What Was Prince Philip's Net Worth When He Died?
The British royal family announced the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh — and husband of Queen Elizabeth II — at the age of 99 in the early morning hours of April 9, 2021, according to reporting from the BBC. "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle," per a post from the royal family's official Instagram account. "The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss. Further announcements will be made in due course."
Prince Philip left behind his wife of more than 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II, as well as his children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. He also left a considerable amount of wealth that he accumulated over the years. Prince Philip, at the time of his death, had an estimated net worth of $30 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
How did Prince Philip earn his money?
Although British royalty rules and regulations prohibited him from taking on the title of king of England, Prince Philip was born into royalty. His father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and his mother was Princess Alice of Battenburg. However, his family was banished from Greece (twice!) following a coup. That ended his lineage to the throne, but there was already money in the family before marrying then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947.
For decades, as the Duke of Edinburgh and due to his marriage to Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip was employed by the British Parliament and earned a yearly salary out of the queen's expense account. By the time he stepped down from his duties in 2017, he was earning approximately $500,000 a year, per the Evening Standard. He liked to joke that he was the "world's most expensive plaque-unveiler," according to Money.
Some of Prince Philip's wealth was invested in high-end collections. Philip was an art lover and, per Royal Central, collected as many as 140 pieces of significant art. He was also a collector of very expensive cars including one that carries a value of approximately $13 million, according to GQ.
It's not immediately clear what happens to Prince Philip's wealth after his death. It could go to his decades-old charity, the Prince Philip Trust Fund. But the royal family likely is not in need of the inheritance. For her part, per Newsweek, Queen Elizabeth is worth nearly $500 million.