Kate Middleton’s life changed significantly when she married Prince William in 2011, having met while studying at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Now Princess of Wales and next in line to be Queen, Kate married into a generationally wealthy family whose working members get official expenses covered by proceeds from their vast land holdings, and she and her husband have only gotten wealthier during their marriage.
It’s not possible to determine the exact net worth of a royal, but CelebrityNetWorth pegs Kate’s current net worth at an estimated $10 million. Her husband’s net worth, calculated by the same source, is $100 million—an estimate that doesn’t appear to include a private estate reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Before she got married, Kate was already relatively well-to-do. Her family inherited a trust fund that in 2014 was worth more than £3 million ($3.7 million), according to the Daily Mail.
When Kate was born, her father, Michael, was a flight dispatcher and her mother, Carole, was a flight attendant. Five years after welcoming Kate, Michael and Carole started a business called “Party Pieces.” The family grew wealthy enough to send their three children to a prestigious private school, Marlborough College, and buy an apartment in London and the family’s home—a manor in Berkshire.
Read More: What To Know About Prince William’s Net Worth
The party business grew into a successful enterprise that was valued at £30 million ($37 million) at the time of the royal wedding, according to the Evening Standard. However, the business reportedly lost more than £1 million ($1.3 million) during the pandemic. Per a statement filed via Companies House, an agency of the British government, Party Pieces Holdings Limited had acquired £2.6 million ($3.2 million) in debt by 2023, leading to the sale of the business.
Before getting married, Kate worked for her parents’ business and as an accessory buyer for the apparel brand Jigsaw.
Kate is now a working royal, which means she spends her time in public engagements as a patron to charities and representative for the country and Crown. She gets her official living, travel, and household expenses covered by what is called the Sovereign Grant.
Each year, the royal family gives profits from its vast holdings under the Crown Estate to the U.K. government, but gets paid back a proportion in the form of the Sovereign Grant. Historically, the proportion was 15%, but that amount was raised to 25% in 2017 for 10 years to cover renovations at Buckingham Palace. However, the government announced it would be cut to 12% starting this year because of new profits from offshore wind farms on the Crown Estate.
In the most recent financial year, the royal family received £86 million ($109 million) from the Sovereign Grant, according to an annual report published in June 2023. That equals out to £1.29 ($1.63) per person in the U.K., according to the royal website. A core grant of £51.8 million ($65 million) funds official travel, property maintenance, and household operating costs.
However, the Sovereign Grant doesn’t cover Kate and other royals’ security costs, which is paid for by the taxpayer, with the cost not disclosed.
Kate and William, along with their three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—make use of three homes—Kensington Palace in London, Anmer Hall in Norfolk, and Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate. The Guardian reported that Anmer Hall was a gift from Queen Elizabeth II, while the couple pays rent on Adelaide Cottage.
FAQs
It's not possible to determine the exact net worth of a royal, but CelebrityNetWorth pegs Kate's current net worth at an estimated $10 million. Her husband's net worth, calculated by the same source, is $100 million—an estimate that doesn't appear to include a private estate reportedly worth more than $1 billion.
Why is Kate Middleton worth so much? ›
On top of a multi-million dollar trust fund inherited from his great-grandma the Queen Mother, Wills also inherited $10 million after taxes from Princess Diana (to be split with Prince Harry). Plus, both William and Kate get money for being "working royals."
What is the net worth of Princess Charlotte? ›
Charlotte sat firmly on top with a net worth of just under £3.6 billion, or $4.4 billion. Prince George came in at a relatively distant second, with the estimated $3 billion he stands to inherit from his parents.
How did Middletons make their money? ›
Michael Middleton was a flight dispatcher and Carol. Middleton was a flight attendant when they married. Carole started a mail order Party supply business. The business took off making them wealthy and putting them in the upper middle class.
What is Prince Williams' net worth? ›
The exact net worth of any royal family member is unknown, and estimates from online sources range. CelebrityNetWorth has pegged the net worth of Prince William, next in line to the throne, at $100 million.
Does Kate come from a rich family? ›
Michael Middleton, 72, has always enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, born in Leeds to a wealthy family with links to aristocracy, he attended the elite Clifton College in Bristol. Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, 69, formerly Carole Goldsmith, was from a considerably more modest start.
Are Kate and William billionaires? ›
Kate Middleton and Prince William's billionaire status eclipses Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's £30 million fortune. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have generated income through book sales and brand partnerships, amassing a net worth of approximately £30 million.
Who is the richest child in the royal family? ›
Princess Charlotte has been refered as "the richest kid in the world" due to her status as a member of the British royal family, which is one of the wealthiest and most prominent royal families in the world.
How much did Prince Harry inherit from Princess Diana? ›
It's reported that Prince Harry inherited more money than his brother from their late mother, Princess Diana, totaling over $26.7 million.
Why is Princess Charlotte richer than her brother? ›
Princess Charlotte's Net Worth Is Reportedly Higher Than Louis and George's Because of Mom Kate Middleton - IMDb. Princess Charlotte may not be the heir to the throne, but she's on top in another category: net worth.
So why are Carole and Michael Middleton in debt? While Carole and Michael no longer owe their creditors millions, they do still owe Interpath, whose fees for overseeing the company's sale have reportedly put the couple in a slightly more shallow pool of debt.
Are the Middletons millionaires? ›
How rich are Kate Middleton's parents? It was estimated They have been well off for many years, hard work , good Investments, Party Pieces is worth an estimated $50 million. Today, the duch*ess parents have a combined net worth of about $67 million, according to Town & Country.
How does Pippa Middleton have money? ›
Pippa has carved her own niche in the limelight, accumulating an estimated net worth of $54 million. Her financial standing largely stems from her marriage to James Matthews, scion of a wealthy and aristocratic family.
What is Prince Archie net worth? ›
Can Prince Archie of Sussex become king one day? It seems that the chances are not that great for Archie because she is seventh in line to the throne, however, many people love the child. Currently, according to celebrity net-worth websites, they concur that the child's estimated net worth was 10 million dollars.
What was Kate Middleton's net worth before marriage? ›
Before she got married, Kate was already relatively well-to-do. Her family inherited a trust fund that in 2014 was worth more than £3 million ($3.7 million), according to the Daily Mail. When Kate was born, her father, Michael, was a flight dispatcher and her mother, Carole, was a flight attendant.
Who is the richest Prince William or Prince Harry? ›
HRH William the Prince of Wales is wealthier. His net worth is around $1.3 billion as he now has the Duchy of Cornwall.
How much is Kate Middleton's ring worth? ›
Princess Kate - £390k
As Princess Kate's engagement ring from Prince William was inherited from Princess Diana, it has the same price tag of £390,000. However, it is believed that with this unique legacy, the precious jewel would almost certainly be worth much more now.
How much is Prince George worth? ›
Prince George's net worth is estimated to be in the region of £2.9 billion ($3.6 billion) according to Reader's Digest, who reported the Wales youngster's worth in 2022.
What do the Middletons do? ›
They founded their party supply company Party Pieces in 1987
Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton at the 2021 Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Michael and Carole started the party supply company Party Pieces in 1987.
How much is Prince Charles worth? ›
King Charles' net worth has soared to about $2.3 billion, according to The Guardian, which said it worked with 12 experts to undertake the first "comprehensive audit" of the king's assets, which range from country estates to race cars and jewels.
