Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Net Worth Is Far Greater Than We Realized

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have been finding their place in the United States. The two have lived in California for several months, and rumor has it the pair has finally settled down into what could be their forever home. But as Meghan and Harry start their new lives, one thing is becoming clear about the couple’s fortune: It’s much higher than we thought.

Meghan Markle was reportedly worth $5 million before marrying Prince Harry

Before Meghan met Harry, she had found success in her own right as an American actress. Meghan starred as paralegal Rachel Zane on the popular USA Network show Suits, which had concluded its seventh season by the time Meghan left the show to become a working royal.

Over the years of filming, which took place in Canada, Meghan became more of a celebrity on Canadian soil. She reportedly earned $50,000 per episode for the show and was charging upward of $10,000 per red carpet appearance.

The couple’s $30 million net worth doesn’t add up

When Meghan married Harry, there were reports that she was worth roughly $5 million, mostly due to her acting career but also partially because of her successful lifestyle website, The Tig. Harry had access to billions of dollars as a member of the royal family, but his individual net worth was reported to be much lower.

Though the royal family in its entirety is worth a reported $88 billion, Harry’s cut of the fortune was estimated to be a much lower $25 million. He had come into money when his mother died, and an annual allowance from Prince Charles added to his wealth. This means that today, Meghan and Harry are worth a combined $30 million, but their recent home purchase suggests the numbers don’t add up.

Harry and Meghan are likely worth between $50 million and $75 million

In June, Harry and Meghan closed on a $14.7 million mansion in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara. The home features nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms; it sits on five acres of land and comes complete with a tennis court, swimming pool, and plenty of privacy. The couple reportedly took out a $9.5 million mortgage on the property — but that means their net worth is likely much higher than $30 million.

The general rule of thumb is that around 20% of one’s net worth should be in their home, according to The Nest; the number can be up to 30% but definitely shouldn’t stretch beyond that. If Harry and Meghan are truly worth $30 million, that means their home budget should not have exceeded $9 million, at the most. A near-$15 million home would mean the couple is actually worth somewhere between $50 and $75 million. (The two reportedly did not seek financial help from the royal family for the purchase.)

Can Meghan and Harry afford their new home?

It seems unlikely that the couple would have purchased a home so far out of their financial comfort zone, but concerns have still been raised. The mortgage and taxes on the home are estimated to be upward of $500,000. Daily Mail reports that staff and security add another $3.6 million annually, and utilities bring the total cost to around $4.4 million to maintain the home each year — nearly 15% of the couple’s supposed net worth. The bottom line? Something isn’t right.

Though speculated, it hasn’t been confirmed by the palace that Meghan and Harry purchased the home independently of the royal family, so it’s possible they did receive assistance. Still, the royals keep their finances as tightly wrapped as possible, so the couple’s true net worth could remain unknown.