But Queen Elizabeth’s historic reign has helped cement the British monarchy’s brand, which in 2017 was valued at around $78 billion, according to an estimate by consultancy Brand Finance. This includes tangible assets such as Buckingham Palace, as well as the intangible value of the monarchy’s brand, which boosts tourism to Britain and sales of products bearing a Royal Warrant or Coat of Arms, the group said.

Queen Elizabeth’s net worth: $500 million

The Queen’s personal fortune stems from her ownership of art, jewellery, investments and real estate, which include Balmoral Castle in Scotland – where she died on Thursday – and Sandringham House in England. Together, these assets are valued at $500 million, Forbes estimates. A flag flies in the wind at half-staff at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Friday, September 9, 2022. Alastair Grant/AP Most of her personal fortune will be inherited by King Charles, according to Forbes.

No inheritance tax for the king

Death and taxes are said to be inevitable, but the UK monarch is exempt by law from a major tax aimed at the rich upon inheritance: estate tax. According to the Economist, the nation’s sovereign is off the hook for inheritance taxes. To that end, King Charles will not face the UK’s 40% inheritance tax, which would have otherwise eaten up around $200 million of his mother’s fortune.

The Crown Estate: $34.3 billion in assets

The Crown Estate will now belong to King Charles III as the country’s reigning monarch, but there’s a catch: It’s not considered his private property because it’s held in trust. This means he cannot sell the assets. The Crown Estate has assets and real estate worth $34.3 billion, according to its latest financial report. Her holdings include Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and land and properties across London and the UK. Although King Charles cannot dispose of the Crown Estate’s assets for personal gain, the royal family enjoys a financial windfall derived from its holdings. At least 15% of Crown Estate profits go to the royal family through the Sovereign Grant, according to the royal family’s website. The Crown Estate made a profit of $311 million in the most recent financial year, meaning about $47 million went to the royal family.

King Charles III: $24 million from the Duchy

Before becoming king, Charles held the role of Duke of Cornwall, which gave him stewardship of the Duchy of Cornwall. This role is held by the person who is heir to the throne, meaning the dukedom will now pass to Charles’ eldest son, Prince William. After decades of watching the Queen, King Charles III prepares to lead the nation as monarch 03:34 The Duchy of Cornwall includes more than 130,000 acres of land worth $1.3 billion, according to Fortune. But as with the Crown Estate, Charles was not allowed to sell the land, although he collected income by renting the property to farmers, businesses and residents. According to the Prince of Wales website, Charles earned $24 million a year through the dukedom.

In 1990. King Charles started a food business called Duchy Organics, with the aim of selling organic food products, an unusual idea at the time. It partnered with grocery chain Waitrose in 2010 and has since contributed more than $35 million to The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund, according to Waitrose. The business is run separately from the Duchy of Cornwall and all profits go to charity, according to the Prince of Wales’ website. Products sold in the Duchy range at Waitrose range from organic free-range eggs to organic Highland butter scones. More