Prince Harry – following a prime-time interview when he spoke candidly about the financial challenges he and his wife faced now that they’re out on their own—will become chief impact officer at BetterUp Inc., a Silicon Valley startup that offers coaching and mental health assistance, several outlets reported Tuesday.
The imminent hiring, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is expected to be officially announced by the company on Tuesday.
According to the WSJ report, Harry won’t take on a managerial role but will provide input on “initiatives including product strategy decisions and charitable contributions,” as well as publicly advocating on “topics related to mental health.”
BetterUp CEO Alexi Robichaux told the WSJ that Harry’s role is “meaningful and meaty” and that he was introduced to the prince through a mutual friend last year.
Robichaux declined to provide details related to Harry’s compensation.
KEY BACKGROUND:
Harry, 36, recently revealed that he was cut-off financially from the royal family in early 2020 when he stepped down from his duties as a senior working member, stating that his late mother’s inheritance was the only money he had access to. “I wouldn’t have gotten through without that,” Harry said, adding, “I just needed enough money to pay for security to keep my family safe.” Last September, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, signed a multi-year production contract with Netflix that is expected to include documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming. In December, they inked a podcasting deal with Spotify.
BIG NUMBER:
$1.73 billion. That’s what BetterUp Inc. has been valued at after raising $125 million in a Series D round of financing last month.
TANGENT:
Harry has been open and transparent about his struggles with mental health in hopes of raising awareness of the issue. In 2017, he disclosed he had suffered from panic attacks and felt his life was in “total chaos” for years. The Duke of Sussex was just 12 years old when his mother, Lady Diana, died in a car crash. Harry acknowledged that he was “very close to a total breakdown on numerous occasions.” He has affirmed that speaking with therapists has helped him a great deal. In a wide-ranging interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired on CBS earlier this month, Markle revealed that she had suicidal thoughts while serving as a senior working member of the royal family. Markle said she asked Buckingham Palace for access to mental health help, but none was provided.
CRUCIAL QUOTE:
“I intend to help create impact in people’s lives,” Prince Harry told the Wall Street Journal. “Proactive coaching provides endless possibilities for personal development, increased awareness, and an all-round better life.”
