Meghan Markle Crowned 2025's Most Disliked Celebrity: Poll Backlash and the $60M Brand Hit

Meghan Markle Crowned 2025's Most Disliked Celebrity: Poll Backlash and the $60M Brand Hit

Meghan Markle secured the top spot on Ranker.com's 2025 most disliked celebrities list, amassing 48,000 votes as of October 24, 2025, with Prince Harry placing third. The poll, drawing over 87,000 total votes, reflects ongoing public scrutiny following recent appearances at Fortune's Most Powerful Women summit and a humanitarian gala. This examination details the rankings, backlash origins, and economic consequences for the Sussexes' media and philanthropic pursuits.

Poll Verdict: Meghan's Lead and Harry's Shadow in the Hate Rankings

Ranker.com's latest user-driven poll dropped a bombshell on October 23, 2025, crowning Meghan Markle the most disliked celebrity for the fourth straight year with a staggering 48,000 votes. Prince Harry trailed close in third, sandwiched between Sean "Diddy" Combs and Oprah Winfrey in a top 10 laced with scandal survivors like Jada Pinkett Smith and Ellen DeGeneres.

As social media erupts with memes and mockery—from fake tears jabs to "Queen of Hate" crowns—this fresh ranking reignites the Megxit firestorm, now five years post-royal exit. Yet beyond the barbs lies a ledger under siege: Their $60 million joint fortune, fueled by Netflix specials and Archewell grants, faces real revenue risks from reputation rot. With Fortune's summit spotlight and a humanitarian nod still echoing, we're dissecting the disdain—and the dollars it drains.

Ranker's annual tally, powered by public ballots, paints a brutal portrait. Meghan edged Diddy by sheer volume, her tally dwarfing Harry's third-place haul amid cries that the Sussexes dominate the disdain derby. Chrissy Teigen snagged fourth, Amber Heard fifth, Bill Cosby sixth, Kris Jenner seventh, Ellen eighth, Jada ninth, and Oprah tenth— a rogue's gallery where royal rebels rub elbows with fallen icons.

X users piled on with viral venom. One post quipped, “Meghan Markle is deemed the most disliked celebrity of the year AGAIN,” racking likes like confetti. Another sniped, “After she saw this, to improve her image, she shed some fake tears and made sure the photographer captured that tear while at her friend’s sport event.” The chorus questions her "celebrity" cred outright, framing her as a fame-chaser post-palace. This isn't idle ire; it's a sentiment surge timed with October's high-profile hops, amplifying the echo chamber.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex share a tender moment with their child during a church visit.

Megxit's Enduring Ember: Five Years of Scrutiny and Side-Eyes

The roots burrow back to January 2020's seismic step-back, Megxit's moniker mocking a monarchy makeover that traded tiaras for Montecito mansions. Since stateside, the duo's pivot to podcasts, polo docs, and philanthropy has drawn daggers—from Oprah tell-alls to Spotify snubs. Their 2021 Oprah interview, spilling palace pains, polarized ponds, while Netflix's $100 million pact birthed Harry & Meghan but flopped follow-ups like Heart of Invictus.

Recent flares fan the flames. Meghan's October 15 Fortune Most Powerful Women panel alongside Kamala Harris and Selena Gomez sparked sneers: Critics carped her "leading in a dynamic world" slot rang hollow amid Archetypes' axing. Days prior, their October 9 Project Healthy Minds gala honor as "Humanitarians of the Year" ignited irony alerts—Trump trounced it as "madness" amid Gaza gripes, while U.K. tabs trolled the red-carpet glow. These spotlights, meant to spotlight Sussex shine, instead spotlight schadenfreude, sustaining the poll's sting.

Reputation's Reckoning: How Dislike Dollars the Sussex Empire

Public polls pack punch when paychecks pivot on perception. The Sussexes' $60 million 2025 net worth—per Finance Monthly—leans on Archewell's $50 million donor draw, Netflix residuals from their $100 million deal, and Harry's polo pursuits. Yet disdain depresses deals: Industry reports indicate that a negative public image can depress sponsorship revenue by 15–25% in the short term, particularly when targeting mainstream audiences.

According to analysis reviewed by Finance Monthly, polarized personas like Meghan's yield high-risk highs—niche activism allies like Spotify (pre-podcast purge) pour premium pounds, but mainstream magnets flee. Their $20 million Spotify split in 2023? A shortfall from unmet metrics, reputation ripples real. Philanthropy fares frail too: Archewell grants grind slower when donors doubt the duo's draw.

The Sussexes engage warmly with fans while meeting the public at a scheduled event.

Sussex Strategy: From Slings to Silver Linings?

As 2025's disdain duel drags, Meghan and Harry hold high ground in hybrid hustles—her lifestyle brand As Ever teases tastemakers, his Invictus pushes purpose. Yet the poll's pulse warns: Weather the whirlwind, or watch wallets wilt. In celebrity's cash calculus, crowns corrode when crowds curdle—turning tell-alls into tell-tales of fiscal folly.

Public Pulse: Probing Meghan's Polarizing Profile

Why Did Meghan Markle Top the 2025 Most Disliked List?

Meghan led Ranker's poll with 48,000 votes, fueled by Megxit echoes and recent Fortune panel, humanitarian award backlash—Harry nabbed third in the 87,000-vote tally.

What Is Meghan Markle's Net Worth in 2025?

Meghan Markle's net worth hits $60 million combined with Harry in 2025, per Celebrity Net Worth—bolstered by Netflix deals, Archewell funding, and lifestyle ventures amid reputation risks.

How Does Public Backlash Impact the Sussexes' Finances?

Backlash can slash sponsorships 15-25%, per experts, denting their $100 million Netflix pact and Archewell donors—yet niche activism opens alternative revenue streams.