Fergie's Lavish Spending and Excess Luggage Fine
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, became known for extravagant expenses, including spending £515 on a teddy bear she could not technically fly home. After marrying Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, her spending habits reached remarkable levels.
Excess Luggage Incident
Shortly after marrying Prince Andrew, Fergie was fined nearly £1,000 for carrying over fifty pieces of excess luggage on a first-class flight from New York. The luggage reportedly contained items valued around £33,000, including the notable £515 teddy bear.
A Heathrow baggage handler commented: “Not even Joan Collins has this much.”
The palace did not disclose who covered the expenses for this trip.
Financial Overview
Sarah's financial advisor, John Bryan, revealed that she spent over £860,000 annually. This sum included £150,000 on gifts, £50,000 on flowers, and another £50,000 on parties.
Early Work History
Before her marriage, Sarah held typical upper-class jobs such as cleaning ski chalets and working in publishing. She shared in a Swedish TV interview on Skavlan:
“I cleaned lavatories when I was 18 and graduates' bedrooms; they all left it very messy. And then the waitress in a strudel house."
Her early jobs reflected a grounded background before her later extravagant lifestyle.
Author's summary: Sarah Ferguson’s extravagant spending led to a hefty fine for excess luggage, exemplifying her lavish lifestyle that contrasted with her modest early work experience.