- Prince Harry's fiancée Meghan Markle is an actress on the television drama "Suits," which films in Toronto, Canada.
- Markle may be a millionaire and soon-to-be royal, but she doesn't live a lavish lifestyle.
- Markle previously rented a modest home and car in Toronto, and favors affordable fashion brands.
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Meghan Markle had a surprisingly relatable life before becoming the world's most famous royal to-be
Prince Harry's fiancée Meghan Markle was renting a bungalow and driving a leased SUV before her engagement.
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Prince Harry's fiancée Meghan Markle isn't a commoner — but she's not yet royalty either.
Sure, the 36-year-old actress and Los Angeles native was earning close to half a million dollars a year starring in the USA Network drama "Suits," but she didn't live in the lap of luxury.
Up until her recent engagement to Prince Harry, Markle rented a three-bedroom bungalow in Toronto, Canada, and leased an Audi SUV. And before she landed the role on "Suits," she was juggling a few side hustles to make ends meet.
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Below, take a peek inside the surprisingly relatable life of Meghan Markle:
With an estimated net worth of $5 million, she's rich — but she doesn't act like it.
Markle has starred on the television drama "Suits" since 2011 and earns about $50,000 per episode, according to
But the actress also makes around $80,000 a year from sponsorships and endorsement deals, bringing her annual salary to about $450,000. C
Markle rented out a bungalow in Toronto — where a 3-bedroom goes for $1,770 a month on average — for part of the year while filming 'Suits.'
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"Suits" shoots eight months out of the year in Toronto. During production, Markle rented out a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a private backyard garden in the Seaton Village of Toronto.
Back in 2013, the self-proclaimed "California girl" told Esquire, "
The couple who owned the home bought it for $508,000 a decade ago, and recently sold it for nearly $1.4 million after Markle moved out.
While she was auditioning for acting roles before landing 'Suits,' Markle maintained a 'super-lucrative' side job writing calligraphy invitations, she told Esquire.
Pre "Suits," Markle also worked as a briefcase holder on "Deal or No Deal," which she calls a "
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Until last fall, Markle leased an Audi SUV worth around $54,000. After that, she opted for a chauffeur to get to and from set.
Markle reportedly leased an Audi SUV worth around $54,000 while working on location in Toronto.
But according to the Daily Mail, she ended her lease agreement early last September, opting for a chauffeur to get to and from set.
Markle reportedly acted as a brand ambassador for the automaker and received special VIP pricing because of her "Suits" celebrity status.
Markle is a self-proclaimed 'foodie,' who uses her expensive Vitamix blender daily to make everything from pesto to shakes.
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The cast of "Suits" is close off-screen,
Markle's style is casual, trendy, and mostly affordable — like the $68 jeans she wore on her first official event with Prince Harry.
A bona fide celebrity, Markle is no stranger to high-fashion events.
Markle tends to favor casual and trendy styles, though, a contrast to her future sister-in-law Kate Middleton's more traditional and formal wardrobe.
Markle has been photographed in affordable pieces from Canadian fashion brands
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Long before she was flying commercial with fiancé Prince Harry, Markle was already a frequent flyer, splurging on glamorous trips around the world.
now-defunctThe Tig
Canada's World Vision Clean Water campaign.
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