It sounds like a plot from one of his movies. A billionaire mogul, a runaway royal, and a phone call that changed everything. Honestly, most people think Oprah Winfrey was the one who brokered the deal to get Prince Harry and Meghan Markle out of Canada and into a secure Los Angeles mansion. But that’s actually not what happened.
The truth is much more random. And a lot more personal.
When the Tyler Perry phone calls Meghan Markle story first broke, people were baffled. Why would a man who had never even met the Duchess of Sussex offer up an $18 million Beverly Hills estate and a full private security detail? It turns out, it started with a simple, handwritten note and a hunch.
The Note That Started It All
Before the royal wedding in 2018, Tyler Perry did something kinda unusual. He sent Meghan a letter. He didn’t know her personally, but he had a "tremendous sense" that she was overwhelmed. He saw the media storm, the family drama with her father, and the isolation that often comes with suddenly becoming the most famous woman in the world.
He told her he was praying for her.
He basically said, "If you ever need anything, I’m here." Then, he just... waited.
Months went by. Then years. It wasn’t until 2020, when the world was shutting down due to the pandemic and the Sussexes were stranded in a house in Vancouver with their security being pulled, that Meghan finally picked up the phone.
💡 You might also like: Finding the Perfect Donny Osmond Birthday Card: What Fans Often Get Wrong
"I Was Just a Wreck"
When Meghan finally made that call, she wasn’t calling a "Hollywood Mogul." She was calling a stranger because, as she later told The Cut, sometimes it's easier to open up to someone who knows absolutely nothing about you.
She described herself as being a "wreck" during that first conversation. She was crying. She was terrified for her family's safety.
Tyler Perry listened. He didn't just offer advice; he offered a literal fortress.
"He was like, 'My house is safe and I'll make sure you have security. Take your time,'" Meghan recalled in their Netflix docuseries.
When she told him they only needed to stay for a week, he shut that down. He told them they would stay as long as they needed. He even arranged a private jet to whisk them from Canada to California under the cover of night so the paparazzi wouldn't find them.
Why Did Tyler Perry Actually Help?
You’ve got to wonder what was in it for him. The guy is a billionaire; he doesn't need the clout.
📖 Related: Martha Stewart Young Modeling: What Most People Get Wrong
Actually, the reason is pretty sentimental.
In Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, he reveals that he finally asked Tyler why he was doing all of this for people he hadn't even met. Tyler’s answer was simple: "My mother loved your mother."
He was talking about Princess Diana. Apparently, after Diana visited Harlem in 1989, Tyler’s mother, Willie Maxine Perry, became a lifelong fan. Tyler saw Harry and Meghan’s struggle through the lens of how the world treated Diana. He saw the "generational curses" that needed breaking.
The "Therapist" Role
The friendship didn't end when the Sussexes bought their own place in Montecito. Tyler has joked that he essentially became Meghan’s therapist during that period.
They would talk about everything—not just royal drama, but the "silly things" too. This bond became so tight that when it came time to choose a godfather for their daughter, Princess Lilibet, they didn't pick a royal cousin or a British aristocrat.
They called Tyler.
👉 See also: Ethan Slater and Frankie Grande: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
He was initially stunned. He had to take a minute to process it. But he had one condition: he didn't want to do the big, formal ceremony in the UK with the Royal Family. He wanted a private, meaningful moment in California. He got his wish.
Recent Shifts in the Narrative
As of early 2026, the public's "insatiable appetite" for details about this friendship has clearly started to wear on Perry. In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, he seemed noticeably more guarded.
When asked about how he helped them relocate, he gave a blunt, two-word answer: "I didn't."
He pointed out that Meghan is from California and knows it well. It’s a sharp pivot from his previous, more flowery descriptions of the "rescue." Some royal watchers suggest this is a sign of a rift, but it’s more likely that Tyler is just tired of his every word being turned into a global headline. He’s protective. He’s seen how the media operates, and he’s closing the curtains on the private parts of their lives.
What This Means for You
If you’re looking at this story and wondering what the takeaway is, it’s not about how to find a billionaire benefactor. It’s about the power of reaching out when you see someone struggling, even if you don't "know" them in the traditional sense.
- Trust your gut: Perry reached out because he saw a pattern of isolation he recognized from his own life and success.
- Privacy is a commodity: The reason the Sussexes trusted him was that he kept their secret for weeks. Nobody knew they were in that Beverly Hills house until they were ready to leave.
- Support systems change: Your most important allies might not be the people you grew up with; they might be the people who "see" you during your hardest moments.
Today, Tyler Perry remains a fixture in the Sussex inner circle, even if he's talking about it less. He even gifted them a grand piano for their Montecito home with a note that said, "Write the soundtrack for your life."
Actionable Insight: If you are navigating a major life transition or feeling isolated in your professional field, look for "safe places to land" outside of your immediate circle. Sometimes an objective perspective—even from a "stranger on a plane" or a distant contact—provides the clarity that friends and family cannot. Focus on building a network based on shared values rather than proximity.