Sarah Ferguson Only Worked 20 Days a Year — And Got Paid Way More Than You Think
Sarah Ferguson’s commercial track record has always been a point of fascination, but one particular deal from the late ’90s stands out in a league of its own. There were curious minds about how she managed her fancy lifestyle for so many years. And this could be one answer. At a time when the dot-com boom was minting overnight fortunes and glossy partnerships, the former Duchess of York managed to secure an arrangement that was not even the cup of tea for seasoned executives. The unlikely generosity of that contract, and the confidentiality about it, is once again in focus after royal author Andrew Lownie spotlighted it in his recent writing.
According to Lownie, Sarah was hired as a spokesperson for World Online in June 1999, a role that came with extraordinary perks. Marketing director Rob van der Linden reportedly laid out the terms in a Letter of Intent drafted on behalf of founder Nina Brink, who, as Lownie notes, had grown friendly with Sarah. That friendship appears to have opened a surprisingly lucrative door. The core of the deal was that Ferguson had committed to 20 working days a year only. In exchange, she would earn $350,000 annually, a proper eyebrow-raising figure, in even today’s economy. The letter also included an upfront, non-refundable $150,000 advance, as well as a promise that she would be folded into the company’s stock option plan. It was undeniably plush for the role of a corporate spokesperson.
But the salary was not just it. Lownie wrote for his Substack that the letter stated that World Online would give Sarah the use of its private jet for European air travel, and would pay for first-class air travel elsewhere in the world.” The Letter of Intent also made clear that "luxury hotel accommodation — with all food and refreshments — and limousine travel would be paid for." World Online also agreed to provide an assistant, security support, and full styling — including hair and makeup — for any engagements carried out on its behalf. Perhaps the most telling part of the document, though, was its insistence on secrecy. Lownie pointed out that the letter “made it clear that the arrangements between Sarah and the company were to be kept confidential.”
It was the shady nature and the insistence on secrecy that were an eyesore. But for Fergusson, who has been involved in shady financial transactions, this cannot be uncommon. Back in May 2010, Ferguson found herself at the centre of a major tabloid sting that quickly spiralled into a public embarrassment. She was involved in the infamous “cash for access” scandal after News of the World covertly recorded her offering to arrange a meeting with former Prince Andrew for $6,50000. Believing she was dealing with a genuine businessman, she spoke to undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood and even walked away with a briefcase containing $52,232 as an upfront payment. On the recording, she can be heard saying, “That opens up everything you would ever wish for. I can open any door you want, and I will for you. Look after me and he'll look after you... you’ll get it back tenfold.”