Meghan Markle's Net Worth: $60 Million in 2024
Meghan Markle's Net Worth: $60 Million in 2024.
What is Meghan Markle's Net Worth?
Meghan Markle is an American humanitarian, philanthropist, and former actress. Together with her husband, Prince Harry, they have a combined net worth of $60 million. Before tying the knot with Harry, Meghan had her own net worth of $5 million, while Harry brought in $20 million, mostly from a trust fund established by his late mother, Princess Diana.
When Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018, she became a princess in the UK and took on the titles of Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel.
In January 2020, the couple revealed their plans to step back from royal duties, leave the UK, and pursue financial independence. After discussions with Harry's grandmother, the Queen, they reached an agreement that allowed them to proceed, but they could no longer use the titles "His Royal Highness" or "Her Royal Highness."
After moving away from England and relinquishing their titles, Harry and Meghan landed a five-year, $100 million production deal with Netflix, where they'll create feature films, children's shows, and documentaries. They also signed an $18 million, three-year podcasting deal with Spotify. In April 2023, Markle announced that she had signed with WME to represent Archewell as well.
In August 2020, Harry and Meghan splurged their newfound fortune on a $14.7 million estate in Montecito, California. They dropped $5 million in cash and financed the rest with a mortgage of about $10 million. They also settled a $3 million loan that had gone towards renovating their family home in the U.K., Frogmore.
Early Life
Rachel Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle Sr., split up when she was just six, and she’s their only child. She has two half-siblings from her dad’s side, but they’re not close. Markle has a mixed-race background; her mom is African American, while her dad is of white European descent. Growing up, her mom was into yoga, and her dad worked as a lighting director for TV shows, even snagging a few Emmys for his efforts.
Markle spent her childhood in Hollywood, California, attending private schools like the Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse and Immaculate Heart High School. She later went to Northwestern University, where she earned double degrees in theater and international studies in 2003. During her college years, she was part of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Acting Career
Meghan, like many actors trying to make it big, struggled to land gigs at the start of her career. To make ends meet, she took up freelance calligraphy, crafting wedding invitations for couples, including the one for Paula Patton and Robin Thicke.
Her first appearance on screen was a minor role in an episode of "General Hospital." After that, she snagged a few more small guest spots on shows like "Century City" (2004), "The War at Home" (2006), "CSI: NY" (2006), and "Fringe." She also had supporting roles in movies like "Get Him to the Greek" (2010), "Remember Me" (2010), and "Horrible Bosses" (2011).
Eventually, she scored a regular spot as a briefcase girl on the game show "Deal or No Deal." In 2015, Meghan opened up about her struggles to find acting roles, sharing her experiences:
"I wasn't black enough for the black roles, and I wasn't white enough for the white ones, leaving me somewhere in the middle as the ethnic chameleon who couldn't book a job."
In 2010 and 2011, Markle appeared in several films, including Get Him To The Greek, Remember Me, and Horrible Bosses, as well as the short film The Candidate. For her part in Remember Me, she earned $187,000, while her role in The Candidate netted her $171,429.
In July 2011, she scored the part of Rachel Zane on the USA Network series Suits. By the end of 2017, after wrapping up the seventh season, she decided to leave the show. During her time on Suits, she reportedly earned $50,000 per episode, which adds up to around $450,000 a year.
When it came to her departure from Suits, Markle mentioned: "I just see it as a change. It's a new chapter, right? And also keep in mind I've been working on my show for seven years. I think what's been really exciting as we talk about the transition of this out of my career but into the role is that, as you said, the causes that have been very important to me I can focus even more energy on because very early out of the gate I think you realize once you have access or a voice that people are going to listen to, with that comes a lot of responsibility which I take seriously."
From 2014 to 2017, Markle started and ran a lifestyle site called The Tig, named after her favorite wine, Tiganello. She decided to close it down in 2017.
In 2016, she launched two clothing lines with the Canadian retailer Reitmans and served as their brand ambassador. The collections were available in select stores and online, and they sold out quickly after their launch. By April 2017, Markle wrapped up her collaboration with Reitmans.
With her work on The Tig, Reitmans, and various endorsements, Markle was pulling in about $80,000 a year.
Suits Salary and Earnings
At the height of her career, Markle was making about $50,000 for each episode of "Suits." This added up to roughly $450,000 a year. Overall, Meghan raked in around $4 million before taxes from her time on the show.
LATEST: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's £11m Montecito Home Faces Uncertainty.
Other Projects
Markle kicked off her lifestyle blog and website, The Tig, back in 2014. She covered a bunch of topics like food, fashion, beauty, and travel. The Tig really took off, attracting a lot of her fans and those who loved "Suits." On social media, The Tig boasted 3 million followers on Instagram, 800,000 on Facebook, and 350,000 on Twitter. She scored plenty of sponsorships and endorsements, raking in about $80,000 a year from her blog. After three successful years, she decided to close it down and archived everything in 2017.
Her blog not only showcased her fashion flair but also opened doors for her to launch two fashion lines with Canadian brand Reitmans in 2015 and 2016. These collections reflected her personal style as well as the vibe of her "Suits" character, Rachel.
Personal Life
Markle kicked off a relationship with actor and producer Trevor Engelson back in 2004, and they tied the knot in September 2011. However, things didn’t last, and they ended up getting a no-fault divorce in August 2013. After that, she was in a relationship with celebrity chef Cory Vitiello for nearly two years.
Fast forward to June 2016, and rumors started swirling about Meghan being linked to Prince Harry, who’s part of the British royal family. By November 2016, their relationship was officially confirmed. A year later, in November 2017, they announced their engagement, and they got married in March 2018.
In May 2019, Meghan welcomed their son, Archie, who is seventh in line for the British throne. Then in June 2021, they had a daughter named Lilibet. Thanks to her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle is now known as the Duchess of Sussex.
Public Role in the Royal Family
Markle made her first official public appearance with the British royal family in December 2017, right after her engagement to Prince Harry was revealed. She attended a World AIDS Day event in Nottingham.
During her time as Prince Harry's fiancé, she participated in 26 public engagements. After tying the knot, her first official outing as the Duchess of Sussex was in May 2018, where she celebrated Prince Charles's charity efforts.
The Sussexes have faced a ton of negative press and serious privacy invasions. Back in late 2019, it was revealed that Markle was suing The Mail on Sunday for publishing a private letter she wrote to her dad.
Then in January 2020, they shared their decision to step back from their senior royal roles. They also mentioned they’d be dividing their time between the UK and North America while aiming for financial independence. They officially stepped away from royal duties on March 31, 2020.
Charity Work
Before stepping into royal life, Markle was heavily involved in charity work. She served as a counselor for the international charity One Young World and even spoke at their summit in Dublin back in 2014. That same year, she toured Afghanistan and Spain with the United Service Organizations. By 2016, she had taken on the role of global ambassador for World Vision Canada. She also collaborated with various organizations, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
After marrying Prince Harry, Markle continued her philanthropic efforts. They teamed up with Elephants Without Borders in 2017, a partnership that lasted until 2020. In 2018, she began supporting survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, leading to her first charity project as the Duchess of Sussex, the cookbook "Together: Our Community Cookbook."
Harry and Meghan also established their own charity foundation, initially called Sussex Royal The Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which they rebranded to Archewell in April 2020.
In April 2023, Markle was honored with the Ms. Foundation for Women's Women of Vision Award.
Real Estate
After deciding to step back from their royal roles, Harry and Meghan initially spent some time in Canada before making their way to Southern California. They stayed for several months in a house owned by Tyler Perry. In August 2020, it came to light that they had bought a home in Montecito, California, close to Santa Barbara, for $14.7 million. As previously mentioned, they financed the purchase with a $10 million mortgage and put down $5 million in cash.
Netflix Deal
On September 2, 2020, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan had signed a five-year deal with Netflix worth $100 million. This partnership will allow them to start a production company, where they plan to create scripted shows, documentaries, and children's content. With potential bonuses and extensions, the deal could reach up to $150 million.
Spotify Deal
In December 2020, it was announced that Harry and Meghan had secured an $18 million, three-year podcasting deal with Spotify.
Meghan Markle has truly established herself as a remarkable figure, not just through her acting career but also with her philanthropic efforts and entrepreneurial ventures. From her successful role in "Suits" to her impactful work with charities and her high-profile deals with Netflix and Spotify, Meghan has shown resilience and determination.
Her ability to pivot from acting to becoming a global ambassador for various causes demonstrates her dedication to making a positive impact. With a net worth of $60 million and a bright future ahead, Meghan Markle continues to inspire many with her achievements, both in her personal and professional life.