Jonathan and Drew Scott: Surprising Facts About the Property Brothers (2025 Update)

Jonathan and Drew Scott, famously known as the Property Brothers, are two of the most recognized faces in home renovation and reality television. Born on April 28, 1978, in Vancouver, Canada, the identical twins have built a multi-million dollar brand combining real estate, design, construction, and entertainment. With hit HGTV shows like Property Brothers, Celebrity IOU, Forever Home, Brother vs. Brother, Don’t Hate Your House, and Backed by the Bros, the Scott brothers have transformed the way audiences view home improvement.

Over the years, the brothers have expanded their empire beyond television. They founded Scott Brothers Entertainment, a production company behind dozens of popular shows, and launched DrewandJonathan.com, a one-stop digital hub for design inspiration, home products, and lifestyle tips. They also produce 10,000+ branded home decor items, author bestselling books, and are frequently featured on talk shows and special events—including White House Christmas 2023.

But beyond their fame, Drew and Jonathan have personal stories filled with humor, hard work, family values, childhood pranks, and heartfelt relationships. From their early days as magicians and karate champions to co-parenting and planning weddings, these facts reveal a deeper look into their lives—both on-screen and off.

In this article, we explore lesser-known facts that highlight the journey, quirks, and passions of HGTV’s beloved Property Brothers.

Early Life & Childhood

• Born in Vancouver, Canada, on April 28, 1978, Jonathan and Drew Scott are identical twins. Jonathan is older by four minutes.
• They were raised on a horse ranch in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, helping their father with chores like mending fences and riding horses before age 3. Their mom described them as “country boys.”
• Their twin birth came as a surprise, since no ultrasound detected twins during pregnancy. Jonathan was born first, followed by Drew minutes later.
• To help others tell them apart as toddlers, Jonathan was always dressed in blue, while Drew wore other colors—a simple system that helped family and friends distinguish them visually.
• Their parents emphasized fairness: they never gave joint birthday gifts to the twins. However, extended family often gifted shared items (like a single sweater), which led to awkward moments trying to split them.
• Jonathan frequently borrowed and wore Drew’s clothes, especially during adolescence. He’d even stir up mischief knowing Drew would get blamed due to mistaken identity.
• They loved pulling impersonation pranks. In one instance, Jonathan posed as Drew to flirt with a girl, sending a scented love letter marked with a lipstick kiss and dabbed in Brut cologne.
• Their mother told them apart by Jonathan’s broader vocabulary, since their voices were otherwise indistinguishable—something that also caused voicemail confusion when they shared a phone in adulthood.
• As children, they celebrated holidays by caroling door-to-door, joined by their parents and older brother J.D. Gatherings could include 40+ people, with Jonathan playing bagpipes and Drew playing guitar.
• The brothers got matching dolphin tattoos in adulthood as a symbol of their twin bond.
• Jonathan recalled moments of twin intuition—once experiencing sudden knee pain on the same day Drew injured his knee during basketball, despite being in a different city.
• Drew was also highly active—he played competitive basketball and had an impressive 43-inch vertical leap. He also took ping pong lessons for two years solely to beat Jonathan in their long-running sibling rivalry.

• The family’s home had a shaggy brown carpet, which they joked about due to its tendency to trap pet messes—an early influence on their later passion for interior design.
• The twins’ father, Jim Scott, was a Scottish-born stuntman and film technician, while their mother, Joanne, worked as a paralegal and musician.

Childhood Jobs, Magic Tricks & Entrepreneurial Hustle

1. Before clowning, the twins’ first job at age 7 was making and selling decorative nylon hangers. They landed a bulk buyer from Japan and even helped cover family expenses on a Scotland trip when their parents’ credit cards were frozen.
2. At ages 7–8, Jonathan and Drew trained as apprentice clowns through a Parks & Rec program, performing at birthdays and parades. By age 12, they earned $50/hour.
3. Jonathan is a certified magician, once ranking #3 in North America at age 16. He performed Vegas-style shows and aspired to be the next David Copperfield.
4. Drew once teased that magic wouldn’t help Jonathan date—but Jonathan disproved that by impressing girls with tricks, while Drew stood alone playing basketball.
5. The twins hosted Friday night shows at home, putting on magic tricks and skits for their family.

Sports, Discipline & Rivalry

• They earned second-degree black belts in Shotokan karate and won national championships in Canada.
• Drew played competitive basketball and once dreamed of making it to the NBA. In high school, he spent four to five hours daily in the gym, playing power forward and small forward, and possessed an astounding 43-inch vertical leap—enough to dunk and reportedly “touch his head on a ten-foot rim.” He continued playing in college but was sidelined by injuries. He tried out for a college team in Alberta in 2003 before ultimately shifting back to real estate.
• During celebrity basketball games, they’ve swapped jerseys mid-game to mess with refs.
• Jonathan collected swords and armor as a teen and was fascinated with medieval history.

 Real Estate Roots & Early Career

• At just 18, the brothers bought their first property with $250 down, creatively financing the deal and netting $50,000 in profit.
• Drew became a licensed real estate agent, while Jonathan studied construction and design.
• Frustrated with traditional jobs, they co-founded Scott Real Estate, focusing on house flipping and investment.
• Their first renovation was their own childhood basement, guided by their dad.
• Drew was nearly cast as host of a reality competition called Realtor Idol, pitched as an “American Idol” for realtors. The show never made it to production.
• HGTV initially rejected Property Brothers. It was picked up by Canada’s W Network, where it became the #1 show within three weeks.
• Casting producers originally wanted Drew as the contractor due to his rugged look. When they learned Jonathan was the licensed builder, they swapped roles just before filming.

Acting, Music & Media

• Jonathan made early appearances on The X-Files, while Drew had a small role in Smallville.
• They founded Scott Brothers Entertainment, producing shows like Property Brothers, Forever Home, and Brother vs. Brother.
• In 2015, they released country music singles—”Hold On” peaked at #24 on Billboard’s Country chart.
• Despite the music success, they confirmed TV would remain their core focus.

TV Shows & Renovation Projects

• The duo has produced over 400 hours of original TV renovation content.
• Backed by the Bros premiered on June 5, 2024, where they mentor novice home flippers through high-risk projects.
• Don’t Hate Your House premiered November 13, 2024 on HGTV and Max. The series focuses on homeowners frustrated by their dysfunctional homes—helping them fall in love with their space again. Season 2 begins July 30, 2025. The final two episodes of Season 1 feature their parents’ move from the Canadian Rockies to Santa Monica.
• Their mom was their toughest client, giving them daily checklists of expectations and high standards to meet.

Celebrity Collaborations & Anecdotes

• Celebrity IOU moments include emotional renovations like Sterling K. Brown helping his nanny and Regina Hall improving a dangerous home.
• Drew and Jonathan were frequently pranked by celebrity guests like Halle Berry and Zoe Saldana during demo day.
• Jonathan once wore a Wonder Woman costume for a skit. Zooey Deschanel scratched a custom door knob while helping renovate.
• Jonathan met Kevin Costner at a party, who praised him for “everything you do for people”—a moment he called surreal.

Design Philosophy & Values

• Jonathan favors colorful kitchens and warm accents. Drew prefers classic white kitchens for their brightness and longevity.
• Both use smart lighting, sustainable materials, and promote non-toxic, safe home tech.
• Drew encourages small, meaningful actions: “You don’t need to renovate someone’s house—just do something kind.”
• Jonathan believes home design is sacred, explaining that feeling unsafe at home impacts one’s entire well-being.

Family Life

• Drew married Linda Phan in 2018. They have two kids:
  • Parker James (born May 12, 2022)
  • Piper Rae (born May 21, 2024)
• Drew nicknamed Parker “Mini Marsden” because of his curly hair resembling actor James Marsden.
• Piper initially cried when held by others but warmed up to Jonathan—she mistook him for Drew due to their resemblance.
• Their mom even suggested putting her photo in Piper’s crib to help soothe her.
• Parker imitates Drew’s every move, from groans to strumming a guitar. He received a mini guitar after watching his dad play daily.

Zooey Deschanel & Jonathan Scott: Key Facts

• Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott met in August 2019 during a Carpool Karaoke taping.
• They began dating shortly after their meeting.
• Zooey announced her separation from Jacob Pechenik in September 2019 and finalized the divorce in June 2020.
• Jonathan proposed to Zooey during a trip to Scotland in August 2023. She accepted.

Life Together

• Jonathan once said, “It took me 41 years to figure out what I didn’t want in people to finally find her and realize what I did want in somebody.”
• They co-renovated their Los Angeles home—Zooey chose tile and hardware; Jonathan handled structural elements.
• At home, Zooey leads design decisions, while Jonathan humorously claims he just fixes toilets and changes light bulbs.
• Jonathan described their love as something unimaginable in his younger years, stating they “know what we want, and it’s each other.”

Celebrations and Wedding Plans

• The couple created custom shirts reading “Z and J like to party” for family events.
• They hosted a Halloween party with 300 guests, a dance floor, and eight bouncy castles.
• Their wedding will be intimate, but Jonathan promised it will be “a kick-ass party.”
• Jonathan discussed wedding plans during a TODAY with Jenna & Friends interview in November 2023.

Holiday Traditions & Appearances

• They begin Christmas decorating on November 1, a tradition dating back to childhood.
• Jonathan uses color-changing lights year-round for festive cheer.
• They hosted White House Christmas 2023 on HGTV (aired December 10, 2023), inspired by Twas the Night Before Christmas.
• They caroled as kids—Jonathan on bagpipes, Drew on guitar.
• Their mom crafted homemade Halloween costumes, a tradition they fondly recall.

Funny & Unexpected Tidbits

• Jonathan keeps a blackmail folder full of embarrassing Drew photos.
• During a trip to Cuba, they once skinny-dipped and had their clothes stolen.
• Drew was DM’d by Cher during the pandemic and couldn’t believe it.
• Drew juggled filming and newborn care when Parker was born.
• They once joked about still sharing bunk beds, though they confirmed they live separately.
• Their parents now live midway between their homes in L.A., and the brothers are renovated their house together.
• The Scott brothers now host four TV shows and produce 13 others through their production company. They manufacture over 10,000 home products and launched a new platform, DrewandJonathan.com, to share tips, products, and behind-the-scenes stories.