Since her split from Prince Harry and the monarchy in 2020, Meghan Markle has embarked on a new career as a global philanthropist, author, podcaster, producer and lifestyle curator, but she has also added investors to this already impressive list.

Meghan has invested both time and money in a number of businesses outside of the joint organizations she runs with Harry. Although the exact number is unknown, the Duchess is believed to hold minority stakes in five to ten companies.

Most recently, her involvement with the handbag brand Cesta Collective became public.

Here, Newsweek takes a look at the three companies, from fashion to coffee, in which Meghan Markle has announced her involvement.

Cesta Collective

In an article for The New York Times As announced on August 28, Meghan is a minority shareholder in handbag brand Cesta Collective.

The company was founded in 2018 by Erin Ryder and Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano. Meghan became an investor in 2023 after the pair wrote her a thank you card when photos of the Queen in a Cesta bag at a celebrity lunch caused a surge in website traffic and sales.

Meghan has carried Cesta bags on numerous occasions, including at the 2023 Invictus Games and during her recent Colombia tour with Harry.

Cesta Collective’s designs begin with a woven basket base made by artisans in Rwanda, Africa. The baskets are shipped to Italy, where they are made into handbags with leather elements and sold in limited quantities.

In her interview for The New York TimesMeghan said she spends a lot of time “Googling” little-known fashion brands and she realised the influence she could have on a company after becoming the subject of international interest through her engagement to Harry.

“At a time when I know the whole world is in the spotlight and every detail of what I wear or don’t wear is being observed, I support designers I have really good friendships with and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve,” she said.

“That’s one of the most powerful things I can do, and that’s just wearing something like an earring.”

Meghan became Cesta Collective’s first outside investor. Ryder and Weinblatt Fasciano remain the company’s only two full-time employees.

Clevr Blends

In December 2020, just nine months after completing her final duties as a member of the monarchy in the UK, it was announced that Meghan had made her first investment as a venture capitalist in a startup.

It was announced that the Duchess is an investor in Clevr Blends, the instant latte coffee company led by CEO Hannah Mendoza.

“This investment supports a passionate entrepreneur who prioritizes building community alongside her business,” Meghan said Assets when their involvement was announced.

“I’m proud to invest in Hannah’s commitment to sourcing ethical ingredients and developing a product that I personally love and that offers a holistic approach to wellbeing. I believe in her and I believe in her company.”

Meghan has maintained her public connection with the brand. In 2020, she sent bags of their products to Oprah Winfrey, who promoted them on her social media accounts, and most recently, in 2023, she appeared in the background of a social media promotional video released by the company.

Orchard of the American Riviera

In March 2024, Meghan launched her own lifestyle brand called American Riviera Orchard (ARO).

The brand launched with an Instagram account that featured branded imagery and a short, blurry video montage that featured a character who looked like Meghan throughout.

No press releases or further official information have been released about the brand or Meghan’s plans for it. In April, Meghan made headlines with an ARO PR stunt in which she made and distributed 50 jars of homemade jam to her celebrity friends, who then posted them on social media.

These friends included Suits Co-star Abigail Spencer and former model Chrissy Teigen.

No product line has yet been announced for American Riviera Orchard, although trademark applications have been filed in connection with the company to protect the name for a range of home goods and lifestyle products.

James Crawford-Smith is NewsweekRoyal Reporter based in London. You can you can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

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