Rising and Falling: The Sussexes’ Business Roller‑Coaster

After stepping back from royal life, Meghan and Harry tried to build their own brand empire. The first attempt was a children’s book that never hit the charts, and it seemed the couple would face many more hiccups. A $20‑million partnership with a music streaming giant fell apart because their podcast didn’t meet expectations, and the couple’s new show on a major streaming service lost viewers in its second season. They also struggled to keep their lifestyle brand alive after a series of trademark disputes and criticism over product quality. The charity they founded closed when key staff left, leaving a big gap in their philanthropic plans.

Their attempts to create new media projects also stalled. A planned film adaptation of a popular novel remained in development for years without a director or cast, and another romantic story hit “development hell. ” A documentary that premiered at a film festival failed to find a distributor, even after the couple offered it to the same streaming platform that had ended its partnership with their brand. Each setback highlighted a pattern of ambitious ideas that struggled to translate into sustainable business success. Despite these challenges, the couple has continued to look for fresh opportunities. A new podcast deal with a different media company shows they are still active in the audio space, and their brand is poised to grow independently after parting ways with the streaming giant. They claim rapid growth and plan new releases, suggesting they are learning from past missteps while still aiming to bring joy to consumers worldwide. The story remains a mix of bold ventures and hard lessons, reflecting the complex journey of former royals navigating the business world.

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