Exact amount Prince Harry got paid for writing memoir Spare revealed | Royal | News
Prince Harry published his memoir Spare three years ago and sent shockwaves around the world with its explosive claims. While the book was probably not well-liked by the Royal Family, who subjected them to much criticism, it was undoubtedly enjoyed by Harry and his publisher.
The Duke of Sussex appears to be pulling in quite a paycheck from the memoirs, and his earnings are believed to be around £22 million ($27.27 million). This would be a huge success for Harry and his publisher, Penguin Random House, especially as the hardback became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever in the UK.
Although Harry never confirmed how much money the book made him, Daily Mail reported The Duke is believed to have received a £16 million ($20 million) advance as part of a £32 million ($40 million) four-book deal in June 2021.
The rest of Harry’s earnings were estimated by author Richard Osman, who used his own knowledge of the industry to estimate how much he believed the Duke earned from his memoirs.
Speaking on Spare’s podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, which appeared before the paperback version was released, Osman said: “It’s impossible to overstate how much money has been made from the book Harry wrote.
“I mean, it became one of the most successful books. The fastest-selling nonfiction book of all time.
“I did some back-of-the-envelope calculations because I love it. I know how much you get paid per book. You got a $20 million advance. The thing about an advance is, you get $20 million upfront, you don’t make a dime until your publisher gets their $20 million back.”
He continued: “And when they make their $20 million back, and how it works, there’s all kinds of sliding scales of what they get, what you get, once you make the $20 million, you get your royalties.
“I think… and his book hasn’t come out in paperback yet. So this book is all hardcover. I think he made $26, $27 million. So he made a $20 million advance on the hardcover edition of his first book alone.”
“Forget about having the other things, the audiobooks and the rights you have. He’s already earned that. When the paperback comes out, it’s just money flowing into Sussex.”
A paperback version of Spare with the same content as the hardcover book was published in October 2024.
It is unknown whether Harry will release another memoir; the former is believed to have affected royal relations, including with her brother Prince William. Despite this, Harry is believed to have no regrets about publishing his memoirs.
