Jeremiah Brent is much more than an interior designer he is a storyteller who uses spaces as his canvas. With a net worth estimated at $18 million (combined with his husband, designer Nate Berkus), Brent has built a career that blends art, emotion, and lifestyle. Over the years, he has become a familiar face on television, starred in hit design shows, written a book about the soul of living spaces, and graced the covers of major magazines. But behind the accolades and public appearances is a journey that began with humble roots, sacrifice, and a passion for creating beauty from the ground up.
Early Life: From Modesto Dreams to Los Angeles Struggles
Born as Jeremy Clevenger Johnson on November 24, 1984, in Modesto, California, Jeremiah grew up in a working-class household. His father, Terry, served as a deputy sheriff, while his mother, Gwen, worked as a paralegal. They instilled in him the values of hard work, determination, and resilience.
As a student at Modesto High School, Jeremiah immersed himself in speech, drama, and debate, exploring ways to express himself creatively and confidently. These interests would later influence the way he communicates through design, blending narrative and artistry into his work.
At 19, with little more than ambition and courage, Jeremiah packed up his life and moved to Los Angeles. The transition was far from glamorous. For nearly a year, he lived out of his Jeep or on the couches of friends while trying to carve out a career path. Across the street from where he eventually settled was the Covenant House, a shelter for homeless teenagers. Not only did he witness the struggles of young people seeking stability, but he later returned to help redesign the shelter turning his early struggles into a platform for giving back.
This chapter of his life reminds us that even the most celebrated designers often begin with little more than persistence and faith in their vision.
Building a Career: From Styling Sets to Founding JBD
Jeremiah’s break into the design world didn’t happen overnight. His earliest work included assisting on “The Rachel Zoe Project” between 2011 and 2013, where he honed his eye for detail and aesthetics. Working behind the scenes as a styling associate, he built valuable industry connections while proving that his creative instincts went beyond traditional boundaries.
In 2012, Jeremiah took a bold step and founded Jeremiah Brent Design (JBD), with offices in both New York and Los Angeles. What set JBD apart was his philosophy: design wasn’t just about creating visually appealing spaces but about telling the emotional story of the people who would inhabit them. His process focused on understanding his clients’ personal histories, integrating their memories, journeys, and identities into his work. This deeply human-centered approach gave his projects depth and warmth that resonated across audiences.
Television soon became another canvas for him. Jeremiah hosted OWN’s “Home Made Simple” (2015–2016), where he helped families reimagine their living spaces. But the real turning point came when he teamed up with Nate Berkus, his husband, to create shows such as “Nate & Jeremiah by Design” (2017–2019) on TLC, and later “Nate & Jeremiah Save My House” (2020–2021) and “The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project” on HGTV. Their chemistry and authenticity not only made design relatable but also showcased the emotional side of building a home.
In 2020, Netflix tapped him as the design expert for the wedding-focused show “Say I Do”, where he crafted dream settings for couples’ most important moments. By 2024, he stepped into a new spotlight as the interior designer on Netflix’s “Queer Eye” Season 9, expanding his influence to a global audience.
Beyond television, Jeremiah’s presence extended to Architectural Digest, Domino, People, and Harper’s Bazaar, where he appeared on covers and features that celebrated his design style a blend of modern elegance and soulful storytelling.
In 2024, he published his book “The Space That Keeps You,” an exploration of how our surroundings shape us emotionally and spiritually. Unlike a typical design manual, the book leaned into the philosophy of spaces as sanctuaries, capturing his signature ethos of design as a reflection of love, memory, and meaning.
Personal Life: A Love Story Built on Shared Dreams
Jeremiah’s personal life has been just as inspiring as his professional one. In 2012, he began dating Nate Berkus, one of the most recognizable names in interior design. The couple’s love story unfolded quickly by April 2013, they were engaged, and in May 2014, they exchanged vows in a moving Jewish Buddhist ceremony in Manhattan. The event was officiated by Sheri Salata, then-president of OWN, symbolizing not only their union but also their impact as one of the most visible same-sex couples in the design and entertainment world.
Together, Jeremiah and Nate became pioneers in mainstream media, appearing in Banana Republic “True Outfitters” campaigns as the first same-sex couple to feature in the brand’s ads. Their love story has always been woven into their work, showing how home and partnership go hand in hand.
The couple welcomed two children through surrogacy: daughter Poppy in March 2015 and son Oskar in March 2018. Both children are often mentioned with pride and affection, as Jeremiah and Nate balance demanding careers with the joys of parenthood. For Jeremiah, family isn’t just part of his life it’s also the heartbeat of his design philosophy.
Real Estate and Legacy: Designing a Life Beyond Four Walls
Like many designers, Jeremiah expresses his vision not only in clients’ spaces but also in his own homes. Over the years, he and Nate have lived in several stunning properties, including a 9,000-square-foot Los Angeles mansion. In 2020, the couple made headlines again when they downsized to a 3,400-square-foot townhouse in New York City, later featured in Architectural Digest. Eventually, they returned to their beloved Greenwich Village home, blending their personal taste with a sense of nostalgia and comfort.
Today, with an $18 million net worth, Jeremiah continues to expand his influence across design, television, and publishing. Yet, his true legacy isn’t just measured in wealth or accolades it lies in the spaces he creates, the lives he touches, and the courage he inspires by showing that following your passion, even through hardships, can build a life rich in meaning.
Jeremiah Brent’s story is not simply about success in interior design. It’s about resilience sleeping in a Jeep while chasing a dream, turning hardship into empathy, and building spaces that reflect the human soul. It’s also about love: for his craft, for his family, and for the belief that homes are more than four walls they are the keepers of our stories.