How Does Prince Harry Make Money: What Most People Get Wrong

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously "stepped back" from being senior royals in 2020, they didn't just walk away from the palaces and the protocols. They walked away from the money. For most of his life, Harry’s "salary" was basically a stipend from the Duchy of Cornwall, a massive real estate portfolio managed by his father. When he left, that tap was turned off.

People often ask, how does Prince Harry make money now that he's essentially a private citizen in California? Honestly, it's a mix of massive inheritance, high-stakes media deals, and a corporate job that sounds a little like something out of a Silicon Valley sitcom.

The Royal Safety Net: Inheritance and Trust Funds

Let’s get the "old money" out of the way first. You've probably heard rumors about Harry being broke, but that’s pretty far from the truth. Even before he signed a single contract in Hollywood, he was sitting on a mountain of cash.

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Princess Diana’s Legacy
Harry’s biggest financial cushion came from his mother. When Diana died, she left a fortune that was eventually split between William and Harry. After inheritance taxes took a bite, Harry walked away with roughly $10 million when he turned 30. During that explosive Oprah interview in 2021, Harry admitted that without this money, they wouldn't have been able to make the move to the U.S. It paid for the security and the initial down payment on their Montecito home.

The Queen Mother’s Birthday Gift
Then there's the great-grandmother factor. The Queen Mother set up a trust fund back in 1994 for her great-grandchildren. Harry reportedly hit a major payday on his 40th birthday in September 2024, inheriting an estimated $8.5 million to $10 million. Interestingly, some royal insiders suggest Harry got a bigger slice of this particular pie than William, simply because William would one day benefit from the massive revenues of the Duchy of Cornwall as King.

The Content Factory: Netflix and Spare

When the couple landed in Montecito, they had to figure out how to generate "new" money to maintain a lifestyle that costs millions annually just in security and property taxes. They went big.

The Netflix Deal

The $100 million Netflix contract is the one everyone talks about. But here is the nuance: they didn't get a $100 million check on day one. It was a multi-year "production deal." Basically, Netflix pays for the overhead of their company, Archewell Productions, and then pays them for specific projects.

We saw the Harry & Meghan docuseries, which was a monster hit, followed by Heart of Invictus. Most recently, Harry executive-produced Polo, which hit the platform in late 2024. However, as of early 2026, reports indicate this massive deal is winding down. Industry insiders suggest the contract, set to expire in late 2025/early 2026, won't be renewed in its original high-value form. Netflix is tightening its belt, and the "Sussex brand" has already delivered its biggest bombshells.

The Book Deal (Spare)

If Netflix was the appetizer, Spare was the main course. Harry reportedly received a $20 million advance for his memoir. Because the book became the fastest-selling non-fiction title in history, he likely earned millions more in royalties. Even after donating a portion of the proceeds to charities like Sentebale and WellChild, the book was a massive financial win. It’s estimated his total take-home from the Penguin Random House deal could eventually exceed $27 million.

The Corporate 9-to-5: BetterUp

You might find it weird to imagine a Prince having a job title like Chief Impact Officer, but that’s exactly what Harry does at BetterUp. It’s a San Francisco-based mental health and coaching startup.

He’s not exactly coding or sitting in a cubicle. His role is more about advocacy and being the public face of the brand. For this, he reportedly earns a salary in the neighborhood of $1 million a year. He also likely holds equity (stock options) in the company. Since BetterUp was last valued at nearly $5 billion, those shares could eventually be worth way more than his annual salary if the company goes public.

Legal Wins and Speaking Gigs

Lately, Harry has been making money in a more "litigious" way. In early 2025, he reached a massive settlement with Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) and followed it up with a settlement against News Group Newspapers (NGN). These weren't just symbolic victories; the payouts for damages and legal costs have reportedly added several million dollars to his coffers.

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Then there’s the "public speaking" circuit. If you want Prince Harry to speak at your corporate retreat or summit, it’s going to cost you. Estimates for his speaking fees are around $1 million per appearance. He doesn't do these often, but when he does, it's a huge injection of cash.

Summary of Income Streams

• Inheritances: Roughly $20M+ combined (Diana and Queen Mother).
• Media Deals: $100M Netflix (gross) and $20M+ for Spare.
• Corporate Salary: ~$1M annually from BetterUp.
• Investments: Stakes in Ethic (sustainable investing) and property appreciation on their $14.7M mansion.

What This Means for You

Understanding how does prince harry make money is actually a lesson in modern branding and wealth management. He transitioned from a "public servant" model to a "venture royalty" model. He's leveraging his unique life story to build a diversified portfolio that isn't dependent on a single government check.

Actionable Insights:

• Diversify your income: Like Harry, don't rely on one source. He has a salary, investments, and "intellectual property" (his story).
• Protect your assets: The move to the U.S. required a massive upfront cost in security. If you are building a high-profile brand, factor in the "hidden" costs of privacy and safety.
• Leverage your unique "Why": Harry’s most profitable ventures (the book, the Netflix show) were successful because they offered a perspective nobody else had.

If you're tracking the Sussexes' finances, the next thing to watch is Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Its success—or failure—will likely determine if the couple remains financially "independent" or if they'll need to pivot back toward more traditional celebrity endorsements by the end of 2026.