Prince Harry Faces $67 Million Legal Bill After Privacy Lawsuit Loss Against Daily Mail Publisher
Prince Harry lost a privacy lawsuit last Tuesday against the publisher of the Daily Mail, with the court ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove the published information was obtained illegally. Judge Matthew Nicklin stated that suspicion alone was insufficient to establish unlawful acquisition of the information. Shortly after the verdict, it was revealed that Harry and six other plaintiffs, including Sir Elton John, could face legal costs totaling up to 50 million pounds (approximately 67 million dollars). Civil litigation attorney Nicole Brzenski described the case as one of the most expensive privacy lawsuits against the media in recent years, noting that the division of payment responsibilities among the plaintiffs will be decided in a future hearing.
Sources familiar with the case indicated that Harry and Meghan Markle may struggle to cover these expenses. A legal insider suggested that the lawsuit’s financier might assist Harry, with speculation that Elton John, a close friend of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, could provide financial support. Elton John’s net worth is estimated at around 640 million dollars, though his representatives have not commented. A close associate of Harry said, "Harry simply doesn’t have the money for this," adding that Meghan is likely upset about the costs and did not want him to continue the legal battle. The Sussexes’ spokesperson declined to comment on these claims.
This financial strain comes amid questions about the couple’s earning capacity. Reports indicate the Sussexes spend about 3 million dollars annually on security and are paying two mortgages on their Montecito, California home, purchased for 14.5 million dollars. They lost their exclusive Netflix production deal but retain a "first-look" agreement through their production company, Archewell. Two feature films they are producing have been in development for over a year. In a 2021 CBS interview, Harry revealed that after the royal family ceased financial support in early 2020, he relied on an inheritance from his mother to sustain himself and Meghan after stepping back from royal duties.
