Harry & Meghan, a Netflix documentary series, details the activities of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and how they make their living after distancing themselves from the Royal Family. Although the couple does not earn money in the same way that most royals do, they have found a high degree of success in sharing their story through films, podcasts, and documentaries. This step towards financial independence is largely unprecedented, as most royals typically collect their income from the vast amounts of land the Royal Family possess.
The Netflix series has attracted much controversy recently due to some of the claims made. This has even led to calls for both Harry and Meghan to have their titles of Duke and Duchess revoked. Additionally, the couple has also faced several penalties for leaving the Royal Family, although this has not deterred them from trying to bolster their net worth in other ways.
Harry & Meghan Each Have Several Business Ventures
Harry and Meghan have found several ways to earn money despite having left the Royal Family's payroll. Most of the couple’s money comes from commercial ventures. They created a company, Archewell Productions, that serves as their main source of income. The company touts itself as seeking to “inform, elevate, and inspire.” It is currently partnered with Netflix, who produced the Harry & Meghan documentary series, a deal thought to be worth tens of millions. The company is also slated to make a documentary titled Heart of Invictus, which details the stories of athletes participating in the Invictus Games competition (via RadioTimes).
Outside documentary production, Harry and Meghan’s company also produces and hosts podcasts on Spotify, a deal which is also worth several million. In addition to the activities of their production company, both Harry and Meghan have earned money from book writing. Meghan published a book titled The Bench in 2021. Harry has also written a memoir, titled Spare, which is due for release in 2023. For this book, Harry was reportedly paid close to $20 million (via New York Post). Harry also earns money from the mental health firm BetterUp, of which he serves as a board executive (via People).
Did Harry & Meghan Lose Money After Leaving The Royal Family?
Although Harry and Meghan have been doing well for themselves after their fallout with the Royal Family they have lost out on some things. When the couple was still part of the family, their annual income was almost entirely funded by Harry’s father, Charles the Third. This amounted to several million pounds each year. However, when the couple distanced themselves from the Royal Family during the summer of 2020, these payments ceased entirely (via Mirror).
In addition to losing their Royal Family income, Harry and Meghan also no longer benefited from other perks typically reserved for members of the Royal Family. For example, the couple is no longer afforded a security detail/plan that most members receive. However, Harry has appealed this decision to the courts and is currently awaiting an official ruling (via People). Harry also surrendered his military titles as a part of his split from the Royal Family (via Newsweek). In spite of all this, it seems the couple is still proving successful at funding their lifestyle without Royal aid. Netflix has gone on to state that in addition to Harry & Meghan they intend to create other projects involving the Duke and Duchess.