Last Updated on March 1, 2024
On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle shot to international stardom following her much-publicized marriage to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. This marriage was historic in more ways than one. Most notably, it was the first marriage in recent history involving a British royal and a woman of color.
In fact, many historians were quick to label Markle as “the first black royal.” That’s due to the lack of conclusive ancestry records indicating that Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, was indeed a woman of color as has widely been rumored.
Well, by now, you probably already know that Meghan’s union with Prince Harry has been less than ideal. Not because of any personal inadequacies on the part of one or both partners, but because of the numerous unsavory remarks reportedly made within the corridors of the Buckingham Palace regarding Markle’s race.
When claims of ethnic profiling first emerged on tabloid publications, these allegations were quickly dismissed by Buckingham Palace as false, unfounded, and only meant to demean the stature of the Queen. However, matters seem to have come to a head when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared in a series of interviews and opened up about racism within the British royal family. In early 2020, the couple announced on Instagram that they would ‘step back as senior members’ of Britain’s royal family. This was the clearest indication ever of a strained relationship between the couple and the royal family.
Read on as we uncover everything there is to know about Meghan Markle, including her background, fun facts, and net worth.
More About Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle, born Rachel Meghan Markle, is an American member of the British royal family. Markle is also a former actress, model, blogger, and author.
As an actress, Meghan Markel is best known for portraying Rachel Zane in the American television legal drama Suits (2010 – 2018). She also appeared as herself on the television show Deal or No Deal (2006 – 2007), as well as in the films Dysfunctional Friends (2012) and Anti-Social (2015). Markle retired from acting after marrying Prince Harry.
As a blogger, Markle is mostly remembered for her lifestyle blog titled The Tig (2014 – 2017). The Tig garnered tremendous recognition among fashionistas. Thanks to the blog’s popularity, Meghan was able to create and release two clothing lines.
Also, prior to marrying Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was married to American film producer Trevor Engelson. The couple were married from 2011 until their divorce in 2013.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | Rachel Meghan Markle |
Popular Name: | Meghan Markle |
Gender: | Female |
Birth Date: | August 4, 1981 |
Age: | 41 years |
Parents: | Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland |
Siblings: | Samantha Markle and Thomas Markle Jr. (all paternal half-siblings) |
Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | Mixed (Dutch, Irish, and African-American) |
Education: | Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse, Immaculate Heart High School and Northwestern University |
Marital Status: | Married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (since 2018); previously married to Trever Engelson (from 2011 until their divorce in 2013) |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex |
Children: | Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD 60 million |
Source of Wealth: | British Royal Family Trust Fund, Acting, Modeling, Blogging, Writing, and Other Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 7″ (1.7 m) |
Weight: | 61 kg; In pounds: 134 lbs. |
Early Life
Meghan Markle was born on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, United States, to Thomas Markle Sr. and Doria Ragland. Her parents divorced when she was only six years old.
Meghan attended Hollywood Little Red Schoolhouse and later graduated from Immaculate Heart High School, both in Los Angeles. She subsequently pursued theater and international studies from the School of Communication at Northwestern University.
Acting Career
Television
Meghan Markle kicked off her acting career in 1995 by appearing as a student on an episode of the television series Married…with Children.
In 2002, she played Jill in an episode of the television series General Hospital.
However, Meghan’s biggest television role was in the legal drama series, Suits (2010 – 2018).
Film
Meghan Markle made her film debut by accepting a cameo role in the 2005 movie, A Lot like Love.
In 2010, she was featured in the films Remember Me, Get Him to the Greek, and The Candidate.
The following are other notable films and television shows that Meghan Markle has appeared in to date:
• Century City (2004, television series)
• Love, Inc. (2005, television series)
• CSI: NY (2006, television series)
• Deal or No Deal (2006 – 2007, television series)
• ‘Til Death (2008, television series)
• Without a Trace (2009, television series)
• CSI: Miami (2010, television series)
• Horrible Bosses (2011, film)
• Dysfunctional Friends (2012, film)
• Castle (2012, television series)
• Random Encounters (film, 2013)
• Anti-Social (2015, film)
Writing Career
Meghan Markle has published quite a few books. Notable ones include A Face without Freckles… Is a Night without Stars (1996) and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex (2021).
In addition to books, Markle has also authored numerous articles and letters to various reputable organizations and media outlets, such as the New York Times and the World Health Organization.
Marriage to Prince Harry
Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry was formally announced by Harry’s father – Charles, Prince of Wales – on November 27, 2017. Shortly after, Meghan announced her intentions to quit acting so she could focus on her soon-to-be-acquired royal duties.
Meghan and Harry walked down the aisle on May 19, 2018, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. She subsequently earned the title Duchess of Sussex.
Meghan Markle’s Net Worth
Meghan Markle’s net worth is a staggering $60 million, as of 2023. That’s the combined net worth with her husband, Prince Harry.
However, it’s worth noting that Markle was already a millionaire by the time she married Prince Harry. She came to the marriage with a net worth of $5 million.
Meghan Markle’s personal wealth came from her illustrious career in acting, writing, blogging, and modeling. She reportedly earned $187,000 and $171,429 for her roles in Remember Me and The Candidate, respectively. According to Fortune magazine, Meghan earned an estimated $50,000 per episode of Suits. That worked out as around $450,000 annually.
After marrying Prince Harry, the majority of Markle’s millions came from the trust fund which was set up by her husband’s late mother, Princess Diana.
Shortly after giving up their royal duties, Meghan and Harry signed a 5-year, $100-million production contract with Netflix. Through the deal, the couple will produce several feature films, documentaries, and children’s programming. Meghan and Harry also signed another 3-year, $18 million deal with Spotify. Some of the amount from these deals was used to finance the couple’s $14.7 million mansion in Montecito, California.
Lessons from Meghan Markle
1. Work hard no matter your social status
After marrying Prince Harry, many people might have expected Meghan Markel to simply sit back and enjoy the trappings of the monarchy. But although Meghan quit acting right before joining the British royalty, she has continually involved herself in various constructive ventures.
2. Don’t let negative energy go to your head
Meghan has been the subject of bad publicity after marrying Prince Harry, mostly on account of her ethnicity. However, the Duchess of Sussex hasn’t been keen to entertain these negative energies.
3. Give back
Meghan Markle is a renowned philanthropist. She has involved herself in numerous charitable work over the years.
Famous Quotes by Meghan Markle
• Don’t give it five minutes if you’re not going to give it five years.
• We just need to be kinder to ourselves. If we treated ourselves the way we treated our best friend, can you imagine how much better off we would be?
• Do the things you enjoy within reason. Know your body and what works for you and you’ll be fine.
• Building a strong team around you and being able to really communicate well with them is part of what’s going to bring you a higher level of success.
• Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they want, but more importantly, the education they have the right to receive. And for women and girls in developing countries, this is vital.
Wrap Up
Meghan Markle may be known by many people as the Duchess of Sussex. But Markle has achieved tremendous success besides marrying into the British royalty.
She has appeared in several award-winning films and television shows, in addition to authoring tons of thought-provoking books and articles. Meghan is also a model.
The Duchess of Sussex has accumulated a net worth of $60 million, which is the combined net worth with that of her husband, Prince Harry.