Sarah Ferguson with the nickname ”Fergie” is a British Royal figure and is also known as the Duchess of York. She is renowned as a writer, producer, and TV personality. She was married to Queen Elizabeth’s son Prince Andrew. Their marriage lasted for 10 years from 1986 to 1996. The prince and Duchess had two daughters named Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugene. Although she is not part of the Royal family anymore, she managed to secure a massive net worth of $1 million. She gained this net worth through her endorsements and TV appearances. Sarah believed in charity and was part of many non-profit organizations.
This post will cover all the details of her life, career, and net worth, so let’s begin!
Early Life and Career
Sarah Margaret Ferguson aka Fergie was born in London on 15 October 1969. In 1974, her parents got divorced. Her mother Susan Wright married polo player Hector Barrantes in 1975 and went to Argentina. However, Sarah stayed with her father in Dummer, Hampshire. In 1976, her father married Susan Deptford. Sarah was enrolled in Hurst Lodge School. Academically speaking, she was not a great student, but always performed well in swimming and tennis.
At the age of 18, after completing a course at Queen’s Secretarial College, she went to work for an art gallery. Later, she also worked at two public relations firms and a publishing company in London. Ferguson is a descendant of King Charles II of England. Her former husband Prince Andrew is distantly related to Sarah as both of them are descended from King James VI and I and Duke of Devonshire.
Personal Life and Life as a Duchess
At the beginning of her youth, she dated a motor racing manager named Paddy McNally who was 22 years senior to her. Sarah and Prince Andrew were childhood friends and they used to attend polo matches together. They got together in 1985 at the Royal Ascot race. The couple announced their engagement on 19th March 1986. Her engagement ring was designed by the prince himself. It consisted of a Burmese ruby surrounded by ten diamonds. Before her engagement, she went on an official tour of Andrew’s ship, the HMS Brazen along with Princess Diana. Sarah had a friendly approach which made her quite popular among the public. She was considered to be a good addition to the Royal family.
After getting permission from the Queen, she and the prince married at Westminster Abbey on 23rd July 1986. She got the title of “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York” after her marriage to the prince. She accompanied her husband in royal engagements and took control of her Royal duties. They went on a 25-day tour to Canada in 1987. After passing a 40-hour training, Ferguson earned her private pilot’s license in February of 1987. The couple had two daughters. Princess Beatrice was born on 8th August 1988 and Princess Eugene was born in March 1990.
The couple had a troubled marriage. Just after a few years of marriage, there were rumors of affairs by both Sarah and Andrew. They announced their separation in 1992 and were officially divorced in 1996. Sarah received $900,000 and a small amount of Andrew’s military pension as her divorce settlement. Out of this $900,000, she spent $600,000 to buy a new house.
Net Worth: How did Sarah Make Money?
Sarah has gained a net worth of approximately $1 million. A major part of her net worth is what she received as her divorce settlement, her various endorsements, and her career as a writer and TV personality. After her divorce, Sarah made her living by working with Weight Watchers in 1997. In 2009, her company Hartmoor was shut down due to debts. It was reported that she would declare bankruptcy in 2010 as she was drowned in huge debt of $2 to $5 million.
Sarah Ferguson’s Awards and Achievements
During her Royal and Professional career, Sarah earned many titles and received many awards. Some of her prominent achievements are mentioned below:
- Recipient of the Royal Victorian Order
- Order of the British Empire (awarded in 1996)
- An honorary graduate of the University of Winchester
- Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust
- Author of children’s books, including “Budgie the Little Helicopter”
- Ambassador for Street Child United
Philanthropic Endeavors
Apart from her Royal duties, Sarah has been involved in many charitable organizations and played a philanthropic role in various causes. As the patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, she established many cancer units in different hospitals in London. Sarah is also known to be the patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. She serves as the president of Children in Crisis which was founded in 1993. She even launched her charity in the United States with the name Chances for Children.
In Toronto, she established the Sarah Ferguson Foundation. Sarah is the global ambassador of Ronald McDonald House Charities. She established her new charitable foundation in June 2020, named Sarah Trust. This foundation aims to provide aid for the NHS by providing them with items such as food, masks, toiletries, and scrubs.
Conclusion
Sarah Ferguson is a well-known member of the British Royal Family. She was married to Prince Andrew. Although the marriage ended after 10 years, Sarah made her living through her career as a writer, producer, and TV presenter. She amassed a net worth of $1 million, part of which comes from her endorsements, divorce settlement, and her career. Despite facing some financial problems during her career, Sarah was actively involved in different charitable foundations including Teenage Cancer Trust, Children in Crisis, and Chances for Children. She was loved by the public when she was part of the Royal family and she remains popular even after the divorce.
