What Is Charles Spencer's Net Worth? Princess Diana's Brother Faces Questions Over New Book's Earnings

As Charles Spencer's new memoir about his sister, 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,' dominates headlines this week, interest in the Earl's wealth is also increasing. Some critics have accused Spencer of profiting from his late sister's story.

However, Spencer is believed to be a multi-millionaire. His net worth is not known to the public, although a 2009 Sunday Times Rich List estimate put his wealth at $149 million (about £111 million).

Where Does His Wealth Come From?

The 9th Earl Spencer inherited Althorp, the family's ancestral seat in Northamptonshire, following his father John Spencer's death on 29 March 1992. The ancestral home of the Spencers has been in the family for around 500 years.

The property spans around 13,000 acres (about 5,261 hectares) and houses 28 listed buildings. The Earl continues to live there with his seven children—four from his first marriage to Victoria Lockwood, two from his second marriage to Caroline Freud and one from his third marriage to Karen Gordon. He married for the fourth time in May 2026 to archaeologist Cat Jarman.

Althorp's value is difficult to determine because there is no publicly confirmed valuation for the full estate. Some estimates have placed the value of the estate in the hundreds of millions of pounds, although these figures should be treated as estimates rather than an official valuation.

Spencer's income is not limited to family wealth. 'Swan Song' is his tenth book, following nine earlier publications.

Earl Spencer's Books

His first memoir was released in 2024: 'A Very Private School: A Memoir.' His latest memoir will officially be released on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

'Always an amazing, and exhilarating, moment for an author to hold the first physical copy of a new book — and even more so for me with "Swan Song," the most personal of the ten books I've written over the past three decades,' Spencer said on Instagram.

'At heart, this is a brother's simple tribute to an extraordinary sister. A month ago I read "Swan Song" out, over three days, for a recording so that it could be available on audiobook. When I finished the recording, I thought: "That is exactly what I wanted and needed to say—and she would, I reckon, have approved of every word,"' he also said.

Spencer has also written five narrative books: 'The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream' (2020), 'To Catch a King: Charles II's Great Escape' (2017), 'Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I' (2014), 'Prince Rupert: The Last Cavalier' (2007), and 'Blenheim: Battle for Europe' (2004).

He also wrote three historical accounts of his family and Althorp: 'Impressions of Althorp: Thoughts on My Spencer Heritage' (2015), 'The Spencer Family' (1999) and 'Althorp: The Story of an English House' (1998).

Bestseller Status and Earnings

There were no reliable reports on how much he earned from his nine previously published books. 'Swan Song', however, has attracted significant interest ahead of its release.

The anticipated title has reached No. 1 on an Amazon bestseller list through pre-orders. The Sun reported that Spencer's advance for the book was between £750,000 and £1 million. The newspaper also reported that he could earn up to £10 million if the book proves a major sucess.

Spencer also co-hosted the 'Rabbit Hole Detectives' podcast with archaeologist Cat Jarman and Reverend Richard Coles. The podcast ran from 2023 to 2025.