Due to the fact that he’s quite literally royalty, Prince William is rich—as in, “I live in a casual castle and my late grandma owned a scepter” rich. Not only does Prince William have more money than his brother, Prince Harry, for reasons that would cause any family to feud, but he’s about to get even richer, too. Here’s a breakdown of Prince William’s net worth, and how his royal finances work.
Prince William Has a Trust Fund From His Great-Grandmother
Prince William and Prince Harry’s great-grandma was Queen Elizabeth’s mom, and in 1994, she went ahead and placed two-thirds of her money (an estimated £19 million) into a trust fund for her great-grandchildren. The Guardian reports that William and Harry split about £6 million of this trust at age 21—but it wasn’t a 50/50 split because the Queen Mother wanted to compensate Harry “for not becoming sovereign.”
William and Harry get to split another £8M of that trust fund when they turn 40—Prince William might already be seeing that money, since his 40th birthday was last June—and if you’re wondering who the remaining £6 million is going to, that’d be William and Harry’s cousins, who are further down the line of succession.
Prince William Got a Huge Inheritance From Princess Diana
Princess Diana tragically died when she was just 36, and according to Forbes, she left Prince William and Prince Harry $10 million after taxes. William started receiving annual dividends of $450,000 a year at 25, which are his to do with what he wants. He’s certainly not using it to pay for his royal lifestyle, though, because that’s more than covered.
Prince William Gets Perks From Being a Working Royal
Prince William is considered a “working royal,” meaning his full-time job is going to charitable events and shaking hands. As such, he and wife Kate Middleton get a lot of their expenses (including travel) paid for by the Sovereign Grant, which is taxpayer money meant to cover the Royal Family’s official duties.
Prince William Inherited the Duchy of Cornwall in 2022
The Duchy of Cornwall is a private “portfolio of property and financial investments” previously owned by King Charles. However, Prince Williams took over after Charles became King following his mother's death in September 2022. Now, William is the Duke of Cornwall and has control of the duchy’s revenue. It’s pretty much up to William how to spend the ~£23 million he'll get per year.
Finances aside, however, Cornwall is near and dear to both Prince William and Prince Harry, as they would often visit it while on vacation with their mother, the late Princess Diana. In fact, in a 2019 documentary produced by ITV called Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge opened up about how excited he was to lean into that side of the family business, saying, “I’ve started to think about how I will inherit the Duchy one day and what I do with it. I think it’s really important, about the family angle, I really do.”
In a later part of the doc, Charles responds to his son's enthusiasm, and confesses that he was “practically reduced to tears” at the fact that Prince William had expressed such an interest in taking over the portfolio. “I was deeply touched and moved by what he said...It practically reduced me to tears. Because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him, has made the last 50 years worthwhile.”
Prince William Will Eventually Inherit the Queen’s Money
Prince William is in line to become the next monarch (right after King Charles), which means eventually, everything the light touches will be his. And according to Forbes, that includes $10 billion worth of real estate, the Royal Art Collection, a bunch of swans, and an annual government stipend of $12.9 million. There’s also the late Queen Elizabeth II’s personal net worth of $500 million (a.k.a. money that’s not tied to the crown), which includes property, stud farms, jewelry, and a fancy stamp collection.
Neither King Charles III nor any other members of the Royal Family—Prince William included—who receive an inheritance following the Queen’s death will be required to pay tax on that inheritance thanks to a 1993 agreement with the British government.
So, What Is Prince William’s Net Worth?
Prince William is currently worth around $100 million, most of which comes from the duchy. But you can expect that number to keep growing with William's increasing stature.
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Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
As a seasoned expert in finance and wealth accumulation, I can confidently analyze the intricate details of Prince William's net worth and the underlying financial mechanisms that contribute to his substantial wealth. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of trust funds, inheritances, royal privileges, and the financial intricacies of the British monarchy.
Prince William's Net Worth Breakdown:
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Trust Fund from Great-Grandmother:
- Queen Elizabeth's mother, the great-grandmother of Prince William and Prince Harry, established a trust fund in 1994, placing two-thirds of her money (estimated at £19 million) into it.
- The Guardian reports that William and Harry received £6 million from this trust at the age of 21, with a later £8 million share scheduled when they turn 40.
- The unequal split was made to compensate Harry "for not becoming sovereign."
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Inheritance from Princess Diana:
- Princess Diana left Prince William and Prince Harry $10 million after taxes upon her tragic death.
- Prince William started receiving annual dividends of $450,000 at the age of 25, which are at his discretion.
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Perks as a Working Royal:
- Prince William's role as a "working royal" involves full-time engagement in charitable events and official duties.
- Expenses, including travel, are covered by the Sovereign Grant, funded by taxpayer money.
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Inheritance of the Duchy of Cornwall:
- In 2022, Prince William inherited the Duchy of Cornwall, a private portfolio of property and financial investments previously owned by King Charles.
- With an annual revenue of ~£23 million, Prince William has control over how the funds are spent.
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Future Inheritance as the Next Monarch:
- As the future monarch, Prince William is in line to inherit significant assets, including $10 billion worth of real estate, the Royal Art Collection, and an annual government stipend of $12.9 million.
- A tax exemption, established in 1993, applies to inheritances received by members of the Royal Family following the Queen's death.
Prince William's Current Net Worth:
- Prince William's current net worth is estimated to be around $100 million, primarily derived from the Duchy of Cornwall.
- With his increasing stature and future inheritances, his net worth is expected to continue growing.
In conclusion, Prince William's wealth is a result of a combination of inheritances, trust funds, royal privileges, and his role as a working member of the Royal Family. The intricate financial structures surrounding his assets showcase the complexity of wealth accumulation within the context of royalty.
