Honestly, if you look at the trajectory of Meghan Markle’s life, it feels less like a traditional celebrity arc and more like a series of completely different lifetimes packed into one. You’ve got the “Suits” era, the royal whirlwind, and now this weird, fascinating hybrid of Montecito lifestyle mogul and media producer. Most people think her story started the day she walked into that 2016 blind date with Prince Harry. But the reality of Meghan Markle before and after her royal tenure is a lot messier, and frankly, more interesting than the headlines suggest.
She wasn't just some "struggling actress" plucked from obscurity. By the time she met Harry, she was making about $50,000 per episode on Suits. She had a net worth of roughly $5 million and a lifestyle blog, The Tig, that was actually pulling in around $80,000 a year in sponsorships. She was a self-made millionaire long before she ever saw the inside of a palace.
The "Before" You Probably Forgot
Let’s go back to Toronto. Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was basically the queen of a very specific, curated niche. She lived in a modest but chic rented home, walked her rescue dogs, Guy and Bogart, and spent her hiatuses traveling to places like Rwanda for World Vision.
She wasn't new to the hustle.
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Remember the calligraphy? That wasn't just a hobby. She did the invitations for Robin Thicke’s wedding and worked for Dolce & Gabbana to pay her bills while auditioning. She’s often talked about the "ethnically ambiguous" struggle of her early career—not black enough for some roles, not white enough for others.
- 2002: First TV appearance on General Hospital.
- 2006: The "briefcase girl" stint on Deal or No Deal (she’s since admitted she hated it).
- 2011: The big break as Rachel Zane on Suits.
- 2014: Launched The Tig, which became the blueprint for her current brand, As Ever.
People like to pretend she was "saved" by the monarchy, but she was already an international UN Women advocate. She’d already stood on stages at One Young World. The drive was always there; the platform just got exponentially bigger—and a lot more restrictive.
The Royal Pivot and the "After" Reality
Then came the "After." The shift wasn't just about moving into a cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace. It was a total identity scrub. She had to shut down The Tig. She had to delete her Instagram. She had to stop the casual selfies and start wearing nude stockings.
But here’s where it gets wild. Now that they've been out of the "Firm" for years, we’re seeing a version of Meghan that looks a lot more like 2015 Meghan, but with a $100 million Netflix deal and a much thicker skin.
The Business of Being Meghan in 2026
If you’ve been paying attention lately, 2025 was basically her "Redemption Year." After the Spotify deal fell through and people started questioning if the Sussexes could actually produce content, things finally clicked.
The launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever (which started as American Riviera Orchard before a patent-induced name change), has been a massive talking point. A website glitch in early 2026 actually leaked some of her inventory numbers, revealing that she had roughly 220,000 jars of jam and 70,000 bottles of wine ready to go. The jam alone is reportedly a £26.7 million business.
It’s a far cry from the "briefcase girl" days.
What Really Changed?
The biggest difference in Meghan Markle before and after isn't her bank account—it’s her agency.
Before Harry, she was a working actress playing a character.
During the royal years, she was a duchess playing a role.
Now? She’s the boss of Archewell, an investor in ethical coffee brands, and a producer of Netflix shows like With Love, Meghan.
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Her style has evolved too. Gone are the bright, "don't-offend-the-Queen" colors she wore as a working royal. Now, she’s leaned back into the "Monocito Chic" aesthetic: neutrals, high-end linens, and that $33,000 Logan Hollowell diamond tennis necklace she’s been spotted in recently.
Breaking Down the Numbers
- Net Worth Before: ~$5 Million
- Net Worth Now (Combined): Estimated ~$60 Million
- Current Projects: As Ever lifestyle range, a 2026 cookbook, and an Amazon MGM film called Close Personal Friends where she’ll reportedly play herself.
The Misconception About the "Quiet Life"
Critics love to point out that they moved to California for "privacy" and then released a six-part docuseries. But if you listen to what she’s actually said, the goal was never total invisibility. It was control.
In her "Before" life, she could write a blog post about her favorite pasta sauce and nobody would call it a constitutional crisis. In her "After" life, every jar of jam she sends to a friend is analyzed for hidden messages to the Princess of Wales.
She’s basically tried to build a wall around her family while keeping a window open for her business. Whether it's working or not depends on who you ask, but the data shows people are still buying. Those 2026 sales figures don't lie.
Practical Takeaways from the Meghan Evolution
If there’s anything to learn from the Meghan Markle saga, it’s about the power of a "pivot." You don't have to stay in the box people build for you.
- Own your platform. Meghan went from a blog she didn't own the "royal" rights to, to a brand (As Ever) that is entirely her own. If you're building a side hustle, make sure you own the data and the domain.
- Vulnerability sells, but boundaries keep you sane. She’s mastered the art of sharing "just enough" while keeping her children, Archie and Lilibet, largely out of the spotlight.
- Consistency is key. Love her or hate her, she’s been talking about women’s empowerment and "finding your voice" since she was 11 years old. The message hasn't changed; the megaphone just got louder.
The "Before" Meghan was a rising star in a specific industry. The "After" Meghan is a global polarizing figure who has turned her fame into a literal manufacturing empire. It’s a fascinating, high-stakes experiment in modern celebrity.
If you're looking to follow her next moves, keep an eye on the spring 2026 release of her cookbook. It’s expected to feature her "single skillet spaghetti" and some of the recipes seen in her Netflix homestyle series. It’ll likely be the final piece of the puzzle in her transition from actress to the American version of a lifestyle duchess.