A bold new claim from a royal expert has reignited discussion surrounding the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, suggesting the Duchess of Sussex may have had different expectations about her husband’s wealth. According to the expert, Meghan “expected a billionaire and got a millionaire” when she married into the British royal family — a statement that has raised eyebrows and triggered renewed debate over the motives behind the couple’s high-profile exit from royal duties.

The Claim

The controversial remark came from royal commentator Tom Quinn, who has published multiple books on the British monarchy. In a recent interview with UK media, Quinn claimed:

“Meghan didn’t fully understand how royal finances work. She thought Harry, being a prince, would be incredibly wealthy. But the reality is that while Harry is well-off, he’s no billionaire. I’ve heard from palace sources that Meghan expected a billionaire and got a millionaire.”

According to Quinn, the discrepancy between Meghan’s perceived expectations and the reality of Harry’s finances was a source of early tension in their relationship — particularly after the couple stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 and had to begin funding their lifestyle independently.

A Financial Reality Check

Prince Harry inherited a significant sum from his late mother Princess Diana, reportedly around £10 million, and also received inheritance from the Queen Mother. However, royal finances are complex. Much of the monarchy’s immense wealth, such as the Crown Estate and royal jewels, is not personally owned and cannot be sold or leveraged by individual royals.

When Harry and Meghan stepped back from official duties, they lost access to the Sovereign Grant, a taxpayer-funded source that covered many of their expenses. This prompted them to seek financial independence through media deals and commercial ventures.

Since relocating to California, the couple has signed multi-million-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify — though their Spotify partnership ended in 2023. They’ve also pursued various business and philanthropic projects under their Archewell brand.

Still, their financial journey hasn’t been entirely smooth. Critics have questioned whether their projects are sustainable in the long term and whether their initial commercial appeal is fading.

Meghan’s Lifestyle Expectations?

The suggestion that Meghan expected a “billionaire lifestyle” has drawn both criticism and sympathy online. Some royal watchers claim she may have been naïve about what life in the royal family would really entail, while others argue that it’s deeply unfair to reduce her motivations to money.

Supporters point out that Meghan was already financially independent before her marriage. As a successful actress on the hit TV show Suits, she reportedly earned $50,000 per episode and had a net worth of around $5 million at the time of her wedding in 2018.

Furthermore, Meghan has repeatedly emphasized her desire to live a life of purpose and service, not luxury. In interviews — including the famous Oprah Winfrey sit-down — she spoke about the mental health toll of life behind palace walls, racism from the UK press, and a lack of institutional support.

Public Reaction

The claim has divided opinion, as expected with anything involving the Sussexes. Critics of the couple jumped on the remark as validation of long-held suspicions that Meghan married for status and wealth. Some social media users even accused her of being a “gold digger,” reigniting old narratives that have dogged her since she joined the royal family.

However, many others slammed the comment as sexist, elitist, and unfair.

A popular post on X (formerly Twitter) read:

“Why is Meghan constantly scrutinized like this? She was a millionaire, self-made, successful, and accomplished. Why are people obsessed with painting her as greedy?”

Another user added:

“It’s 2025 and people are still obsessing over how much Harry is worth like Meghan married a wallet. Disgusting.”

The Broader Picture

Regardless of the accuracy of Quinn’s claim, the Sussexes’ financial journey continues to fascinate the public. Their choice to leave the royal family for a life of independence — in both political and financial terms — was unprecedented. It opened up questions about modern royalty, media responsibility, and the pressures of public life.

They’ve managed to carve out a unique space, balancing activism, business, and celebrity status — but at a cost. Public opinion remains sharply divided, and scrutiny of their every move shows no signs of slowing down.

Conclusion

The comment that Meghan “expected a billionaire and got a millionaire” may be an oversimplification — or even a gross mischaracterization — of a far more complex story. But it taps into lingering fascination with the Sussexes’ departure from royal life and ongoing speculation about their motivations, challenges, and future.

Whether fair or not, such commentary reflects how Meghan Markle remains one of the most polarizing public figures of the modern era.