Meghan Markle rakes in six-figure sum from the sale of TV drama Suits

Meghan Markle has netted a six-figure sum from the sale of her TV drama Suits to broadcasters around the world, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The series ended in 2019 but has recently enjoyed an astonishing resurgence on Netflix, and it has now been sold to more than 240 territories across every continent, with repeat fees lining the pockets of its stars.

Media giant NBCUniversal, which manages sales of the series, is tight-lipped about exactly what royalties actors earn from the deals, but it’s been estimated that the Duchess of Sussex could have earned nearly $200,000 (£155,000) from Netflix alone. 

That comes on top of whatever she was originally paid per episode to play fiery paralegal Rachel Zane from 2011 to 2017, when she quit to get engaged to Prince Harry.

But instead of fading into insignificance, the series broke records last year when it dropped on Netflix and the US platform Peacock, becoming the most-streamed show of 2023 and topping the charts for 12 weeks running.

The surprise success led the BBC to use licence-payers’ money to outbid ITV and buy the UK rights for iPlayer.

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The Corporation has not revealed how much it spent on the deal, or whether the Duchess benefited financially.

When asked about the show’s resurgence last year, the Duchess described the success as ‘wild’, adding that she had ‘no idea’ what was behind it.

An NBC source confirmed that ‘principal performers’ like Meghan get paid royalties, called ‘residuals’ from global sales, generally earning a percentage of the deal price.

Media website Deadline has estimated that Netflix paid $37.5 million (£29.5 million) to license Suits, with the six leading actors sharing 3.6 per cent of that fee. 

That would mean Meghan could have earned nearly $200,000 from 108 episodes she starred in from this deal alone.

Most observers agree that the show’s revival – which has now inspired a spin-off series – was linked to the public’s ‘fascination’ with the Duchess.

Entertainment expert Mark Boardman told Newsweek last year: ‘Meghan Markle’s rise to global fame has undeniably raised the profile of the show. 

‘Meghan’s critics would also be especially curious to see her performances and are intrigued to better understand her persona.’

The surprise pay cheques will be a perk for the Sussexes, whose palatial mansion in Montecito, California, has a £7.3 million mortgage. A spokesman for Meghan declined to comment.