How Much Did Beyoncé and Jay-Z Pay for Their Viral Painting of Meghan Markle?

Beyoncé often supports Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on social media or her website. The “Single Ladies” artist wished Meghan and Prince Harry well when she became pregnant with Archie. Additionally, the Grammy winner recently shared her support for the couple during their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. 

In 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z showed off an oil painting of Meghan while accepting the 2019 Brit Awards. The viral painting was created by Tim O’Brien. But- how much did the power couple pay for a portrait of The Duchess of Sussex? 

How Beyoncé and Jay-Z met Meghan Markle 

Before she married Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was an actor and starred as Rachel Zane in Suits. However, her world changed when she and Harry got married in front of the royal family on May 19, 2018. Since then, her relationships with the family and the alleged discrimination she experienced as the monarchy’s first Black princess have made multiple headlines. 

Throughout her time as a royal, Beyoncé has shared her admiration for Meghan. On her website, the “Love On Top” singer congratulated the royal couple when they announced they were expecting their first child together in 2018. However, the celebrities didn’t meet until July 2019. The viral meetup happened at The Lion King premiere in London. Beyoncé, who voiced the character Nala, attended the event with Jay-Z. While there, they saw Meghan and Harry and embraced the pair. According to Daily Mail’s transcript, Queen Bey referred to Meghan as “my princess.” Additionally, Jay-Z offered the couple parenting advice, as Meghan gave birth to Archie that May. 

“The best advice I can give you: always find time for yourself,” the rapper shared with the couple. 

Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn’t pay for their Meghan Markle painting

According to TMZ, Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn’t compensate the artist who painted a portrait of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. The couple debuted the painting in 2019 while accepting a BRIT Award for Best International Group. Although they opted not to attend the event, the “Crazy In Love” artists decided to receive the award via video chat. During their speech, the couple zoomed in on the painting, which was a recreation of the Mona Lisa. O’Brien created the piece in 2018 for Meghan’s sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma’s magazine. 

Shortly after their appearance, O’Brien spoke to TMZ. He told the outlet that neither Beyoncé nor Jay-Z’s camp contacted him about using the image for their speech. Additionally, he said he knows that the power couple didn’t pay for his work because “I know everyone that buys prints from me.” The oil painting of Meghan is reportedly worth $75. However, he confirmed that he isn’t upset with them for declining to pay him and said he’s a fan of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. 

What did the Duchess of Sussex think of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s tribute? 

Although Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn’t pay O’Brien for his work, their video featuring the oil painting of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, went viral. After Beyoncé’s tribute to Meghan, the Duchess’ makeup artist and confidant, Daniel Martin, shared how she reacted to the painting. During a CBS This Morning interview with Gayle King, he said she was in disbelief that the singer honored her in such a unique way, per Harper’s Bazaar.

“I sent her a pic. I think it was a screengrab of the two of them in front of the portrait,” Martin said of Meghan. “She wrote me back like the big eye emoji.”