THEY have been footing their own bills since quitting the Royal Family and moving into their new £11million California home earlier this year.
But if their recent mega-money media deals are anything to go by, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry certainly aren’t struggling to make ends meet.
It emerged this week that the couple have landed a £30million deal with Spotify for their own podcast – branded a “woke word salad” by listeners.
One insider said: “The initial multi-year deal is worth in excess of £30million with a view to extending it within six months.”
It comes on the back of a £112million Netflix deal – which led to Meghan being labelled the “new Kim Kardashian” – and a string of lucrative speaking events.
So far, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are predicted to have netted up to £230million in their new life – after allegedly running up a colossal taxpayer bill in the UK.
“In the two years from their wedding to last March, when they came off the royal payroll, I calculate that Harry and Meghan cost the British taxpayer at least £44million, probably more,” claims former Lib Dem MP and Privy Council member Norman Baker.
“Now from their right-on California pad, they have embarked on a massive spree to get rich, trading on their fading royal status while it lasts.
“The cash-in couple are now raking it in.”
Meghan and Harry – whose sprawling mansion boasts nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms and a pool – have paid off their £2.4million Frogmore Cottage renovations in recent months.
Here, Norman – author of ‘…And What Do You Do? What The Royal Family Don’t Want You To Know’ – gives his verdict on the couple’s mega earnings:
Spotify podcast
Reported worth: At least £30m
Meghan and Harry’s latest money-maker, with popular music streaming service Spotify, is reported to have banked them at least £30million.
It’s 40 times more than fellow actress Amy Schumer made for her comedy podcast, 3 Girls, 1 Keith, which the global giant paid $1million (around £740,000) for in 2018 in a move that industry insiders claimed would change the landscape of the previously humble podcast world for good.
The royal couple’s mammoth fee means they will likely earn more than Forbes’s highest-earning podcaster, Joe Rogan, who made $30million (£22million) last year, with 190million downloads a month.
An insider said the Duchess was “the driving force behind” the huge Archewell Audio podcast deal, which Spotify says will “uplift and entertain audiences”.
Norman’s verdict: “The couple’s new vehicle Archewell Audio (soon to be Archewelloff Audio) will sit along other podcasts such as Sha**ed, Married and Annoyed by Chris and Rosie, Call Her Daddy from Barstool Sports, and My Dad Wrote A Porno, which earn a fraction of the amount and are guaranteed to be a lot funnier.”
Netflix documentary
Reported worth: £112m (‘rising to £200m’ with bonuses)
Spotify isn’t the first media giant Meghan and Harry have partnered with.
The couple also signed a £112million deal with subscription-based streaming service Netflix to make their own shows in September.
It’s worth more than what Hollywood star Will Smith made for Netflix original Bright ($20million) and Ryan Reynolds made for Six Underground ($27million) combined.
Harry and former actress Meghan denied claims they were filming a “reality show”.
Yet, despite previously moaning about their struggles in the media spotlight, they didn’t rubbish the idea of a making a documentary about their lives – or one about Diana.
According to PR guru Jonathan Shalit OBE, the deal could see the Sussexes rake in almost £200million with bonuses.
“This is a massive historical deal – scale like no other,” he said.
Norman’s verdict: “Harry and Meghan have hit the jackpot with the Netflix deal they signed in September. A cool £112million will soon be flowing into their already bulging bank accounts.
“We are told they will be making documentaries, feature films, and programmes for children. Or rather someone else will be making them for them.”
“One planned project is a documentary on Harry’s mother – perhaps capitalising on the success of royal drama The Crown, which drew in 29million viewers in its first week.
“If they can draw in that kind of audience successfully their future deals will be even more lucrative.”
Speaking events
Reported worth: Up to £756k per speech
Harry and Meghan could be making millions from simply speaking at events – that is, if their strict list of demands doesn’t get in the way.
The pair have signed up with elite New York firm the Harry Walker Agency, whose clients include the Obamas and Meghan’s pal Serena Williams.
Former US president Barack Obama reportedly earned nearly $400,000 (£320,000) for one 2017 speech.
And the Sussexes could net even more – with suggestions they could charge $1million (£756,000) a time.
But Harry and Meghan have some firm demands as “virtual” speakers – including being able to dictate who moderates a discussion with them and getting exact fee offers in advance.
And one VIP events manager told The Celeb Report this level of control may put some clients off booking them, saying: “It certainly raises eyebrows.”
Norman’s verdict: “The cash-in couple have signed up with an agency that will deliver them up to $1million a speech.
“Quite what they intend to talk about isn’t clear, though maybe the Californian guru Brené Brown who is helping them ‘own their own truth’ might be able to tell us.”
Coffee investment
Reported worth: Multi-millions
Despite cutting financial ties with the Royal Family, Harry and Meghan have insisted their actions “will continue to uphold the values” of the Queen.
But this week, the Duchess is said to have sparked anger from the palace after she allegedly enlisted close pal Oprah Winfrey to help flog a coffee investment via an Instagram post.
Meghan – who invited Oprah to her and Harry’s wedding – has ploughed cash into the instant oat-milk latte start-up Clevr Blends, which sells packets for £21 each.
And experts suggest she could use her status and famous friends like Oprah, who has 19.2m followers – to net millions from the business.
Meghan – who is reportedly planning to build a portfolio of start-up investments – could earn even more if the start-up is eventually bought by a food and drink giant.
Actor Jared Leto and U2 star Bono raked in a fortune in 2017 after Nestle bought a majority stake in the small coffee brand they’d invested in, Blue Bottle Coffee – now thought to be worth more than $700million (£515million).
Norman’s verdict: “Meghan has enlisted her buddy Oprah to help her flog her Clevr Blends coffee (though the spelling isn’t that clever).
“This oat-milk latte is, it seems, to be the first item in a portfolio of start-up investments – with more products likely on the horizon..
“Meghan is also said to be writing a children’s book, which at least cannot be any worse than Fergie’s Budgie the Helicopter.”
