Since relinquishing their royal titles three years ago, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been busy expanding their empire in the media industry. And now it seems to some that the couple might be delving into politics, as recent tax documents reveal the couple’s nonprofit, The Archewell Foundation, paid Michelle Obama’s previous press chief over $100,000.
The Archewell Foundation supports nonprofit and for-profit organizations that are making a social impact in society. Since its founding in 2020, the foundation has provided grants and support to 10 organizations. The organization was established by Markle and Prince Harry to continue the philanthropic work they participated in as part of the royal family.
Markle is also set to be awarded the 2023 Women of Vision Award in May. The award, bestowed by the Ms. Foundation, will be presented to her by Gloria Steinem.
The PR Hookup
The couple’s organization made a $110,000 payment in 2021 to Katie McCormick Lelyveld’s public relations firm for strategic support for social impact PR. The firm, according to its website, serves everyone from the “…corporate war room to the media battlefield, the corner office to the White House.” KLM Strategic Advisors has worked with politicians such as Hilary Clinton and John Kerry on their respective political campaigns. In addition, from 2007 to 2011, the firm provided services to former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The firm’s past clientele has left many wondering if Markle might be running for office soon — especially since Markle and Prince Harry held a private meeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020. In addition, in 2021, Markle sent a letter to Congress lobbying for a federally paid parental leave program.
A Look at The Windsor Wealth
Markle and Prince Harry currently have a net worth of $60 million, according to Wealthy Gorilla. When the two decided to relocate to the United States three years ago, they were offered several lucrative partnerships. A five-year Netflix deal includes a docuseries, “Harry and Meghan.” Other parts of the deal include a feature film, documentaries and children’s programming. The deal is estimated to be worth $50 to $100 million. A deal with Spotify, known as Archewell Audio, is worth between $15 to $18 million and involves podcast production. Markle’s podcast, “Archetypes,” narrates the stories of women in society. Markle’s children’s book, “The Bench,” was released in 2021, and was on The New York Times bestsellers list while Prince Harry’s autobiography, “Spare,” was published in January. Prince Harry’s autobiography was the first installment in a $35 million four-book deal with Penguin Random.
Although it has been rumored that the couple lost money in the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, no news sources have been able to verify this information.
