: Facebook)

Matt Roloff put part of Roloff Farms for sale

Back in early 2022, Matt Roloff put 16 acres of Roloff Farms on the market. Selling a portion of the land didn’t mean abandoning the property, but it sent a clear message.

He was not going to be passing on the entire farm, or even just management of it, to any of his children any time soon.

While it didn’t seem that youngest son Jacob Roloff had any public issues with it, Zach made his displeasure very clear.

Matt Roloff via confessional
Matt Roloff doesn’t look thrilled in this Little People, Big World confessional. (Image Credit: TLC)

This dealt a blow to Matt and Zach’s father-son relationship

To say that Zach felt that Matt had betrayed him … pretty much sums it up, honestly. It turned their dynamic into a Matt vs Zach feud.

Zach and Tori had to reconsider their future as a couple. Zach’s twin brother, Jeremy Roloff, and his wife, Audrey, had already given up on the idea of Matt making good on his years of strongly suggesting that he’d pass on the farm.

To make matters worse, Matt had dangled the farm in front of Zach … offering the parcel of land at a price that he knew that Zach could never afford.

Matt Roloff on a sunny day on Roloff Farms.
Looking out at Roloff Farms, Matt Roloff considers the future. (Image Credit: TLC)

Matt Roloff gave Zach a peace offering

In a Little People, Big World episode that aired in 2022, Matt Roloff gifted Zach a lawnmower. It’s an expensive gift, though not necessarily equivalent to someone’s entire future.

“Maybe the mower can help begin that process of saying, ‘Hey! Let’s move on.'” Matt suggested to the camera.

Zach appreciated the gift for what it was, admitting: “It’s nice that my dad brought the lawnmower, but the relationship is still tense. It’s not like what it was.”

Amy Roloff visits Tori and Zach Roloff and their kids at their Oregon home.
Amy Roloff arrives to visit Tori Roloff and Zach Roloff. She’ll be babysitting their precious children while the couple enjoys a date night. (Image Credit: TLC)

Zach Roloff no longer lives on Roloff Farms

Facing the reality that Matt had seemingly strung them along for years, Zach and Tori settled on finding their own home away from the farm.

Now, the couple and their kids have a spacious Oregon home with their own land. It’s not a sprawling pumpkin farm, but it’s full of potential projects for Zach to undertake.

Zach and Tori are still on Little People, Big World. They’re just no longer on the farm … and Matt is now a much smaller part of their lives.

Zach Roloff hears a producer ask about his semi-estranged father's engagement news.
As a producer on Little People, Big World asks Zach Roloff what he thinks of his father’s engagement news, Zach is not exactly leaping with enthusiasm. (Image Credit: TLC)

Have Matt Roloff and Zach settled their differences?

With the start of Season 25 of Little People, Big World in February 2024, viewers knew that things remained tense.

Matt lamented the time that he’s missing with his grandchildren after he alienated their parents.

He knows that this is precious time that he will never get back with Jackson, Lilah, and Josiah.

Perhaps the situation with Matt Roloff feeling “cut off” from his grandkids will not last forever. But for now, it looks like it’s still Matt vs Zach Roloff.

But, as Zach said, even if they make peace, things will never again be the same between them.

Matt has made his choices, Zach has made his choices in response. And now they both have to live with those decisions. The entire family does.

Matt vs Zach Roloff: ‘Little People, Big World’ Family Feud, Explained was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.