British royal couple Harry and Meghan are facing a huge bill to maintain their million-dollar mansion in Montecito, California. From a large staff to utilities and maintenance costs, owning such a luxurious property requires a large budget.
After stepping down as senior members of the British Royal Family in 2020, Harry and Meghan chose Montecito, California as their home. The sprawling £12 million (US$14 million and VND356 billion) mansion, set on more than five acres of land, is home to the couple and their two young children: Archie (6) and Lilibet (3).
However, owning such a luxurious living space comes with a lot of responsibility. According to Eric Bramlett, owner of luxury real estate company Bramlett Residential, maintaining a $14 million mansion like Harry and Meghan’s requires a lot of money.
“It takes a lot of work to run a $14 million mansion like Harry and Meghan’s in Montecito,” he told Fabulous magazine. According to experts, to run the vast mansion smoothly, the royal couple needs to spend a huge amount of money each year, including the cost of hiring 10 to 15 staff.
This staff includes a private chef, gardener, security guard and housekeeper, ensuring that all activities in the villa run smoothly. Not to mention other additional costs such as electricity, water, repairs, and infrastructure upgrades are also a huge number.
Eric Bramlett likens running such a residence to “running a small boutique hotel with residential services.” The costs add up quickly, but the payoff is a life of luxury and comfort.
The mansion is designed in a style that combines modern and Victorian architecture, including 9 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, swimming pool, tennis court, large garden and chicken coop. The interior was revealed in part through the documentary “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix.
However, few people know that the interviews in this controversial documentary were not filmed at the Montecito mansion. Hello! magazine revealed that the couple chose another, even more luxurious mansion, just 11 minutes away from their home. This mansion is said to be on the market for $33 million, with full amenities such as a swimming pool, spa, private gym and crystal chandeliers.
Although no longer senior members of the British Royal Family, Harry and Meghan still have a significant source of income from their own projects. According to estimates, Harry’s assets are around 48 million pounds, including inheritance and income from business projects.
In addition, Harry is said to have received $20 million in royalties from Penguin Random House for his memoir “Spare.” Signing lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify (although the latter has since ended) after leaving the British Royal Family also brought the couple a significant source of income.