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Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Is Netflix actually pulling the strings of Meghan's business As Ever? Eyebrows have been raised after she revealed her 'business partner' has a massive 80 staff working for the brand... while she only has a 'small and mighty team' of 'savvy women'
When Meghan Markle first stepped into the world of the Royal Family, she liked to portray herself as a UN ambassador and do-gooder environmentalist. But for the past few months, the Duchess of Sussex has been reinventing herself yet again. Through her latest podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, she is starting to show what she has been really focusing on these past few years - making money. In the show Meghan eagerly sits down to swap business tips with female founders and friends who have started their own companies. She is clearly relishing in growing her new lifestyle brand As Ever, which has been promoted by her recent Netflix cookery show With Love, Meghan. But on Tuesday, Meghan revealed a piece of information about her business partnership with the streaming giant that has raised a few eyebrows. She said that Netflix had 'an entire team devoted' to As Ever, which numbered an eye-watering 80 staff members. And, perhaps tellingly, Meghan unveiled that she only had a 'small and mighty team' for her office, which she later described as 'savvy women'. The disparity between the two 'partners' in the number of staff will cause some royal watchers to wonder what team is really the driving force behind As Ever. Meghan made the comments on the podcast of Emma Grede, a London-born CEO who genuinely knows business as she is one of America's richest self-made women, with a net worth of around $400m. Grede is the brains behind the business ventures of several members of the Kardashian family, including brands Good American, Skims, and Safely. In their conversation, Meghan discussed the launch of her lifestyle brand, and bragged about how its signature raspberry jam, which she calls 'fruit spread', sold out only 45 minutes after launch. She also does the tried and true method many 'self made' entrepreneurs do when they make it big, and talked of her humble business beginnings, which allegedly started when she began selling homemade scrunchies for $1 at school. At no point in the 90-minute podcast does Meghan mention that what really catapulted her to stardom was marrying into a very famous British family. Nevertheless, the podcast contains several illuminating details about the Duchess' business relationship with Netflix. She talked about how she was initially planning on selling her products 'locally, maybe be at a farmer's markets', but eventually decided to opt for partnering with the global entertainment giant. There was an awkward moment where Meghan denied having less As Ever stock to ensure a quick sell out, calling it a 'beautiful surprise', which appeared to briefly shock the podcast host and entrepreneur Emma Grede Meghan admitted the decision to team up with Netflix took her business to a 'completely different level'. Netflix's consumer products team has in the past created product collections for its exclusive shows such as Bridgerton, Squid Game, and Stranger Things. But Meghan said things were different for her because there was not already an established brand, and it instead had to be developed with Netflix 'as we are going'. Although when Meghan's first line of products were released in March, including raspberry spread, honey, herbal tea and ready made crepe mix - they all received a less than stellar review by Daily Mail's FEMAIL team. However she has not let the negative reviews get her down, and says with Season 2 of the show she plans on 'really maximising the opportunity' to make her content and commerce meet 'in a really unique way'. It should be remembered that the initial Netflix deal that was signed by Meghan and Harry in 2020 was reportedly worth £78 million over a five-year period. The couple promised to create 'content that informs but also gives hope'. Their 2022 tell-all documentary, Harry & Meghan, was a runaway success, racking up 97.7 million hours of viewing in its first week. However, it was followed by Heart Of Invictus which, although a worthy look at the work of Harry's charity for injured servicemen and women, was one of Netflix's worst performers of 2023. Last year's Polo, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the sport which barely featured the Sussexes, did not chart. Those who do business with Netflix believe the upcoming new deal will be a significantly reduced offer compared to their current agreement, and will focus entirely on Meghan - this time without a generous upfront payment. But Meghan seems more than happy with the current arrangement, telling Grede on Tuesday: 'We have been in partnership with Netflix for five years already, my husband and I. 'So there is familiarity and comfort, and while that is just on the content side, not on the commerce side, these are relationships and friendships now. 'So I am working more so with the other building at Netflix. 'It is still the same group of people, it is still the same points of contact that I can reach out to. I love having a friendship and a nice rapport with Bela Bajaria who has been such a champion of both the series and of this brand. 'And it is only with me sending her fruit baskets and jams that she said "this is a show", so I think that changes it because it is not as if you are jumping into it with people you do not know. When asked about how she compromises with Netflix, she said: 'At the end of the day what I appreciate that in the contract they understand that this is my vision. 'And also the success of the brand I believe is rooted in the fact that you can feel when I am involved with something. 'The fact that they trust my final judgement is great, in what I want to put out there.' Meghan added that she loves to be involved in the creative process and the 'details'. And when asked about her involvement in the 'less sexy' parts of the business, such as the finances, Meghan here too was adamant she was involved just as much as Netflix. She said: 'I am very involved in that part. I think the misconception is that when you have a very large machine, and a very powerful and influential machine, like a partner in Netflix, then you have me and all of the attention that brings. 'The two of us together make an incredible partnership.' There has already been some tongue-wagging at the sneaky marketing tactics used by the pair at As Ever's first product drop in March. When all eight of the products on sale were sold out in just 45 minutes, some suggested they had deliberately understocked so that it would create scarcity and make headlines - making their products seem more desirable. When this point was put to her by Grede, Meghan strenuously denied planning it that way. It is not yet known, of course, just how many items were produced, so the jury is still out on whether that is impressive, or if it was just a clever PR stunt. As Ever has a new batch of products set to release on Friday, June 20. Only time will tell if the brand yet again massively underestimates demand 'by accident'. Meghan's powerful influence on shopping cannot be disputed, and the move into e-commerce has been an easy win for her – she will be getting at least ten per cent of sales – and a welcome contribution to the Sussex family coffers. Harry, who inherited millions from his mother and grandmother – memorably complained to Oprah in their tell-all interview in 2021 that his family had 'literally cut me off financially'. Royal accounts made public shortly afterwards showed that Charles had in fact continued to support the couple until the summer of 2020 from a £4.4 million Clarence House pot used to support his two sons and their families. As well as making stacks of cash, Meghan seems to be thoroughly enjoying her newfound business creation, despite Netflix seemingly pulling the strings from behind the scenes. The streamer seems likely to sign a new deal with the Sussexes in September, despite her latest podcast getting terrible reviews. James Marriott of The Times gave the podcast 1/5, writing that 'receiving business advice from a Californian multimillionaire who owes her fortune to marrying a prince is as illuminating as you would expect' and that at one point in the conversation he 'was seized by an urge to beat my head against the wall and foundationally re-architect my skull.' One well-placed source revealed to the Daily Mail's Chief Showbiz writer Alison Boshoff in May why Netflix remains so keen on Meghan. The source said: 'What people do not understand about the situation is that [Netflix CEO] Ted Sarandos is a massive, massive fan of Meghan personally. He calls her "the rock star". There is no way that her deal does not get renewed.' The source added: 'Ted is in the Meghan business and that is not about to change. He is all in.' Mr Sarandos has even backed her in public, telling Variety in March that the Sussexes have been 'overly dismissed,' and said specifically that Meghan 'is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture'. He added, gushingly, that 'people are fascinated with Meghan Markle.' The numbers show that her TV series, With Love, Meghan, had 12.6 million hours streamed in its first week, just squeaking into the Netflix global top ten that week. It was number seven in the UK in its first week before dropping from view. It was also not a critical success, panned for featuring lots of sprinkling of edible dried flowers on just about everything: ice cream, hummus, cakes and in drinks. Sources, however, say she was delighted with the series. To complicate matters further, last week it was announced Meghan and Netflix have grown closer still, due to the fact they have now hired their new 'director of communications' from the company. Emily Robinson worked for Netflix and was responsible for promoting the highly controversial drama The Crown from season three to six. She oversaw global publicity for notorious storylines such as Harry in Nazi fancy dress, Diana's Panorama interview and 'ghost' Diana talking to the Queen. Robinson is an experienced communications professional, having studied at Washington State University, and working at NBC Universal, the Discovery Channel and the History Channel before Netflix. It is now her job to get Meghan's point of view spread across the airwaves as she continues her quest to become a business titan of the lifestyle world. But she might have a challenge on her hands, as long-time Meghan watchers will know that not all business dealings with the Duchess tend to end well. Her and Harry's reported $20 million deal with Spotify, which was signed in 2020, ended in tears in 2023. As the deal fell apart, Spotify's head of podcast innovation and monetisation Bill Simmons memorably called the pair 'f***ing grifters'. And in the years since they have left the company, some staff at the company have come forward to claim that working with the Duchess was so difficult people needed 'therapy', according to an expose by US society bible Vanity Fair in January. However, this isn't Meghan's first foray into the lifestyle scene. This is actually her second time in trying to become a brand, similar to Gwyneth Paltrow's wildly successful Goop, as before she married Prince Harry in 2018, she founded a blog called The Tig. She ran the 'passion project' for almost three years while starring in the US drama series Suits. It became a well-known platform where Meghan shared personal insights alongside content on travel, food, fashion and dining recommendations. A candid snap of Meghan embracing nature appeared on The Tig, alongside her New Year's Resolution for 2016 While running The Tig, Meghan met Cory Vitiello, a Toronto chef and restaurant owner, with a notable clientele. After dining at his restaurant with her Suits co-stars, she wrote an enthusiastic review on her blog, calling him 'my favourite chef'. Cory began dating Meghan after ending his previous relationship. He introduced her to 'everyone' in Toronto, while the couple rented a three-bedroom home in the Annex district. Much like Prince Harry, who only made a brief appearance at the end of With Love, Meghan, Cory never appeared on The Tig. She closed it in 2017, shortly before announcing her engagement to Harry. Nevertheless, despite her bumpy business career so far, it seems with the help of Netflix this attempt at success is going better for Meghan. All eyes are now set on the next few months to see what happens when the two parties sit down to sign another deal.
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Meet America's Richest Self-Made Women. Plus: J.K. Rowling Is A Billionaire Again
This is this week's ForbesWomen newsletter, which every Thursday brings news about the world's top female entrepreneurs, leaders and investors straight to your inbox. Click here to get on the newsletter list! Forbes This week marked the release of our annual list of America's Richest Self-Made Women, Forbes' definitive accounting of the country's most successful female entrepreneurs, executives and entertainers as determined by net worth. This is our 10th anniversary of producing this list, and a lot has changed since it debuted in 2015: There are 38 billionaires this year, with fortunes originating in everything from cars to cosmetics to Chardonnay. That's more than double the 18 we found in 2015. As my colleague (and Forbes assistant managing editor) Kerry Dolan and I discussed in a recorded conversation about the list, tracking the net worths of America's female entrepreneurs is important because money is power. The women on this list are exerting their power by building companies providing essential goods and services; donating their wealth to political causes; investing in under-appreciated assets (like women's sports, which you can read more about below). You can catch all the coverage of America's richest self made women through this link here—and I do hope you spend some time reading and appreciating the myriad ways women are shaping American consumption and culture! Cheers! Maggie Billionaire Michele Kang has an ambitious goal: In the not-too-distant future, she believes, women's soccer teams will be trading for $1 billion or more—and she's willing to spend whatever it takes to make that happen. Between purchasing her three clubs (the NWSL's Washington Spirit, France's Première Ligue OL Lyonnes and the London City Lionesses, which were recently promoted to England's Women's Super League), seeding a handful of women-focused sports startups and donating $30 million to the U.S. Soccer federation, Kang entered the sports world with an ante of at least $200 million. And she's not done. Speaking of rich women in sports, this week Forbes also released its ranking of America's richest female sports team owners, a list of 11 billionaires who control major pro franchises and are collectively worth $85 billion. At the top? The Mavericks' Miriam Adelson, worth a cool $29 billion. Yet for all the momentum around women in sports, the French Open is coming under fire for (once again) failing to schedule a women's match in the (better-viewed) evening sessions. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo has said 'it's complicated' to schedule both women and men's play at night… but stars like Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff are also raising their voices about the issue. The Harry Potter books transformed J.K. Rowling from a single mother on welfare to an author with a ten-figure fortune—but her massive charity initiatives dropped her from the ranks of billionaires. Now, thanks to new Potterverse books, movies, a play, and several theme parks—and in spite of her divisive social-media presence—Rowling is magically back in the three-comma club. Following Taylor Swift's blockbuster announcement Friday that she has bought back the rights to her first six albums, streams of her entire catalog surged as much as 400% and some titles even reentered the Billboard 200. Kristi Noem made headlines last month when a thief snatched her purse inside a Washington, D.C., restaurant and made off with $3,000 in cash, prompting a question: Exactly how much money does the homeland security secretary have? About $5 million, Forbes estimates, after analyzing property records and financial filings. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its proposed budget for the National Institutes of Health, and that budget is facing cuts of up to 40% compared to 2025—a year that has already seen the slashing of thousands of grants used for medical research. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath for a conversation about exactly what these continued cuts could mean for American public health. 1. Recognize your own red flags. We talk about 'red flags' in business partners and romantic partners, but can you identify your own patterns and flaws? The idea is not to become your biggest critic, but instead, start a process of reflection that, while uncomfortable, can improve how you handle conflict and set boundaries—personally and professionally. 2. Know when to take the first offer. Serial entrepreneur (and one of America's richest self-made women) Emma Grede recently sat down with ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath to discuss her career, why she leans into fear, and how she identifies when it's time to move from one project or company to the next. 'I think that sometimes your first offer is the best offer; you think that you need to wait and wait and wait for something better to come and it doesn't always come,' Grede said. 3. Take a microbreak. Microbreaks are short, intentional pauses taken throughout the workday to help reset your mind and body. They can be as brief as a few seconds or last several minutes. Read more on why and how you should incorporate these breaks in your day. A multifaceted pop star, who has arguably been more well-known recently for her makeup and skincare lines, released a new No. 1 song this week—her first new hit in almost a decade. Who is it? Check your answer.
Japan Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan to promote startups by women as part of push to stop rural outflow
The government will promote startups by women nationwide as it seeks to curb an outflow of women from rural areas, a draft package of measures for gender equality said Monday. The government will hold seminars and lectures based at regional gender equality centers set up by local governments. The draft, released at Monday's meeting of the Council for Gender Equality, headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, will be formally adopted at a joint meeting including the government's Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender Equality by the end of June. The draft refers to an urgent need to make rural areas more attractive for women amid an accelerating overconcentration of people in Tokyo. Seeing fewer job prospects for women in the countryside as a problem, the central government will improve consulting systems for business startups in rural areas and help them establish networks with local economic associations and financial institutions. The government will also take measures to help prevent female entrepreneurs from being harassed and facilitate matching companies with people possessing skills the companies want. Japan plans to establish an independent administrative institution for gender equality within fiscal 2026. The new institution will have a database of experts to be sent for seminars at regional centers and will receive aid to be funded with state grants to local governments. On the proposed selective dual surname system for married couples, under debate in parliament, the draft said the central government will keep working to expand the use of maiden names and publicize this. Meanwhile, the government also compiled a draft plan to develop female human resources in technology fields, including intensive support measures to be implemented over three years. Specifically, courses on artificial intelligence will be added to the list of job skill improvement courses eligible for tuition subsidies under the employment insurance system.
Gulf Business
02-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Succession planning for female entrepreneurs in the region
Image credit: Getty Images Succession and wealth planning are complex topics for any business owner — but for female entrepreneurs in the Middle East, the journey can come with added challenges. From family dynamics to access to quality advisors, the road to securing long-term financial stability often requires both professional and personal resilience. Tim Denton TEP is the SEO of the DIFC Private Banking office for Habib Bank AG Zurich and also the head of the bank's Wealth Structuring practice. He has been involved in wealth structuring for over 25 years, with 21 of those spent in Dubai. A qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Denton is a longstanding member of STEP Arabia and currently serves his second term as its Chair. Tim Denton TEP is the SEO of the DIFC Private Banking office for Habib Bank AG Zurich. What are the challenges to planning for entrepreneurs in general? One of the biggest challenges at the outset is persuading an entrepreneur, who will typically be fairly young for such conversations, that they need to consider succession planning. It's not just about the possibility of them meeting an untimely end while running their business, but also the suitability of the current holding structure if the business grows or an exit is planned, either via a private sale or IPO. What are the additional challenges for female entrepreneurs? For female business owners, a significant challenge can be accessing good advisors and high-quality information. Being given the space by parents or male siblings to make independent decisions, without needing to follow 'family guidance', can also be difficult. At HBZ, we've run a successful week-long 'G3' event for several years, bringing together the 30-40-year-old family members of our clients. We've seen excellent female participation. Sessions on business structuring are always lively, and the closed-door discussions with a family dynamics specialist have been especially appreciated. What are the benefits of UAE common law foundations? Recent changes in the UAE through common law foundations in the DIFC and ADGM have been a major step forward in succession planning. The vision of the UAE's rulers in enabling such legislation is to be applauded — transforming a once difficult area into one with robust, accessible options. These foundations are like incorporated entities but with no shareholders. No one owns the foundation, so if someone passes away, assets are unaffected. Entrepreneurs can hold their businesses under a foundation and clearly outline what should happen after their death — ensuring continuity without court processes. The vast majority of wealth structuring discussions I have with clients now involve UAE foundations. What about liquidity planning and financial protection for families? Entrepreneurs must also consider how their family would be left financially if they pass away. Many businesses are closely tied to the founder and may fail without them. High-value life insurance (or Jumbo insurance) offers an affordable solution, providing funding and protecting both family members and business partners. It allows a business to buy out a deceased partner's shares — a win-win for both parties. Any closing thoughts? There is good advice available and some great solutions — but don't wait until your business is 'big enough'. The cost of delay could be much higher.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why Female CEOs Are More Qualified Than Male CEOs. Plus: How To Keep Better Track Of Your Best Ideas
This is this week's ForbesWomen newsletter, which every Thursday brings news about the world's top female entrepreneurs, leaders and investors straight to your inbox. Click here to get on the newsletter list! Graduation season is in full swing, and if you have a loved one walking a stage in a cap and gown (even if that stage is at the local pre-school), congratulations! A lot of work goes into reaching these moments, so it's important to take a little bit of time and celebrate. We have a bevy of recent grad coverage across including the latest list of America's Best Employers For New Grads (I won't give the full ranking away, but I will say No. 11 surprised me). Leadership contributor Margie Warrell wrote a handy guide to 'Adulting 101,' and fintech contributor Nandan Sheth wrote about the college debt that many Gen-Z workers are shouldering, and what employers can and should do about it. I always recommend sending these stories to the 18- and 22-year-olds in your life and also taking some time to read the advice yourself. Even if you're a decade (or four) removed from your most recent graduation, it never hurts to be reminded to brave awkward moments, find the treasure when you trip, and above all, bet on yourself. Cheers! Maggie P.S.: Nominations for the 2025 U.S. 50 Over 50 will close in ONE WEEK, so your time is running out to tell us about someone who should be on our radar! Head to this link here to tell us about a woman you think should be on this year's list. Full nominations criteria are on that page but the most important bit to remember: We're looking for people who were born in 1974 or earlier. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 21: Mel Robbins reads her smash hit book "The Let Them Theory," a #1 ... More New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestseller in the studios of her production company, 143 Studios on April 21, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo byfor Mel Robbins) At 56, Mel Robbins describes herself as being in a 'peak moment.' She first gained wide recognition with her 2017 book The 5 Second Rule, based on a behavioral technique she developed during what she has called her 'rock bottom' in her 40s, a period marked by both personal and financial crisis. That book went on to sell millions of copies and established her as a voice of action. With her newest book, 'The Let Them Theory,' Robbins examines the weight we carry out of habit and asks what it means to release what was never ours to manage. 'This isn't about letting go,' Robbins told Moira Forbes in a recent interview. 'I've never been able to let anything go. But when you say, 'let them,' you're not giving in. You're opting out of the noise. You're stepping back into your own life.' Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser (Photo by) Are female CEOs in their position due to 'preferential treatment' and not merit, as those who attack DEI like to say? A new analysis from Women's Power Gab shows the very opposite is true: Women who become CEO are not only qualified but may also be more experienced than their male peers. In fact, women were 32% more likely to have served as company president before becoming CEO, while men were more likely to advance from division head or COO. This month, Tory Burch has unveiled an ambitious new pledge: To generate more than $1 billion in economic impact through female entrepreneurs by 2030. The commitment that signals a new chapter for a Burch's foundation, which has already helped hundreds of women-led businesses across the country. 'Women are great investments,' Burch told Forbes. 'Diversity is what I find beautiful and also good for business.' New research from the American Association for Cancer Research shows good and bad news in the fight against breast cancer: Mortality in U.S. women aged 20 to 49 dropped significantly between 2010 and 2020. Yet at the same time, incidence rates are on the rise, which the AACR authors say is due to no single reason. A bill seeking to close a loophole in Texas' sexual assault laws has been struggling to become law—in spite of broad bipartisan support. That bill has finally been scheduled for a hearing on Thursday. Earlier this week, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton and advocate and survivor Summer Willis joined ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath to explain why this bill matters for women not just in Texas, but across the country. In other policy news: President Trump signed the Take It Down Act to force platforms to take down deepfake nudes, revenge porn and other types of non-consensual intimate imagery. Building on that momentum, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reintroduced the DEFIANCE Act to allow victims to sue those who created or shared these explicit images. 1. Go with your gut, even when it's ahead of technological advancements. Alice Chang got the idea for AI-powered 'try on' technology for makeup (think of virtual shade matches for foundation that you use before you add something to your cart) almost a full decade before we all started talking about AI all the time. As she told ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath, she persisted in building a company based around this tool—and today, that company, Perfect Corp, is used by hundreds of beauty retailers around the world. 2. Keep track of your best ideas. In most companies, great ideas have a vanishing half-life: A project team wraps a phase and notices a pattern, or a sales call reveals language that perfectly captures a client's problem, but then… the idea fades. It doesn't get logged or tested. This is why you need an idea dashboard—and how to implement one. 3. Understand why your homeowner's insurance is so expensive, and what you can do about it. Throughout the country, homeowners are assessing how they can afford the rising cost of insurance. This exclusive Forbes deep dive explains why prices are rising and what, if anything, we can all do about it.
