Reality TV is a fickle beast. We all remember the early 2000s, right? Low-rise jeans, Razr flip phones, and the absolute chaos of the original Joe Millionaire. When Fox announced they were bringing it back in 2022 as Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer, the collective internet basically exhaled a "wait, what?"
The premise was revamped for a modern, slightly more "ethical" audience. Instead of one guy lying to twenty women about having 50 million bucks, we got two guys. One was a legit millionaire; the other was a regular Joe. The women didn't know who was who. It was supposed to be this social experiment about whether money actually matters when you're "vibing" with someone.
Honestly, it was messier than anyone expected.
The Million Dollar Question: Who Was Actually Rich?
In the 2022 revival, the roles were filled by Steven McBee and Kurt Sowers.
Steven McBee was the "real" millionaire. He’s a self-made guy from Missouri who runs McBee Farm & Ranch. If you’ve been keeping up with reality TV lately, you might have seen him and his family on the Bravo series The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys. He’s got that classic rural-wealth energy—lots of land, big trucks, and a family business that actually makes money.
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Then there was Kurt Sowers. Kurt was the "Average Joe." He wasn't broke—he was a construction CEO from Charlotte—but he didn't have the Seven-Figure bank account the show’s title teased. He was just a guy trying to find a connection while the show's butler, Martin Andrew, kept the champagne flowing and the secrets hidden.
What Really Happened with the Couples?
If you're looking for a fairytale, you're looking at the wrong franchise. By the time the finale rolled around, both men had to make a choice and reveal their financial status.
Steven McBee and Calah Jackson
Steven chose Calah Jackson. He gave her a promise ring (the "we aren't engaged but I like you" classic) and revealed he was the rich one. They actually tried to make it work. They moved in together in Missouri. They even managed to stay together for a significant chunk of time post-show, which is basically a lifetime in reality dating years.
But, as of 2026, they are very much over. Their breakup played out in a pretty ugly way on The McBee Dynasty. Calah eventually moved back to Dallas, citing "red flags" and a feeling that she had lost herself in the relationship. Steven has since moved on and "hard launched" a new relationship with influencer Allie Eklund in late 2025.
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Kurt Sowers and Amanda Pace
Kurt’s ending was a bit of a shocker. Most viewers thought he was going to pick Carolyn Moore, the single mom he’d had an explosive physical connection with from day one. Instead, he chose Amanda Pace.
When Kurt told Amanda he wasn't the millionaire, she didn't care. It was a "For Richer or Poorer" success story for exactly five minutes. In reality, they split up almost immediately after filming. Amanda later mentioned on podcasts that Kurt wasn't "emotionally available" and the long-distance thing between New York and Charlotte just didn't click. Kurt reportedly tried to slide back into Carolyn’s DMs afterward, but that bridge was pretty much burned.
Why the Show Didn't Stick the Landing
Why did Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer vanish after one season?
Part of it was the timing. In a post-Bachelor world, the "lie to women for entertainment" trope feels a bit dated. Even with two guys, the power dynamic was weird. Also, the stakes felt lower. In the 2003 original, Evan Marriott was a construction worker pretending to be a $50 million heir. In 2022, both guys were relatively successful professionals. The "poor" guy was still doing better than most of the people watching at home.
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The show did manage to capture some authentic moments, though. The "bromance" between Steven and Kurt felt more real than most of the romantic connections. They actually became genuine friends, which is the rarest outcome you can get from a show like this.
The Aftermath and Where They Are Now
If you’re wondering if it’s worth a rewatch on Tubi or Hulu, it’s a fun time capsule of 2022 fashion and "farming" drama. Here is the quick status check on the main players:
- Steven McBee: Starring in his own reality show on Bravo/Peacock, dating Allie Eklund, and still running the farm.
- Kurt Sowers: Back to his construction business in North Carolina, mostly out of the spotlight compared to Steven.
- Calah Jackson: Living in Dallas, focusing on her own career, and very vocal about not wanting to go back to Missouri.
- Carolyn Moore: Still running her skincare brand, Lion & Loki, and thriving as a "boy mom."
Actionable Insight: If you’re a fan of the "rich guy/poor guy" trope, skip the reruns and check out The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys. It’s effectively a sequel to Steven’s journey, and it provides way more context on why his relationship with Calah eventually fell apart. It’s less about the "millionaire" gimmick and more about the actual stress of running a high-stakes family business while trying to maintain a relationship in front of cameras.