After stepping away from royal life, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ventured into a new world of podcasts, TV shows, and books. With their multi-million-dollar deals, the couple have built an incredible fortune through their various commercial ventures.
Now, with news of their return to the UK from the US, questions remain over which business ventures will stay in place and how they will maintain their fortune following the move.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot on 19 May 2018, the pair's already substantial net worths combined for something much larger. Harry accumulated most of his money through inheritance from his late mother, Princess Diana, and a trust fund that was established by his late great-grandmother, The Queen Mother. Meanwhile, Meghan made millions through her acting career, with Suits netting her a small fortune.
© Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty ImagesAnd while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step down as working royals in 2020 lost them the money they used to receive from the royal family, they have gone on to make deals with other institutions, including Netflix, which likely more than makes up for that loss.
The royal couple are reportedly worth $120 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, with both being worth $60 million individually. But how did the royal couple accrue their fortune? Read on to find out everything you need to know...
Did inheritance come in handy?
Harry managed to acquire quite the fortune through money that was left for him by the late Princess Diana and Queen Mother. Both Harry and Prince William were the inheritors of the majority of Diana's estate, after her tragic death in 1997. This is believed to have totaled around £13 million ($16.5 million). The brothers are also thought to have received her jewellery collection.
© Antony Jones/Julian ParkerHarry has also benefitted from a trust fund set up by the late Queen Mother to benefit her great-grandchildren. At the age of 21, William and Harry split £6 million of this fund between themselves, with Harry getting a more handsome sum due to William's future destiny of becoming King.
The royal brothers were set to share a further £8 million from the Queen Mother's trust fund upon turning 40, though ongoing family tensions sparked widespread speculation over Harry's share when he reached the milestone in September 2024.
Hollywood and duty
Both Harry and Meghan had found work before becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Harry receiving a salary from his time in the army, with Forbes reporting that the royal had an annual income between $50,000 and $53,000 during his active service days.
© Matt CardyMeghan, meanwhile, starred in over 100 episodes and seven seasons of Suits and made an impressive salary during her time on the show, and was already a millionaire when she met her husband. According to reports, she received around $50,000 per episode. Her annual pay cheque is estimated to have come in at around $450,000, including her brand endorsements.
© USA NetworkMeghan also appeared in several films, including Get Him to the Greek and Horrible Bosses. Her role in Remember Me earned her $187,000, while The Candidate earned her $171,000. The Duchess also released a clothing line for Reitmans which quickly sold out. As a result, her net worth in 2017 was valued at around $5 million, or £3.9 million.
What happened to their business ventures?
Seeing as Meghan has retired from acting, Harry has retired from the army, and both have retired from royal life, you may find yourself wondering where they get their impressive fortune from now - beyond their savings. The answer lies mostly in the new work which the pair have taken on since they moved to their $14.7 Montecito home.
For example, Prince Harry's memoir Spare sold over 1.4 million copies on its release day, and reportedly made the Prince several million in advance before it was even written. In September 2020, the couple signed a $100 million contract for five years with Netflix too.
© Stefano GuidiLess than three months later, Harry and Meghan also signed a contact with Spotify for three years. There were conflicting reports about how much this contract was worth, but it appears it was in the realm of $15-25 million. The deal came to an end in 2023.
In December 2022, Harry and Meghan's first Netflix project, their docuseries Harry & Meghan, was released. They also narrated the Netflix documentary series Live to Lead which released on December 31. Another docuseries, Heart of Invictus was released in the summer.
The Future of As Ever?
In February 2025, Meghan Markle unveiled her lifestyle brand, As Ever, developed in partnership with Netflix. The brand was originally named American Riviera Orchard when announced in March 2024, before later being rebranded.
The accompanying show, also called As Ever, ran for two seasons in 2025 plus a holiday special, presented by Meghan as she celebrated the joy of cooking, gardening, and entertaining friends. However, a third season was not in sight as Netflix ended its financial backing.
© Jake Rosenberg/NetflixThe brand which on it's own two feet, sells jams, herbal tes and chocolates ended it's parternship with Netflix with a spokesperson saying the brand was now ''ready to stand on it's own.''
Despite this, the lifestyle brand continues and will still be managed by Meghan following news of the couple's return to the UK. As Ever even sent out an email advertising its Strawberry Spread as news of the move was reported, proving the jam, or brand, won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
What next for Archewell Productions?
Alongside Meghan's work as a lifestyle brand founder and author, the couple established Archewell Productions in 2020, the production company behind Harry & Meghan (2022) and Live to Lead (2022). Their latest project was the Girl Scout documentary Cookie Queens, executive produced by Harry and Meghan. However, following its premiere at Sundance in January with the couple in attendance, reports surfaced that the film underperformed.
© Roadside Attractions via Getty IThe company has also produced other documentaries and docuseries, including Polo (2024) and Masaka Kids, a Rhythm Within (2025).
