GIVEN HE IS A legitimate prince — not to mention, the future King of England — it is no surprise that Prince William is rich. But just how rich is the Prince of Wales, exactly?
According to Forbes, The British Royal Family holds an estimated US$28 billion (AU$41.7 billion) in assets. This includes the Crown Estate, various palaces and crown-owned land, the Duchy of Cornwall (more on that later), the Duchy of Lancaster — which provides a source of independent income to the sovereign —and the Crown Estate Scotland.
But in addition to the mammoth collective wealth of “The Firm,” which he will inherit control of one day, William reportedly has a substantial personal fortune of his own, too. Ahead, we break down just where William’s wealth comes from.
Inheritance
Much of William’s personal wealth is thought to have been inherited.
Reportedly, the Queen Mother (William’s great-grandmother), left most of her estimated £70 million (AU$129 million) fortune to her great-grandchildren. Back in 2002, the BBC reported, “Princes William and Harry will reportedly share about £14 m [AU$25.8 million] from the estate of their late great grandmother.” While more of the cash reportedly went to Harry, William was still given part of the trust.
Per the Telegraph, William also inherited around £10 million (AU$18.4 million) from his mother, Princess Diana, on his 30th birthday in 2012. In addition to the lump sum,Forbes reports that both brothers began receiving yearly dividends, estimated at $450,000 per year, at age 25.
Military earnings
From 2006-2013, William served in the military, having been involved in both the Household Cavalry in the Blues and Royals regimentand he RAF Search and Rescue Force.
Forbes reports that his salary for the latter was US$68,000-$74,000 (AU$101,000-$110,000).
Afterwards, William workedas a helicopter pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance, where the reportedly donated his entire US$62,000 (AU$92,000) annual salary to charity.
The Duchy of Cornwall
Following his father’s ascension to the throne, much of William’s wealth will come from The Duchy of Cornwall. The Duchy is a private fund founded by Edward III in 1337, designed to provide a sort of financial independence to his heir. It has since been passed down through the family.
At its most simplistic, the Duchy is a portfolio of land and investments, from which income is generated. While the heir cannot sell the Duchy’s assets for their own personal gain, they receive the annual income generated from said assets.
Forbes estimates The Duchy generated approximately AU$40 million in 2022 alone. When Charles became king, the Duchy was passed on to the new Prince of Wales; William.
So, what is Prince William’s net worth?
In 2022, William’s net worth was estimated at around $40 million, per Money. However, that does not account for the Duchy portfolio, which has reportedly been valued at approximately £1 billion.
Ultimately, the Royal Family tend to keep their finances relatively private, so Prince William’s exact, accurate net worth will likely never be known.
