How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry earn their millions: from Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan and Spotify podcast Archetypes, to the duke’s Spare memoir and an inheritance from Princess Diana

Dec 17 , 2022

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released their Netflix docuseries in December. Photo: @sussexroyal/Instagram

It’s been a busy year for the royal couple, releasing Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan and Spotify podcast Archetypes – Harry’s memoir Spare will be out in early 2023

While Kate Middleton and Prince William continue to be paid through King Charles’ private income, the Suits actress and her royal hubby are making a decent income elsewhere

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship came out to the public six years ago, their love life has been at the epicentre of endless royal-related headlines.

Things only got worse when the British prince and the American actress stepped down from royal duties in 2020 to move to the US and become “financially independent”. They went on to join Oprah Winfrey in a widely televised interview where the Duchess of Sussex opened up about her mental health struggles during her time in the palace … among other things. The cherry on top? This December, the duo released their highly anticipated two-part tell-all Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, a few months after Markle launched her Spotify podcast Archetypes.

That’s a lot of projects! So, how do they earn their money these days – and spend it?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to be ‘financially independent’

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, leave after visiting Canada House in January 2020, in London. Photo: AP

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared their decision to be “financially independent” from the royal family.

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support her majesty the queen,” their January 2020 statement read. “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”

In the couple’s interview with Winfrey in March 2021, Prince Harry said the primary reasons for their leaving their royal roles was a “lack of support and lack of understanding” from both the media and the royal family.

Harry said that the royal family cut him off financially

After much media coverage of a candid interview together, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry have launched an Apple TV+ series on mental health, now being followed up by a sequel. Photo: Harpo Productions

Harry told Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 that the royal family cut him off financially after he and Markle “stepped back” from being senior royals.

Harry said he stopped receiving any financial support from his family in “the first quarter of 2020”, the same time that the couple released their statement that they were working towards becoming financially independent.

The offices of Prince William and Kate Middleton continued to be “paid for from his royal highness’s private income”, according to King Charles’ financial report from 2021.