Inside Meghan Markle’s ultra-extravagant luxury lifestyle: polo clubs, private jets, royal bling, a US$500,000 wardrobe … how she and Prince Harry spend US$1.2 million ‘a month’
Meghan Markle sure knows how to live the high life, spending on Cartier and private jet travel. Photos: Cartier; @archewell_hm, @jetoptions/Instagram
Meghan Markle has hit the headlines again, this time for the release of her long-awaited Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Unfortunately for Markle though, it hasn’t received the critical acclaim she was probably hoping for. In the first episode, aired on August 23, the Duchess of Sussex spoke with recently retired tennis champ and close friend Serena Williams about her “unfiltered” life at large.
Meghan Markle recently launched her new Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Photo: @teamsussex_/Instagram
The conversation focuses on Markle’s stance on feminism in the workplace, an alleged nursery fire which affected son Archie, and briefly touches upon Williams’ noteworthy retirement. Although she’s received some positive feedback from peers, many media outlets are slamming the Hollywood actress for using the time to just talk about herself.
Meghan Markle’s friend, tennis legend Serena Williams, featured on Archetypes’ first episode. Photo: @teamsussex_/Instagram
Divided opinions aside, the podcast has drawn in crowds and dethroned The Joe Rogan Experience from No 1 on Spotify charts. It’s the first of many lucrative upcoming collaborations for “Megxit”, who have drummed up deals with Procter and Gamble (a company she called out for its “sexist” dish soap ad 28 years ago, per Vanity Fair), Netflix and Apple TV+ too.
With all those projects, Markle must be adding to her personal estimated US$60 million net worth (per Celebrity Net Worth). It’s clear that she lives a millionaire’s life despite stepping down as a working royal, too.
Here’s a little look at what she spends her cash on …
Clothing
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex travels down London’s The Mall in a horse-drawn carriage during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June 2018. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images
UFO No More, a royal fashion blog, analysed the 2018 spending of different blue bloods and found that Markle came out on top with a mind-boggling US$500,000 spent on her wardrobe that year – five times more than Kate Middleton, according to textile market intelligence platform Yarns and Fibers. However, the report did factor in a pricey jewellery piece, which has been speculated to be a gift from Prince Charles, but remains unconfirmed by the palace. Typically, gifts aren’t included. The ranking was also based only on clothing pieces that could be identified, of course.
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk down the west steps of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, after their wedding ceremony, in May 2018. Photo: AFP
Though Markle is also known to flaunt H&M and J. Crew on occasion, she’s also been spotted in a US$3,500 Oscar De La Renta gown, a US$4,700 Armani dress for her Oprah interview, an US$18,000 Givenchy dress and a US$75,000 Ralph & Russo gown for her engagement pics with Prince Harry, per Insider. And if you thought that was expensive, there’s also the US$157,000 Stella McCartney silk crepe dress worn at her wedding reception, and US$265,000 Givenchy wedding gown.
Bags
Meghan Markle had her first public engagement in Scotland and carried a Strathberry bag. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images
She may keep Harry as permanent arm candy, but the Duchess of Sussex is also known to boast a serious collection of luxury handbags. She’s donned a US$4,900 Dior Lady D-Lite, a US$985 Gucci Dionysus, many Strathberrys including the US$770 midi tote, a US$920 Bottega Veneta wallet, a US$780 Mulberry Darley and Victoria Beckham Powder Box bag worth US$620, per Hello! – the list goes on and on. Not a Suits lawyer briefcase in sight.
Jewellery and watches
Meghan Markle – pictured with Prince Harry and then-new-born son Archie – wears an engagement ring worth a whopping US$350,000. Photos: @hrhofsussex/Instagram
At her wedding to Prince Harry, Markle wore a US$155,000 Cartier bracelet from the Reflection line, and US$68,000 earrings after the ceremony, per Hello! Markle’s also sported Lorraine Schwartz earrings worth US$40,000 and an Eternity ring costing US$62,000, according to The Richest.
But her most expensive piece of bling has got to be her US$350,000 engagement ring from Cleave & Company, though she’s also worn priceless heirlooms once worn by Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.
Meghan Markle wearing the silver Cartier Tank watch. Photo: @SussexPrincess/Twitter
Markle’s US$5,800 Cartier Tank Française seems to be her watch of choice and she’s been sporting it even before she became a royal. She told Hello! in 2015 that she “totally splurged” on the two-toned variation after starring in Suits.
But what about her gold Cartier Tank? It’s rumoured that the striking heirloom once belonged to Princess Diana, per Vanity Fair, and may have been passed down to Markle after she met Prince Harry.
Mansions
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved to Montecito, California, when they left Britain. Photo: Trulia
After the lovebirds announced their exit from royal life in 2020, they moved into a US$14.7 million Montecito mansion in Santa Barbara, California, swapping British royals for neighbours like Tom Cruise and Ellen DeGeneres. The 18,000 sq ft, nine-bedroom property features a cinema, office, spa, arcade, library, wine cellar and everything you can imagine for a Hollywood home, according to 8 Days. They live there with children Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana.
Frogmore Cottage on the Home Park estate, the former home of Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Photo: PA/DPA
Before the big move, they called Britain’s Frogmore Cottage home. The historical countryside abode has been a royal residence since 1792 and the duke and duchess dropped around US$3 million of taxpayers’ money for renovations before they stepped down from their royal duties, per Hello! They’re also rumoured to own properties like Adelaide Cottage, York Cottage and Luckington Court, per Cosmopolitan.
Luxury cars – and private jets
The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leaving Windsor Castle after their wedding to attend an evening reception at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales in Windsor, Britain, in May 2018. Photo: Reuters
Only the best for the “Princess of Montecito”. According to Autobizz, Markle cruises around town in a US$122,000 Range Rover Vogue, US$45,000 Lincoln MKC, US$500,000 Mercedes-Benz S-class, US$80,000 Cadillac Escalade, US$30,000 Toyota Camry and US$75,000 Lexus LS.
Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave after attending Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, London, in December 2017. Photo: PA via AP
She’s also been spotted by British media in a Jaguar E-Type and multiple Audis, with Harry in the driver’s seat.
The couple also use a US$6.5 million Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign plane private jet, per Hello!, an asset that sparks heavy criticism of the two climate change activists. It’s fitted with stunning interiors, leather seats, executive desks and spacious bathrooms. It’s unknown whether they bought the aircraft for themselves, or if they just hire it on occasion.
Every day life
Meghan Markle splurges quite a bit on childcare and holidays. Photo: @megantheduchess/Instagram
OK, so what about everyday … necessities? According to news.com.au, the couple are estimated to spend up to US$1.2 million a month – beyond the designer clothes and bling.
Meghan Markle developed a regular routine of practising yoga. Photo: @theKGofficial/Twitter
Other expenses include a US$200,000 baby shower (which Serena Williams kindly paid for), US$11,000 on acupuncture and numerology during her pregnancy, a US$43,000 “babymoon”, possibly up to US$59,000 a year on nannies, and of course, holidays, as per Insider. Markle’s favourite wine, Tignanello, costs US$130 a bottle. And let’s not forget the couple’s membership at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, which costs nearly US$10,000 a month, per Closer.
Splurges aside, the yogi does commit an admirable amount of time and money donated to noteworthy charities too.
The Duchess of Sussex has garnered mixed reviews for her Archetype podcast’s first episode, starring Serena Williams – but it still ranks over The Joe Rogan Experience on Spotify
She reportedly spent over US$500,000 on her 2018 wardrobe, five times more than Kate Middleton, now counting Oscar De La Renta, Armani, Givenchy and Stella McCartney among her staples
