Harry and Meghan make surprise phone calls to young leaders in the US

[PrincessTigger]

I actually really liked this video, it’s them doing what they have always done best. I want to see more things like this, hope it marks a change in tactics.

It also has a very “royal” feel: e.g. there have been recent reports about a split but they’re not arguing in the gutter they’re rising above it and proving them wrong, they’re using their spotlight to shine onto other people, etc.

Only criticism: why are they filming people on the phone?! Makes me think of The Apprentice 😂 use Zoom!!

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/harry-meghan-young-leaders-surprise-call-b2386408.html

Presumably both the Ms Havisham and that other book they've acquired rights to are on hold indefinitely now because of the strikes.

Netflix has an interest in keeping its viewing figures by making best use of repeats (during the gap in new content because of the strike). I think that's a factor in why now to promote it. I think we'll probably see more promotion of other older series too (I've noticed more in what it suggests for me)

Archewell is split into 2 entities. The charity side does not make money. That is where it wad reported they "only work 1 hour a week" which is the standard charity filing in the US by the way.

The other side of Archewell makes money. That is where the podcast and alNetflix money goes. Thay is where they make a salary, whatever it may be.

I have no idea where the Spare profits went to. I suspect Harry was paid separately from Archewell for Spare. But to be honest, I have never cared enough to look.

Reportedly, Harry made 20 million from Spare and had 10 million from his mom. They don't need to steal money from a charity.

Anyone famous who helps with charity uses their image to raise awareness and funds for the charity. Royal and not royal, US or the UK. Their image draws attention.

I think you'll find large charities that are traditionally not for profit actually do pay their executives quite large salaries. Really amazed me when a charity I'm involved in revealed this. Harry and Meghan may or may not take salaries from archwell. It depends on what their evolving roles are.

Inheritances don't go far when you want to live a billionaire lifestyle. I think pretty soon they will be rethinking their finances for the long term. Their projects don't go well and they may need a downsize. If not on their property then on their ambitions.

There’s a huge difference what we in the UK understand to be a charity, and what constitutes a charity the US. Not to say the American model is wrong, but there is no comparison between the two.

But they live in the US. So maybe what needs to happen is UK based people stop trying to force them into UK standards when everything they do is based on a US model and US standards where things qre done differently?

As for the salary, the Achewell charity filing showed total of salaries paid out to all employees. IIRC, the salaries shown were quite low comparatively. I'll have to look when I get home later.

I looked..total salaries for Archewell charity division was $165,000 for ALL employees.

Hardly making Montecito house payments with that are they?

And for those who want to see what some US charities pay their top people you are welcome to here:

https://www.charitywatch.org/nonprofit-compensation-packages-of-1-million-or-more

So large salaries for charity bosses arent unusual in the US. Archewell just isn't one, yet.

Yes, that would help, but people don’t know what they don’t know. Also when Harry talks about being all about charity I don’t think he’s referring to the American model, because that’s not the model he’s been associated with until recently.

I have no idea what Harry thinks, I don't know him. I am fairly certain he knows his business is in the US and they have a US based lawyer who can tell him how it works.

It is funny saying people don't know what they don't know. I would never presume to make assumptions about anything in the UK, because I don't live there. That has always been where my issue lies with this board and Harry. The UK standards don't apply and if a person has no idea how charities work in the US, they are hardly in a position to judge are they?

Harry and Meghan are doing nothing wrong or illegal with their charity or business. One can not like them, but one can not make stuff up easily proven by official filings through the IRS.

One thing every American knows is, you dont mess with the IRS. They will always get their man.

Also, Harry donated at least 1.5 million of his own salary from Spare to Sentable. So not only has he not made money off charity as a PP stated, he is giving his own money to charity.

I think I am going to make better use of my time and donate some of my hard earned money to charity. I already spent all day, salary free, helping at my favorite one that I have been volunteering with for 14 years now.

With respect, @onlylarkin you’re missing my point.

In the UK - specifically England and Wales, Scotland and NI has its own arrangements - charity is strictly governed and regulated. That level of scrutiny cannot be avoided. A fundamental issue is that trustees cannot benefit from the charities they administer unless they have specific authority to do so, and even then there are strict conditions they have to meet. It’s a big deal.

People in the UK who know this might expect that the concept of charity would be universal and similar criteria would apply in the US, but they don’t. That’s what I mean by people don’t know what they don’t know.

I’m sure Harry and Meghan are genuine in their desire to do charitable work, but it comes with a large helping of personal benefit. Which may well be allowable under US conditions but it absolutely couldn’t happen in the UK.

Harry still believes he is in the royal family mode of working. Personally I think Meghan will allow him to continue to front charity operations and hopes to spin the money herself making deals (Netflix productions) with him just there on paper. That way they will have a positive impression (good media optics) with Harry's work, and also enough money to live the A list lifestyle they want (well, Meghan wants, and what she wants she gets). Harry still gets to do what he was trained all his life to do but on his terms. Win win for both of them if it works out. They have a good business relationship now regardless of any personal relationship. Only time will tell if the arrangement works, but Harry does have a huge inheritance waiting for him if it fails.

All good, provided they leave the royal family alone and don't make the same mistake twice, which is hopefully the case as they are actually listening to top advisors at last.

The Netflix money won't last forever, even if they do get the full amount as these deals will be tied up to reflect output. Ditto Spotify which didn't pay the full amount. The inheritances paid for the house (presumably) and they say the second one is put aside for the children). So what I'm saying is they need to make money if they want to live in a mansion. Media reports say they are concerned about money. Their outgoings are huge and there has been little activity that produces real money for a couple of years. So it's reasonable to speculate on how they will earn their living. Harry is CHIO for BetterUp He receives a huge salary for fronting the organisation but apparently does zero. They have linked up their operation to the Invictus Games and hope to make money and advertise from them. So already using charity to make money for his company. BetterUp incidentally have some very toxic workplace reviews and allegedly dodgy practices.

I’m sure Harry and Meghan are genuine in their desire to do charitable work, but it comes with a large helping of personal benefit.

people keep saying this but Ive yet to see anyone actually specify what that is. So far their charitable organisation runs on their own money, and I do not see a big salary going to them for it. What other charity is paying them a huge salary? Bigger than the £130 million payout than the royals get? I think not.

I don’t think anyone is accusing Harry and Meghan of actually taking (stealing?) money from charities. That would be a pretty big accusation.

Your correct in that. No one including me has said this. People make money from charities, whether in the UK or US. You are allowed to take a salary even in a not for profit organisation.

I haven’t ever wondered about Harry, Meghan & money.

But I was reading a post a few posts up from this one, and was surprised to read that media reports say they are worrying about money. I’ve not seen them. I have seen unsubstantiated gossip, but nothing from a legitimate source:

“Their outgoings are huge and there has been little activity that produces real money for a couple of years”

?? Spare was only published this year.

Exceedingly boring conversation. It’s inconceivable to me that their plan is to get rich running a charity. I don’t think that’s the kind of reputation they seek, and if that was the plan, the US isn’t the place to do it.

It’s not that they might seek to make money from charity, but that lines get blurred. Harry has form for this, expecting to be able to take money from the Royal Foundation (charity) and put it into Travalyst (not a charity). I don’t think that’s his fault, he was badly advised by his legal team who should have known better.

They have accountants and lawyers.

Who in the case of Travalyst evidently weren’t doing their job properly.

Anyway, I’ll leave this now. My interest was triggered by Harry’s “all about charity” claim which I found somewhat ironic.

“Their outgoings are huge and there has been little activity that produces real money for a couple of years”

?? Spare was only published this year.

The way publishing works though is that an author gets paid an advance to cover their costs in writing the book (so for Harry, this was said to be large, and was paid at least 18 months ago) and then once the book is published you get paid your royalties, but they are normally paid 18 months in arrears, as the company has to get to the end of their financial year to work them out. So Harry is likely going to be waiting until next year to get paid his royalties for Spare (and even then he will have to deduct the amount of his advance from them).

I’m not familiar with that but it sounds like it was early on. They’ve had enough scrutiny on Archewell & Archewell now that I don’t think the same mistakes will be repeated.

I think naming for-profit and foundation the same was a mistake, too. I don’t think businesses usually launch a foundation before they’ve become highly profitable. In their case tying the two together was an odd choice.

I think Harry’s comment sounds obnoxious but I only read it. I guess any time we refer to ourselves and our own good deeds it’s going to come across poorly.

Thanks Serenster

I’m not thinking Harry and Meghan would be in any financial difficulty.

I actually think they do need to be concerned and searching for more sources of revenue. Meghan’s Suits earnings added to Harry’s inheritance plus earnings from Spare are probably around $50-$60M?

The annual expense of running the house and grounds plus security is significant. They are probably easily spending $4M annually right now on basic things. You can’t be guaranteed to earn that with investments of $60M. Especially right now; the past few years have been very tough.

(I have a friend who spends $30K annually just on the grounds of his house. That’s mainly for an arborist and maintenance of a fountain. Not even an acre of land and he does much of his own landscaping otherwise. Imagine what Montecito, pool, tennis courts, etc might cost.)

I’m not thinking Harry and Meghan would be in any financial difficulty.

Yes - we obviously don’t know enough to speculate. It’s clear they have ongoing income sources. They will have outgoings and obligations too (like everybody does!). It’s balancing the two that generally matters. When you have a large but lumpy income it’s managing the timing that can sometimes be complex.