Harry & Meghan’s SHOCKING Financial Fall—What’s Next After Losing EVERYTHING? 😱

From royal riches to a stunning collapse! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s empire is crumbling after Netflix and Spotify pulled the plug. 💥 What went wrong behind their mega-deals? And what’s the secret plan they’re hiding to bounce back?
Click to uncover the jaw-dropping truth shaking Montecito!

Harry and Meghan’s Financial Crisis: The Fall of the Sussex Brand?

In August 2025, headlines screamed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, faced financial ruin after reportedly losing their lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. Once heralded as a power couple poised to redefine celebrity influence, the Sussexes’ media ventures through their production company, Archewell, have hit turbulent waters. The termination of their $100 million Netflix contract and $20 million Spotify deal has sparked speculation about their financial stability and future prospects. Were these losses a result of underperformance, or do they signal a deeper challenge for the couple’s post-royal ambitions? This article delves into the details of their financial setbacks, the reasons behind them, and what lies ahead for the embattled duo.

The Rise of Archewell: A Post-Royal Dream

When Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in January 2020, they relocated to Montecito, California, with a vision to achieve financial independence through media and philanthropy. Their production company, Archewell Productions, was launched to create “inspirational family programming,” including documentaries, scripted shows, and podcasts. The couple quickly secured high-profile deals: a $20 million agreement with Spotify in December 2020 and a $100 million, five-year contract with Netflix in September 2020. These partnerships, alongside Harry’s $20 million memoir Spare and Meghan’s narrated Disney+ documentary, positioned them as potential media moguls.

The Netflix deal produced five projects, most notably the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan, which set a record for the biggest debut of a Netflix documentary with 81.6 million hours watched in its first four days. Other outputs included Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead, Polo, and With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle series that launched in March 2025 but failed to crack Netflix’s top 300 shows. The Spotify deal, however, yielded only 12 episodes of Meghan’s Archetypes podcast, which won a People’s Choice Award but was criticized for lackluster output, leading to its cancellation in 2023 after failing to meet “productivity benchmarks”.

The Fall: Losing Netflix and Spotify

The unraveling began with Spotify’s termination of the Archewell Audio deal in June 2023, a decision described as mutual but widely attributed to the couple’s failure to deliver sufficient content. Bill Simmons, Spotify’s head of podcast innovation, famously called them “grifters” on his podcast, lamenting the deal’s collapse after just one season of Archetypes. The loss meant Harry and Meghan forfeited a significant portion of the $20 million, reportedly receiving only $10 million due to unmet targets.

Netflix followed suit in July 2025, with reports indicating the streamer would not renew its $100 million contract, set to expire in September 2025. The decision came after mixed results from Archewell’s output: while Harry & Meghan was a hit, subsequent projects like Polo and With Love, Meghan underperformed, with the latter garnering only 5.3 million views. Sources noted that Netflix was open to future “one-off” projects, but the end of the exclusive deal marked a significant blow. Contrary reports later claimed a new, less lucrative “first-look” deal was signed, giving Netflix the right of first refusal on Archewell projects, but with reduced financial commitment.

The financial impact was stark. The couple had received only $20 million of the Netflix deal by 2024, with their lavish Montecito lifestyle—complete with a $14.7 million mansion, private security, and designer wardrobes—straining their resources. An X post claimed Harry and Meghan would “no longer get paid for simply their names,” reflecting a shift in their marketability.

Why the Deals Collapsed

Several factors contributed to the collapse. First, productivity issues plagued both partnerships. Spotify executives, including Simmons, expressed frustration at the couple’s slow output, with Harry reportedly struggling to generate podcast ideas. Netflix insiders echoed this, noting that the couple’s insistence on “complete control” alienated collaborators, leading to stalled projects like the canceled animated series Pearl and the delayed Meet Me at the Lake film. A source called the Netflix deal an “expensive failure,” citing tensions over Harry’s memoir Spare undercutting the exclusivity of their docuseries.

Second, public perception shifted. The initial “halo effect” of their royal status faded, as noted by PR expert Mark Borkowski, who estimated a $10 million loss from the Spotify deal alone. Criticism from figures like Bill Simmons and posts on X, such as claims of the couple’s “failure to strike a concrete agreement” with Netflix, highlighted a growing narrative of underdelivery. Their track record was described as “terrible,” with only Harry & Meghan and Spare achieving significant impact.

Finally, the couple’s high-profile lifestyle drew scrutiny. Their $800,000 annual expenses, previously covered by King Charles’ Duchy of Cornwall, became unsustainable without major deals, suggesting they were “scrambling” to secure income. The loss of both contracts, combined with reported plans to relocate from Montecito to Malibu, intensified speculation about financial desperation.

The Fallout: Financial and Reputational Damage

The loss of the Netflix and Spotify deals has raised questions about the Sussexes’ financial future. Their combined deals with Netflix, Spotify, and Penguin Random House were worth over $135 million, but only a fraction was realized due to unmet obligations. Their Montecito mansion, private jets, and security costs—estimated at $6.2 million annually—require substantial income. Meghan’s pivot to Lemonada Media for Archetypes and her lifestyle brand As Ever, partnered with Netflix for consumer products like jams and wine, represent attempts to diversify revenue.

Reputationally, the setbacks have been costly. X posts accused the couple of “desperation cloaked in delusion,” while insiders described them as “stubborn” and unwilling to take advice. The narrative of “grifters,” first popularized by Simmons, has stuck, with critics arguing their reliance on royal drama—evident in Harry & Meghan and Spare—limits their appeal. However, supporters praised their retention of project copyrights under the new Netflix deal, suggesting potential for future success.

What’s Next for Harry and Meghan?

Despite the setbacks, the Sussexes are not without options. The new Netflix “first-look” deal, announced on August 11, 2025, includes projects like a second season of With Love, Meghan, a Christmas special, and a documentary, Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, about Ugandan orphans. The Meet Me at the Lake adaptation remains in development, though delays persist due to the lack of a director or cast. Meghan’s As Ever brand, launched alongside her Netflix series, has seen success with products selling out quickly, indicating a potential new revenue stream.

However, challenges remain. Earlier pressure on the couple to deliver content, with PR experts warning that failure could damage their brand irrevocably, persists. The couple’s shift away from royal exposés may help them pivot to broader appeal, with Meghan’s potential relaunch of her lifestyle blog The Tig seen as a promising venture. Yet, their ability to regain momentum depends on overcoming perceptions of underdelivery and navigating a competitive media landscape.

The Bigger Picture: Celebrity and Commerce

The Sussexes’ saga reflects the risks of celebrity-driven content. Fame alone does not guarantee success, and their struggles highlight the challenges of transitioning from royal figures to media producers. The polarized reaction—support from fans versus scorn from critics who called them “the laziest”—underscores the difficulty of maintaining relevance in a skeptical market.

Conclusion: A Crossroads for the Sussexes

Harry and Meghan’s financial setbacks mark a pivotal moment for their post-royal journey. The loss of Netflix and Spotify deals, while not fatal, has exposed vulnerabilities in their Archewell venture and public image. As they pivot to new projects and revenue streams, their ability to deliver compelling content will determine whether they can rebuild their empire or fade into obscurity. For now, the Sussexes remain a polarizing symbol of ambition, resilience, and the high stakes of modern celebrity.