31-07-2025
Meghan Markle eyeing new ‘gold mine' but Sussexes could still be forced to cut staff at Archewell production company
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's new 'first look' deal with Netflix could end up netting the Sussexes more money than their original contract, an insider has claimed.
The Sussexes signed a five-year, $100 million content partnership with the streaming giant through their Archewell company in the heady days of 2020.
The deal produced the massively successful docu-series Harry and Meghan, where the Sussexes dished royal secrets, but subsequent projects have come and gone with little fanfare.
Infamously, Harry's Drive To Survive-style series on Polo attracted less than 500,000 viewers around the world.
Only Markle's cooking series With Love, Meghan, is set to return to the streamer for a 'second season'.
It is understood the Sussexes will transition on to a 'first look' deal at Netflix within months, which gives the streamer first dibs on optioning any new Sussex projects.
According to royal insider Alison Boshoff, the deal could end up being highly lucrative if Netflix opts to purchase several programs or expand the With, Love Meghan universe.
'There are options on the table for other lifestyle shows from the Duchess, tied to hosting gatherings at Thanksgiving or Christmas,' she wrote in the Daily Mail on Thursday.
'The idea is to announce those in September when the second series (already shot) of With Love, Meghan drops.'
While standalone specials could be a 'goldmine' for Meghan, Ms Boshoff claimed that the Sussexes may struggle to cover the payroll at Archewell without the Netflix deal.
'It's bad news for their own large team at Archewell Productions, which has been funded up to now by the Netflix exclusive deal,' she wrote.
'Insiders suggest that running the team and the office costs around $3 million USD a year.'
Meanwhile a source close to the couple expressed concerns that without the guiding hand of Netflix the Sussexes are 'horrible' at managing their business affairs.
'They are horrible at making decisions,' the source told the same outlet.
'They ask everyone, then don't take their advice.'
