But let me tell you about something that happened last year because I don’t think we fully understood what was going on when Harry worked for that BetterUp company. I’ll give you some insight—it’s pretty revealing.
So, remember when Harry and Meghan first came to the U.S.? Their main goal was to be financially independent from the royal family. It was like the royal equivalent of “go get a job.” Meghan made all these arrangements to get deals, and tech companies gave them contracts—Netflix, Spotify—but Harry was still looking for a job. He ended up getting one with BetterUp as the Chief Impact Officer, whatever that means. But let's be real—he had no qualifications for the role. The only reason they gave him the job was because of his title, which brought clout to the company.
The CEO at the time said that Harry had a "meaningful and meaty" role, especially in matching clients with career and mental health coaches. Harry took part in public events for BetterUp, including that 2021 interview where he made headlines for saying that if you're feeling stressed, just quit your job. He didn’t seem to realize—because he’s been a prince all his life—that most people don’t have the luxury of quitting their job just because they’re unhappy. People can't just leave their jobs and expect to survive, especially when they aren’t in the same financial position as him.
That comment got a lot of attention because it was out of touch. The Daily Beast reported that staffers from BetterUp said Harry’s role at the company was unclear. One former employee claimed Harry didn’t do anything day-to-day. He just had the royal title, and that was enough to boost the company’s image. But while Harry’s presence may have helped land some deals and expanded BetterUp's reach in Europe, the company was going through tough times. They had to lay off 16% of their workforce after failing to meet revenue projections, and there was a revolt from the coaches when their pay was reduced.
The company didn't respond to requests for comment, but things weren’t going well. It looks like Harry’s presence didn’t bring the benefits they hoped for. The company struggled financially, and the staff was unhappy, especially with the pay cuts and layoffs.
Some staff members even said that Harry’s star power didn’t outweigh the trouble his media presence caused. Every article mentioning Harry’s role at BetterUp would often end up mocking him and Meghan. Their controversial status seemed to overshadow whatever positive impact they were supposed to bring. Another employee summed it up, saying the "juice wasn’t worth the squeeze." Essentially, Harry was seen as a dud.
At the time, BetterUp was valued at $4.7 billion, but the company faced serious challenges, and they still list Harry as their Chief Impact Officer on their website. This is just another sign of how Meghan and Harry’s professional challenges have been influenced by broader issues in the tech industry. Their move to the U.S. coincided with the pandemic, when tech companies saw a boom. But that energy was short-lived, and in recent years, the tech sector has faced major layoffs and financial readjustments.
For example, Netflix cancelled one of the Archewell production series in May 2022 after a disappointing earnings report. In 2023, Spotify cancelled Meghan’s podcast, Archetypes, just 10 days after announcing a major shift in its podcast strategy. Hollywood insiders have said that the royal element and drama surrounding Harry and Meghan inflated the deals they got. But with the tech industry now going through a major correction, it seems that Harry and Meghan may have another chance to prove their worth.
The bottom line is that they got more than they should have at the time, but now we see a couple that is trying to make money off their controversial status, even if it means other people suffer. They’ve taken deals that didn’t pan out, and now we see them trying to rebuild their profiles by seeking out smaller, independent projects.
Meghan is trying to build her brand in Hollywood, recently helping Afghan women and working on projects for her friend Katie Lee. Meanwhile, Harry seems to be distancing himself. He’s been traveling to Canada and Europe, trying to rebuild his image. It's clear—Harry is trying to move on, and Meghan is holding on, trying to make sure she stays relevant, even if it means continuing to use her relationship with Harry as part of her career.
As soon as Meghan doesn’t need Harry to maintain her Hollywood ambitions, he’ll be out. He wants out now, and it's only a matter of time before their marriage is revealed for what it is: a PR move that has ultimately led to failure. They’ve caused harm to others in their pursuit of success, and the world will eventually see that.
