Everyone wants to know the number. It’s the first thing people Google when the Sussexes pop up in the news: What is Harry and Meghan's net worth?
There’s this weird obsession with seeing if they’re "making it" without the palace paycheck. Honestly, the answer is way more complicated than just one big figure on a spreadsheet. You’ve got old money, new Hollywood cash, a massive mortgage, and a lifestyle that costs a literal fortune to maintain.
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Currently, experts and financial trackers generally peg the couple's combined net worth at around $60 million. But that number is a moving target.
The "Old Money" Safety Net
Let’s be real: Harry didn’t leave the UK with empty pockets. While he famously told Oprah they were "cut off" financially, he had a significant cushion thanks to his family.
Specifically, Harry inherited a massive chunk from Princess Diana. Most reports, including those from Forbes, suggest he received about $10 million when he turned 30. That money wasn't just sitting in a box; it was invested for years, likely growing significantly before he ever touched it.
Then there’s the Queen Mother. In late 2024, when Harry hit the big 4-0, he reportedly gained access to another windfall—roughly $8.5 million from a trust she set up back in the 90s. It’s a bit ironic, right? He’s building this new American life, but the foundation is still very much built on British royal history.
The Hollywood Gamble: Netflix, Spotify, and the "Grifter" Tag
When they first landed in California, the deals were flying. They signed a $100 million contract with Netflix and a $20 million deal with Spotify. People saw those headlines and thought they were billionaires overnight.
They weren't.
These "mega-deals" are usually production grants, not personal checks. You have to actually make the shows to see the full payout.
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- The Spotify Bust: This one ended poorly. After just one season of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, Spotify pulled the plug in 2023. Bill Simmons, a top executive there, famously called them "f---ing grifters" on his own podcast. They likely only saw a fraction of that $20 million.
- The Netflix Pivot: The Netflix situation is different but equally interesting. Their deal is set to expire in late 2025 or early 2026. While the Harry & Meghan docuseries was a massive hit, other projects have struggled. Meghan's lifestyle show With Love, Meghan (formerly under the American Riviera Orchard umbrella) is her big play to keep the momentum going.
Meghan’s Entrepreneurial Pivot: From "Suits" to Jam
Before she was a Duchess, Meghan was doing just fine. She made roughly $50,000 per episode on Suits. Combined with her lifestyle blog, The Tig, she had a personal net worth of about $5 million before the wedding.
Now, she’s trying to scale that.
The launch of American Riviera Orchard (now often referred to as As Ever) is her attempt at a Martha Stewart-style empire. We’re talking jams, dog biscuits, and kitchenware. It’s a high-stakes move. If it takes off, it could easily double Harry and Meghan's net worth. If it flops, it’s a lot of expensive overhead with no return.
The High Cost of Being "Normal"
Here is the part nobody talks about: the "burn rate."
Their Montecito home was bought for roughly $14.7 million. They put down a $5 million deposit and took out a massive mortgage. In 2026, real estate estimates suggest the house is worth closer to **$29 million**. On paper, they’ve made a killing.
But owning that house isn’t cheap.
- Property taxes are eye-watering.
- Private security—which they pay for themselves—is estimated to cost between $2 million and $3 million a year.
- Staffing for Archewell, their foundation and production arm, requires a constant stream of revenue.
Basically, they need to keep earning just to stay still.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think "net worth" means cash in the bank. It doesn't. For the Sussexes, a huge chunk of that $60 million is tied up in equity in their home and the projected value of their brand.
Harry’s memoir, Spare, was a financial juggernaut. He reportedly received a $20 million advance and likely millions more in royalties because the book sold like crazy. That was a one-time surge, though. You can only drop a "tell-all" book once.
Actionable Insights: The Sussex Financial Playbook
If you’re looking at their situation to understand wealth management or celebrity branding, here are the real takeaways:
- Diversification is Survival: They didn't just rely on the royals. They moved into tech (Harry’s role at BetterUp), publishing, streaming, and now physical retail.
- The Overhead Trap: High-profile lifestyles require high-profile income. If the income dips, the lifestyle becomes a liability very quickly.
- Brand Value vs. Liquidity: Having a "famous" name helps you sign deals, but it doesn't guarantee the deals will be renewed if you don't deliver content.
To really keep track of where their money is going next, keep an eye on the As Ever product launches. That’s the true barometer for their financial future. If people actually buy the jam and the linens, they’re set for life. If not, the "royal" part of their bank account might have to do all the heavy lifting again.
For anyone tracking this, the next big milestone is the official expiration or renewal of the Netflix contract. That will tell us everything we need to know about their standing in the "new" Hollywood.