Fergie's Lavish Spending and Excess Luggage Fine
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, was known for extravagant spending, including buying a £515 teddy bear she could not technically fly home. After marrying Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, her spending habits escalated notably.
The Excess Luggage Incident
Shortly after her marriage to Prince Andrew, Ferguson was fined nearly £1,000 for packing over 50 pieces of excess luggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage reportedly contained items worth around £33,000, with the teddy bear among them.
“Not even Joan Collins has this much,” said a Heathrow baggage handler at the time.
The palace did not disclose who paid for Sarah’s extravagant expenses on that occasion.
Financial Details and Spending Habits
Sarah's financial advisor, John Bryan, revealed she spent over £860,000 yearly. This included £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and £50,000 on parties.
Early Work Experience
Before her marriage, Sarah had a typical upper-class background and worked various jobs, including cleaning ski chalets and working at a publishing company. On Swedish TV show Skavlan, she described her early jobs:
“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy. And then the waitress in a strudel house.”
Summary
Fergie's well-documented spending spree reflected a dramatic lifestyle shift after marrying into royalty, marked by expensive purchases and significant annual expenses.
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