What is Princess Charlene's Net Worth?
Princess Charlene of Monaco is a South African former Olympic swimmer, and princess-by-marriage, who has a net worth of $150 million. Charlene is the Princess of Monaco, being the wife of Prince Albert II. Her activities are largely focused on charity work, particularly in the areas of sports, children's rights, and HIV/AIDS awareness and research.
Early Life and Education
Charlene Wittstock was born on January 25, 1978 in Bulawayo in what was then Rhodesia. Her parents are Michael, a former sales manager, and Lynette, a former competitive diver and swimming coach. She has two younger brothers named Gareth and Sean. The family is of German origin. In 1989, Charlene moved with her family to South Africa. There, she attended Tom Newby Primary School in Benoni.
Swimming Career
Charlene began her swimming career in 1996, winning the South African Championship that year. She had her greatest year in 1999, when she won three gold medals and a silver at the All-Africa Games in Johannesburg. Charlene went on to represent South Africa at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she finished in fifth place with her team in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay. In 2002, she and her team won silver in that event at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
In 2005, Charlene moved to the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal and joined swimming coach Branislav Ivkovic. A couple years later, she regained her title as South Africa's 50-meter women's backstroke champion by finishing in third at the Telkom SA National Aquatic Championships. However, not long after that, Charlene sustained a shoulder injury and was sidelined from competitive swimming. She subsequently retired from the sport.
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Princess of Monaco
At a swimming meet in Monaco in 2000, Charlene met Prince Albert II of Monaco. They began a relationship, and in 2006 made their public debut as a couple during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Turin. The pair got engaged in mid-2010, and married a year later in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace, making Charlene the Princess of Monaco.
Charitable Work
As Princess of Monaco, Charlene has devoted much of her time to charity, with particular emphasis on charities working to address the needs of children, those with HIV/AIDS, and the environment. She regularly participates in fundraising events for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. In late 2012, Charlene established the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which aims to stop drowning incidents among children. A few years later, she partnered with the Pontifical Council and spoke about efforts to end drowning at the Vatican's 20th Annual Conference for Healthcare Workers.
Elsewhere, Charlene is a trustee of the Princess Grace Foundation – USA, which supports emerging performers in the arts. She has also been a patron of AS Rugby Monaco and the South African Red Cross Society, and an ambassador for World First Aid Day in Geneva. In 2020, Charlene traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia to visit the Olympic Village, meet with Paralympic athletes, and visit a rehabilitation center for children with hearing impairments. Additionally, she discussed diplomatic and philanthropic concerns over lunch with Georgia's president Salome Zourabichvili.
(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Health Issues
Charlene has experienced some health issues, particularly ENT-related ones. In 2021, while on a trip to raise awareness about rhinoceros poaching in South Africa, she came down with an ear, nose, and throat infection. Previously, she had undergone a sinus lift and bone grafting procedure. Unable to fly above 20,000 feet due to problems with equalizing pressure, Charlene missed her scheduled appearance at the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. After having multiple procedures, she was advised by doctors to stay in South Africa. Later in 2021, Charlene was hospitalized for a medical emergency relating to ENT complications. She was finally able to return to Monaco in November after undergoing a final procedure. However, Charlene was forced to cancel all of her imminent activities due to fatigue. Following a four-month stay at a Swiss clinic, she was able to resume her activities in 2022.
Children
With Prince Albert II, Charlene had twins in late 2014. Princess Gabriella was born first, followed by Hereditary Prince Jacques, the heir apparent to the throne of Monaco.
