Why Prince Harry And Meghan Allegedly 'Struggle' To Manage $14M Montecito Mansion

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Montecito abode is reportedly costing the duo a lot of money and a lot of work to manage.

According to reports, the mansion requires multiple staff members to manage it, all of whom are paid salaries from the pocket of the former senior royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also pay several maintenance-related bills for the house, which, along with staff salaries, run into thousands of dollars annually.

In 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior royals and moved to the United States, leaving behind their previous home at Frogmore Cottage.

That same year, the couple purchased and moved into a palatial home in Montecito, California, which sources reported cost them around $14 million.

Beyond its grand scale of sitting on a massive 5.4 acres of land, the mansion boasts a luxurious spread: nine bedrooms, a five-car garage, 16 bathrooms, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, a multi-car garage, a spa, and a sprawling outdoor area complete with a children's cottage.

Harry and Meghan also have other facilities to unwind with, including a library, gym, and game room.

As one might expect, maintaining such a sprawling estate requires significant financial effort. A recent estimate from a real estate expert says it runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the Sussexes "struggle" to maintain it.

"Managing a $14 million mansion like Harry and Meghan's in Montecito takes a lot of work," realtor Eric Bramlett told Fabulous in an interview (per the Mirror), adding that running the home comes with "high-operating costs."

As part of the couple's expenses for running the home, they reportedly employ 10–15 staff members, including housekeepers and private chefs. Additionally, they likely have groundsmen to manage the mansion's sprawling landscape and several individuals for security.

Other costs that add to their bills are utilities, repairs, and various maintenance tasks needed to keep the home running and in good shape.

According to Bramlett, all these costs "pile up" quickly, making it feel like the couple is "running a small boutique hotel with residential service."

With the rising cost of goods and services due to inflation, it is expected that their expenses might balloon in the future.

When the couple purchased the house, questions were raised about whether they sought help from The Palace to make the payment.

According to a source, the couple chose to "pay out of their own pockets," with Harry specifically opting not to seek financial help from his father, then-Prince Charles.

"Harry could've asked [Prince] Charles to contribute toward the cost of the house, but he chose not to," the insider told Us Weekly.

For the Invictus Games founder, requesting help would have been counterproductive to the independence he and Meghan sought when they left their roles as senior royals.

The insider continued, "Getting his dad financially involved would result in the royals having control over him. It would mean going backwards."

To finance their home, Harry and Meghan were said to have taken out a mortgage of nearly $10 million, which they viewed as an "absolute bargain" and an "opportunity not to be missed."

According to the BBC, following the death of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, the Duke was willed her fortune, which reportedly helped finance part of the cost of their home.

The couple has reportedly continued to fund their lifestyle through their joint ventures.

Currently, Harry and Meghan have a deal with Netflix through their Archewell Productions company to produce shows for the streaming giant.

The deal is reportedly worth $100 million and has led to the creation of multiple docuseries, including the controversial "Harry & Meghan" and the sports-centered "Heart of Invictus."

The couple previously had a podcast deal with Spotify worth around $25 million. However, this was terminated in June 2023, after which they signed a new deal with Lemonada Media earlier this year.

Harry's memoir, "Spare," released in January 2023, also brought in income, and more is expected from Meghan's recently launched lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard.

The report about the costly Montecito mansion comes after it was revealed that Harry is looking for a "permanent" UK home.

Royal expert Tom Quinn made this claim, telling the Mirror that the Duke of Sussex wants to remain in touch with his old life and misses his friends back home.

"As time goes by, Harry misses some aspects of his old life in the UK. Inevitably, the honeymoon period where everything in the States is new and exciting is coming to an end and Harry is looking back at the past through rose-tinted spectacles," Quinn shared.

He added, "He misses his old Etonian and army friends, many of whom have not visited as they don't get on with Meghan. Harry is determined to find his own permanent home in the UK, which is partly why he's continuing his legal action to get the British taxpayer to pay for his security."