Meghan Markle Net Worth Just Hit $60 Million – Here's How She Did It

Meghan Markle net worth has absolutely exploded to $60 million (combined with Prince Harry) as of 2025, which is pretty wild when you think about where she started. We're talking about someone who went from scooping frozen yogurt for minimum wage to signing $100 million Netflix deals – now that's what I call a glow-up!

How Meghan Markle Made Her First Dollar 

So get this – Meghan Markle was already hustling at 13 years old, working at this frozen yogurt place called Humphrey Yogart (yes, that's actually the name). She was making minimum wage and dealing with cranky customers, but hey, everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?

The real game-changer was her dad Thomas, who worked as a lighting director on "Married... with Children." For 10 years, little Meghan would hit up the set after school, watching how TV magic actually happens. She later joked about how weird it was being "a little girl in a Catholic school uniform" hanging around such a "funny and perverse" show set. But honestly? That behind-the-scenes access was probably worth more than any college course.

Fast forward to her Northwestern University days, and Meghan was doing whatever it took to survive. We're talking freelance calligraphy (fancy handwriting for wedding invites), teaching bookbinding classes, and working at Paper Source helping rich people pick out stationary. Not exactly red carpet stuff, but these gigs taught her the hustle mentality that would serve her well later.

The girl was basically a one-woman entrepreneur before she even knew what that meant. While other college kids were partying, she was figuring out how to turn her skills into actual money. That work ethic? Pure gold.

Meghan Markle's Rocky Road to Hollywood Success

After college, Meghan Markle net worth was basically non-existent, and Hollywood was serving her rejection after rejection. She had this brutal realization that she "wasn't black enough for the black parts and wasn't white enough for the white ones" – talk about being stuck between worlds.

Her early acting resume reads like a masterclass in paying your dues. She played a nurse on "General Hospital" (blink and you'd miss her), was literally just called "hot girl" in an Ashton Kutcher movie, and spent time as a briefcase model on "Deal or No Deal." Yeah, she was one of those girls holding the suitcases! She did 34 episodes of that show, which wasn't exactly Shakespeare but definitely helped pay rent.

The struggle was so real that she was working as a restaurant hostess right before her "Suits" audition. She even had this anonymous blog called "The Working Actress" where she'd vent about the brutal reality of trying to make it. One post said "I've spent many days curled up in bed with a loaf of bread and some wine. A one-woman pity party." Honestly, we've all been there!

Her small TV gigs were paying decent but not life-changing money – like $187,000 for "Remember Me" and $171,429 for some short film. Better than minimum wage, sure, but still nowhere near building real wealth. She was basically living paycheck to paycheck like most struggling actors.

When Meghan Markle Net Worth Finally Started Making Sense

Everything flipped in 2011 when she landed Rachel Zane on "Suits." This was THE break that changed everything. She was pulling in $50,000 per episode, which works out to about $450,000 a year over seven seasons. Finally, some real money!

Living in Toronto for nine months a year filming "Suits" actually worked out great for her bank account – lower cost of living than LA, plus she could focus on the work without Hollywood distractions. That's when she started building toward that $5 million pre-royal fortune.

But here's where Meghan got really smart – she didn't just rely on acting money. She launched "The Tig," her lifestyle blog that blew up with millions of followers. That thing was earning her about $80,000 a year just from sponsorships and endorsements. She designed clothing lines with Reitmans, hosted shows for USA Network, and basically turned herself into a brand.

Then came July 2016 and meeting Prince Harry through Instagram (wild how life works, right?). When they got married in 2018, she brought her $5 million to the table while he had about $25-40 million from his Princess Diana inheritance. Their wedding cost $43 million and had almost 2 billion people watching worldwide. Talk about making it official!

Meghan Markle Net Worth in 2025: Living That Media Mogul Life

Since ditching royal duties in 2020, Meghan Markle net worth has gone absolutely bonkers. Their combined $60 million is just the beginning – these two are building a legitimate media empire.

The Netflix deal is where things get spicy. We're talking $100 million over five years, possibly up to $150 million with bonuses. They've already dropped "Harry & Meghan" (which was huge) and Meghan's lifestyle show "With Love, Meghan" got renewed for a second season before the first one even aired. That's how you know you've made it.

They also scored a $20 million book advance from Penguin Random House for four books, including Harry's tell-all "Spare." Plus there was that $25 million Spotify deal for Meghan's podcast "Archetypes," though they ended up parting ways in 2023. Sometimes things don't work out, but hey, they already got paid!

Their real estate game is absolutely insane. They dropped $14.7 million on this massive Montecito estate with 16 bedrooms, rose gardens, tennis courts, and a freaking tea house. They're literally neighbors with Oprah, Ellen, and Katy Perry. When you're living in the same zip code as those legends, you know you've made it.

Meghan's also launching "American Riviera Orchard" in 2025, which is basically her version of Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop empire. Early signs suggest it'll cover everything from skincare to home goods, and knowing Meghan's marketing skills, it's probably gonna be huge.

Oh, and their speaking fees? Try $1 million per event. Do a few of those a year plus all their other ventures, and you can see why Meghan Markle net worth is only going up from here.

Meghan Markle's Success Secrets: How to Build Your Own Empire

What's really cool about Meghan's story isn't just the money – it's the mindset that got her there. Here's what she's taught us about making it big:

• You're Already Enough: This is Meghan's biggest thing. She talks about how one casting director told her "You are enough," and it totally changed her perspective. She's always saying "We just need to be kinder to ourselves. You can have questions of self-doubt. But at the end of the day, you are enough exactly as you are." That confidence? It's everything.

• Education Is Your Superpower: Meghan's always preaching that "Education is the key to unlocking endless possibilities." Her double major in theater and international relations meant she had backup plans when acting got tough. She never stopped learning and growing, which is why she could pivot from actress to entrepreneur to philanthropist so smoothly.

• Speak Up When Things Aren't Right: At 11 years old, this girl was already writing letters to companies about sexist ads and actually getting them changed! Her philosophy is "If there was a wrong, if there is a lack of justice, and there is an inequality, then someone needs to say something. And why not me?" That activist mindset opened doors to UN ambassador roles and way more.

• Balance Is Non-Negotiable: "You don't need to make your life your job," Meghan says. She's always been big on work-life balance and taking care of her mental health. That's probably why she could handle the insane pressure of royal life and media scrutiny without completely losing it.

• Your Circle Determines Your Success: Meghan's huge on surrounding yourself with the right people. "Surround yourself with the people who remind you of your worth," she says. Good advice, especially when you're dealing with haters and critics trying to bring you down.

• Stay True to Your Values: When dealing with all the media drama, her go-to advice is "If you focus on yourself, your values and your moral compass, it's easy to live with truth and authenticity." That's how she's managed to stay sane through some pretty brutal coverage.

• Use Success to Help Others: "With fame comes opportunity, but in my opinion, it also includes responsibility," she says. Meghan's always seen her platform as a way to create change, not just make money. That's probably why people connect with her so much.

The bottom line? Meghan Markle went from making minimum wage at a yogurt shop to building a $60 million empire by never giving up, staying authentic, and always looking for ways to help others succeed too. Her story proves that with the right mindset, some serious hustle, and a bit of luck, you can literally transform your entire life. And honestly? She's probably just getting started.