Kate Middleton’s secret $9 million fortune

By the time Kate married Wills, she had already amassed a giant personal fortune without ever working full-time.

Let’s count them: Two.

The woman formerly known as Kate Middleton, now known as Duchess of Cambridge or Prince George’s Mother or the woman single-handedly keeping the Alice band business afloat, had exactly two jobs before she married Prince William.

First, she worked part-time as an assistant accessories buyer at UK clothing chain Jigsaw. (She got the gig after asking the brand’s founder for a job because the only other thing she could have put down on her CV were a 2:1 in Art History and “Royal Girlfriend”.)

Later, she worked for her parents’ mail order party business, Party Pieces, helping to take photos of products and editing catalogues.

Keep in mind — they were both part-time gigs.

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Yet when she walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in 2011, frocked up in Alexander McQueen, and into the pages of history, the girl was worth a serious motza.

Somehow, long before she became royal, Kate amassed an estimated personal fortune worth about $9 million, according to Time. That is the lower end of the scale. Some assessments suggest the figure is more like $13 million.

It’s not bad for a girl who has never had a full-time job. (Well, aside from spending her days manhandling Prince George away from the Rubens when he fancies finger painting or preventing Princess Charlotte from sneakily taking one of the Queen Mother’s old diamond brooches to preschool for show and tell.)

William and Kate became lovers at university. Picture: Middleton Family/Clarence House via GettyImages

Kate was minted long before she and Wills walked up the aisle. Picture: Indigo/Getty Images

However, to be fair, Kate didn’t really earn her millions in the same way that we, the unwashed masses, earn our salaries. That is, by showing up, logging on and putting in eight hours of trying to look busy for the boss.

Kate’s dough actually comes courtesy of her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, who have built up their family business such that it is now worth about $54 million.

Interestingly, the clan was pretty cashed up long before Carole had the idea to sell paper plates and cake toppers to frazzled mums.

Kate’s fortune comes courtesy of her parents Michael and Carole Middleton. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Michael’s grandfather set up a seven-figure trust for his descendants, which is said to have been used to help pay the astronomical school fees for Kate, Pippa and James. We’re talking up to $633,000 for high school per child here.

The Middletons also own stakes in racehorses that have reportedly earned them hundreds of thousands of dollars and own a slew of properties in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

The luxurious three-bedroom London flat the couple bought for their children went on the market late last year for $3.5 million.

Kate, laughing all the way to the bank. Picture: Eddie Mulholland/AFP

I’m sure all that dosh came in very handy helping pay for the upkeep of Kate, Pippa and James who have all had, shall we say, chequered work histories.

Luckily for Kate, she hasn’t had to spend a penny of her fortune now that she is married to Wills.

Prince Charles’ Duchess of Cornwall pays for the upkeep, including staff, clothing and travel expenses, for both the Cambridges and now the Sussexes, spending upwards of $5 million annually on each family.

Both Wills and Harry also inherited about $19 million from Princess Diana’s will when they turned 30.

Interestingly, Kate’s bank account beats that of Meghan Markle’s, who is said to be worth about $7 million, though she earned her moolah by actually working.

— Daniela Elser is a freelance royal writer for news.com.au. Continue the conversation @DanielaElser