How much did Harry get paid for his memoir? Massive deal for allegedly 'Royal-bashing' book
Prince Harry's tell-all memoir, dubbed as 'the most explosive book of the decade,' has been purchased by Penguin Random House, it has been revealed. Coming amidst the drama of the royal family's breakup and Harry and Meghan's move to the US, there's a lot we don't know, but soon might straight from the horse's mouth. Just how much is that worth? According to insiders, definitely a few millions, but nowhere near what the publishing company paid for Barack and Michelle Obama's autobiographies.
The fallout of Harry and Meghan from the royal family has no doubt been one of the biggest news stories over the last year. We were teased to a glimpse of what exactly happened when the duo sat down with Oprah Winfrey, with that interview sending shockwaves all across the world. The interview also scored an Emmy nomination, which social media was quick to slam as "unethical". Even after the interview, Harry has opened up more about the challenges of royal life, in the Apple TV Plus show 'The Me You Can't See'.
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Despite being widely panned by many people, it appears Harry isn't done with shaming his family. He's now writing a memoir, expected to go into further detail about the rift. Page Six revealed that the manuscript is due in October and that Harry was working with Pulitzer prize-winning ghostwriter JR Moehringer. No doubt, in the current circumstances, such a book must be worth a few million. If you are wondering how much, here's the shocking number.
How much is Harry's memoir worth?
The "intimate and heartfelt memoir" was reportedly purchased for an advance of $20 million. That's just the advance. The book is expected to make millions in sales, and Harry has publicly announced that the proceeds will be donated to charity. It's possible though, he might keep the advance for himself, according to Page Six. For his efforts, Moehringer is reportedly getting $1 million.
If that number surprises you, it's just a fraction of what the Obamas netted for their books from the same publisher. Reportedly, Penguin Random House paid Barack and Michelle $65 million for their books 'A Promised Land' and 'Becoming'. The publisher's efforts paid off eventually, with 'Becoming' being 2018's fastest-selling book. The book sold 725,000 copies on release day, a feat upped by Barack's book in 2020. 'A Promised Land' sold 800,000 copies on its first day, a feat CEO Markus Dohle seemed extremely proud of.
Will Harry's book top those numbers? It's hard to tell. Expected to release in late 2022, there's a lot of time between now and then, and a lot can change. Nonetheless, it appears Harry is eager to get his story out there. "I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a firsthand account of my life that’s accurate and wholly truthful," he said in a statement.
No matter how many copies it sells, the $20 million deal is significant for the couple, who have followed the Obamas in inking deals with Netflix and Spotify. Whether they will be as successful, remains to be seen.