Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Queen Elizabeth, Royal Tea
Marissa Dow
Who doesn’t love a good hard launch? Beyoncé pioneered hard launching an album and then followed it up with a hair care line. What, like it’s hard? Now, thanks to the Royal Family, there’s official proof that you can hard launch anything that will make other people jealous for dramatic effect, including Prince William’s annual salary. And just in case you were in doubt for some reason, The Duke of Cornwall is making a pretty penny. Three billion pennies to be exact, meaning 30 million dollars. Now I know being a royal isn’t easy, just ask Prince Harry, who formally removed himself from the Buckingham equation in 2020. But the fact that Wills, Kate, and their adorable British brat pack (I mean brat in the Charli XCX way because I just sense that little Georgie has that blasting through the palace) are making more in a year than three times Jake Shane’s whole net worth is wild, IMO. So exactly how much money is Prince William’s royal salary? More importantly, what could a lower middle class girlie pop with a full heart and an empty wallet like myself afford with that money? Let’s unpack every delusion-worthy dollar sign.
According to the Duchy of Cornwall’s 2024 budget report, Prince William, who became the Duke of Cornwall in 2022 after his father became king, had an allowance of 23.6 million pounds which translates to about 30.4 million US dollars in 2023. Not bad for a man with no hairline! Of course, this isn’t all straight cash directly deposited into his bank account like the rest of us plebs pine for twice a month. This number covers all of the family’s expenses including living expenses, charity, and travel. Prince William graciously pays income tax on the rest. The Duke is keeping the exact breakdown of where the money is going and how much tax he is paying under wraps. This choice is unlike his father, who previously shared a cost breakdown report made available to the public, according to The Telegraph.
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In 2022 Miss Emma caused a little stir on the Met Gala carpet for what she wore around her neck instead of the jokes coming out of her mouth. The Cartier choker made of De Beers diamonds was originally owned by the Maharaja of Patiala and is worth 30 million exactly in today’s dollars. I’d rock the fuck out of this on my daily Trader Joe’s trip.
You read that right. With Prince William’s yearly income, I could purchase 60 of the most expensive, tricked out G-Wagons I see driving all over Los Angeles so I can destroy the O-Zone with the rest of the cool kids. Making triples of the Barracuda, triples of the Road Runner, and triples of the Nova look like chump change.
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Beyoncé and Jay-Z have a charming little seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom East Hampton getaway called The Pond House, if you weren’t aware. It cost Blue’s parents a reported 25.9 million dollars, so I could easily buy it off them and still have a for furniture. Waking up like this in a place Yoncé once slept? Priceless.
As someone who grew up on ramen noodles and still frequents the timeless snack like the blue-collar babe I am, I had to crunch the number on how much Maruchan 30 mil could afford me. Assuming each packet is on average 50 cents, I could amass 60 MILLION (!!!!) ramen meals. That could basically feed the entire population of the country of Monaco twice over, not that they need the help. Now I’m hungry.
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The average American needs a little over a million dollars saved to comfortably retire for 25 to 30 years depending on which state you live in. With William’s 30.4 buckaroos I could retire yesterday and help out half of my neighborhood in the process. Not to mention the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll literally never be broke again no matter how many times you overdo it at happy hour with your girls. Cue deep life’s not fair sigh.