Princess Diana’s Death: How Much She Was Worth, What Her Will Said, and Why Her Family Secretly Changed It

At the time of Princess Diana’s death, everything changed. Prince William and Prince Harry were suddenly without their beloved mother. Queen Elizabeth II went through what the BBC characterizes as the worst week of her reign. And Britain found itself mourning the most beloved member of the royal family. But one thing that Princess Diana’s death didn’t change? Human nature and people’s preoccupation with money.

Satisfy your own curiosity by discovering all the details on what happened to the vast estate after Princess Diana’s death. Find out how much she was worth, what was in her will, and why two members of her family secretly chose not to honor Princess Diana’s wishes and change the inheritance she left to Prince William, Prince Harry, and her godchildren.

1. How much was Princess Diana worth at the time of her death?

At the time of Princess Diana’s death, she had a net worth of £21 million, the equivalent of $31.5 million at the time, according to GOBankingRates. A large portion of that came from her divorce settlement from Prince Charles, as you’ll see on the coming pages. GOBankingRates reports that before the divorce, the royal family paid Princess Diana’s expenses, said to be up to $1.2 million per year. Because she only lived for a year after the divorce, she didn’t have much time to manage her own money. That might be one reason why the executors of her estate didn’t honor the wishes she laid out in her will.

Next: She left a sizable estate behind at her death.