Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal: Her Role and Why She Left

Before Meghan Markle became known for Suits, Prince Harry, and her work as the Duchess of Sussex, she had a small role on the popular game show Deal or No Deal. This is why many people search for “meghan markle deal or no deal.”

The main point is simple: Meghan Markle was a briefcase model on the U.S. version of Deal or No Deal. She was not a contestant playing for the show’s cash prize. She appeared on the program from 2006 to 2007 and was best known for carrying briefcase number 24. It appeared in 34 episodes.

Years later, Meghan spoke about the experience and explained why she decided to leave. In a 2022 episode of her podcast Archetypes, she said she was grateful for the job but felt the role placed too much focus on her looks rather than her abilities.

This guide explains her role, how long she was on the show, why she left, and what she said about her time there.

Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal – Quick Answer

Meghan Markle was a briefcase model on NBC’s Deal or No Deal. She appeared on the U.S. show between 2006 and 2007.

She was mainly associated with briefcase number 24 and appeared in 34 episodes. It stood on stage with the other models and held a numbered case that could contain one of the show’s cash amounts. )

She was not a contestant who played the main game against the Banker.

Years later, Meghan said she was thankful for the job because it helped pay her bills and provided benefits, but she did not like feeling that her appearance was the main focus of the role. She said this was one reason she eventually left the show.

Quick facts

Show: Deal or No Deal
Network: NBC
Meghan’s role: Briefcase model
Years: 2006 to 2007
Episodes: 34
Main briefcase: No. 24
Was she a contestant? No
Host: Howie Mandel
Why did she leave? She later said she felt the role focused too much on appearance.

What Was Meghan Markle’s Role on Deal or No Deal?

Meghan Markle worked as one of the show’s briefcase models.

The models stood on stage and held numbered briefcases. Each case contained a hidden amount of money. During the game, a contestant selected cases and tried to decide whether to accept an offer from the Banker.

Meghan’s job was not to decide whether the contestant should accept the Banker’s offer.

She was there as one of the models who presented the numbered cases.

Meghan later recalled that she had studied acting at Northwestern University and was trying to build an acting career at the time. The game show gave her paid work while she continued to pursue acting.

Was Meghan Markle a contestant?

No.

This is one of the biggest points people misunderstand when searching for Meghan Markle and Deal or No Deal.

She did not compete for the show’s main prize.

She was a briefcase model. Her job involved holding a numbered case and appearing on stage during the game.

Was Meghan Markle briefcase number 24?

Yes.

Meghan is strongly associated with briefcase number 24. Records from episodes of the show identify her as Briefcase Model #24. )

A 2018 auction listing for one of the show’s original briefcases stated that Meghan used number 24 for 31 of her 34 episodes. It also said she used numbers 11 and 12 for some episodes.

How Long Was Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal?

Meghan Markle appeared on Deal or No Deal from 2006 to 2007.

She appeared in 34 episodes during that period.

This was early in her entertainment career.

At the time, she was still trying to establish herself as an actress. She later became widely known for playing Rachel Zane on Suits.

Her work on Deal or No Deal therefore came before her best-known acting role.

Meghan Markle’s Deal or No Deal timeline

Year	What happened
2006	Meghan joined the U.S. version of Deal or No Deal as a briefcase model
2006-2007	She appeared on the show
2007	Her time on the show ended
2011	She began her long-running role as Rachel Zane on Suits
2022	She publicly discussed her experience on Deal or No Deal on Archetypes
2025	She and Chrissy Teigen looked back on their time on the show on With Love, Meghan

The 2025 discussion gave viewers another look at this early period of Meghan’s career. People reported that Meghan appeared in 34 episodes between 2006 and 2007.

Why Did Meghan Markle Leave Deal or No Deal?

Meghan later explained that she did not leave because she was unhappy about having a job.

In fact, she said she was grateful for the work.

The problem was how she felt about the role.

In a 2022 episode of Archetypes, Meghan said she felt the job placed strong attention on beauty and appearance. She described things such as makeup, hair extensions, padding, and spray-tan vouchers that were part of the show’s preparation.

She said she felt she was being valued more for her appearance than for her intelligence.

It also compared the experience with her earlier internship at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, where she felt her academic and professional abilities were valued.

Meghan said she eventually quit the show because she did not like how the role made her feel.

Did Meghan hate Deal or No Deal?

That is too simple.

Meghan’s own account was more mixed.

She said she was thankful for the job and valued the income and health insurance. At the same time, she said she did not like feeling reduced to her appearance.

So it is more accurate to say that Meghan had mixed feelings about the experience.

She appreciated the work but disliked the way she felt the role presented her.

What Did Meghan Markle Say About Deal or No Deal?

In 2022, Meghan discussed her experience while speaking with Paris Hilton on her podcast Archetypes.

She explained that she was an actress trying to find work and that the show helped support her financially.

She also said she had studied acting and international relations. Her concern was that the briefcase-model role did not give much attention to those skills.

She described the experience as one where she felt focused on as a physical image rather than for her intelligence.

This became a major reason the topic returned to public attention years after her time on the show.

Meghan Markle and Deal or No Deal: Main Differences

The search phrase can cause confusion because people may think Meghan was a player on the game show.

Here is the difference:

Question	Answer
Was Meghan a contestant?	No
Was she a briefcase model?	Yes
Did she appear on the U.S. show?	Yes
When did she appear?	2006-2007
How many episodes?	34
Which case was she known for?	No. 24
Did she win the main prize?	No
Did she play against the Banker?	No
Did she later discuss the job?	Yes
Why did she leave?	She later said she disliked the focus on appearance

Meghan Markle’s Deal or No Deal Briefcase Number

Meghan’s most famous number on the show was 24.

Episode records identify her as Briefcase Model #24. )

A production briefcase connected to the show was later offered at auction. The listing said Meghan used number 24 for most of her appearances.

This is why searches such as these often refer to the same topic:

Meghan Markle briefcase number
Meghan Markle case 24
Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal number
What number was Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal?
Meghan Markle briefcase girl
Meghan Markle game show

The answer to all of them is mainly connected to her role as briefcase model number 24.

Did Meghan Markle Win Money on Deal or No Deal?

There is no reason to treat Meghan as a prize-winning contestant because she was not playing the main game.

The cash amounts were placed inside the briefcases used by contestants. Meghan’s role was to hold and present one of those cases as part of the show’s format.

So, when people ask whether Meghan Markle won money on Deal or No Deal, the simple answer is no, she did not win the show’s main prize as a contestant.

She was paid for her work on the program as a model.

What Was Deal or No Deal?

Deal or No Deal was a game show built around numbered briefcases containing different amounts of money.

A contestant selected cases during the game. The Banker then made offers based on the amounts that remained.

The contestant had to decide whether to accept the offer or continue playing.

The show became known for its large group of briefcase models, including Meghan Markle during her early career.

The U.S. version was hosted by Howie Mandel.

Meghan’s time on the show happened before she became a regular cast member on Suits.

Meghan Markle Before Suits

Her time on Deal or No Deal came during an early stage of her acting career.

She had already appeared in small television roles and continued auditioning for acting jobs.

The game show was one of the jobs she took while building her career.

Later, she became much more widely known for playing Rachel Zane on Suits. That role became a major part of her career and helped make her a familiar television name.

Her Deal or No Deal appearances are now often viewed as part of her early Hollywood history.

Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen on Deal or No Deal

The topic received fresh attention in 2025 when Meghan Markle and Chrissy Teigen discussed their time on Deal or No Deal.

Teigen also worked as a briefcase model on the show.

During their conversation, they remembered some of the backstage routines from their time as young models. They discussed getting ready for the show and even joked about how the models handled their false eyelashes after filming.

This later conversation showed another side of their memories of the show.

It also helped bring renewed attention to Meghan’s early television career.

Common Mistakes About Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal

Mistake 1: Saying Meghan was a contestant

Incorrect: Meghan Markle competed on Deal or No Deal.

Correct: Meghan Markle worked as a briefcase model.

She did not play the main game.

Mistake 2: Saying she won the million-dollar prize

Incorrect: Meghan Markle won $1 million on the show.

Correct: She was a briefcase model and did not win the show’s main contestant prize.

Mistake 3: Saying she was always case 24

Incorrect: Meghan used only briefcase 24 in every episode.

Correct: She was mainly associated with number 24, but records indicate she also used numbers 11 and 12 in some episodes.

Mistake 4: Saying she left because the show had no value

Incorrect: Meghan said the show was completely useless.

Correct: She said she was grateful for the job, including the income and health insurance, but disliked how the role made her feel.

Mistake 5: Treating her comments as the opinion of every model

Incorrect: All Deal or No Deal models said they were treated the same way.

Correct: Meghan was describing her own experience. Some former models later gave different views about their time on the show.

Mistake 6: Saying Meghan left the show to marry Prince Harry

Incorrect: Meghan left Deal or No Deal because she was preparing to marry Prince Harry.

Correct: Her time on the show ended more than a decade before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

10 Examples of Natural Searches and Answers

1. Was Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal?

Yes. She worked as a briefcase model on the U.S. version of the show.

2. What number was Meghan Markle?

She was mainly known as briefcase model number 24.

3. When was Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal?

She appeared on the show from 2006 to 2007.

4. How many episodes was Meghan Markle in?

She appeared in 34 episodes.

5. Was Meghan Markle a Deal or No Deal contestant?

No. She was a briefcase model.

6. Did Meghan Markle win Deal or No Deal?

No. She did not compete as a contestant.

7. Why did Meghan leave Deal or No Deal?

She later said she disliked feeling that her appearance was the main focus of the role.

8. Did Meghan Markle talk about Deal or No Deal?

Yes. She discussed the experience on her Archetypes podcast in 2022.

9. Was Meghan Markle a model before Suits?

She did modeling and other jobs while pursuing acting. Her Deal or No Deal work came before her regular role on Suits.

10. Did Meghan enjoy working on the show?

Her comments suggest a mixed experience. She appreciated the job and its benefits but did not like how she felt about the role.

Real-Life Usage of the Search Term

People use “meghan markle deal or no deal” in several ways.

In conversations

Someone may ask:

Was Meghan Markle really on Deal or No Deal?

A simple answer is:

Yes. She was a briefcase model from 2006 to 2007.

In entertainment searches

A reader may search:

Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal episode

They are usually looking for information about her appearances on the show.

In celebrity searches

Someone may search:

Meghan Markle Deal or No Deal before Harry

This usually means they want to learn about her career before she became a member of the British royal family.

In social media discussions

People may use the phrase when discussing Meghan’s comments about the show or old clips and photographs from her early career.

In research

Readers may search the term to confirm whether she was actually on the show and whether she was a contestant or a model.

Google Search and Usage Trends

There is no need to invent search volume or ranking numbers for this topic.

The search phrase “meghan markle deal or no deal” is closely tied to several public-interest events.

Interest has appeared around:

Old clips and photos from her early career
Her 2022 comments on Archetypes
Discussion about her decision to leave the show
Her later career on Suits
Renewed discussion of the show in connection with her public profile
Her 2025 conversation with Chrissy Teigen

The 2022 podcast discussion was especially important because Meghan directly explained how she viewed the experience.

The subject received another wave of attention in 2025 when Meghan and Chrissy Teigen looked back at their time on the show.

Because exact Google Trends figures can change over time, this article does not claim a specific search volume, trend score, or ranking position.

FAQs;

1. Was Meghan Markle really on Deal or No Deal?

Yes. Meghan Markle appeared on the U.S. version of Deal or No Deal as a briefcase model. She appeared during 2006 and 2007. She was not one of the contestants who played the main game. It was part of the group of models who held the numbered briefcases.

2. What number was Meghan Markle on Deal or No Deal?

Meghan was best known as briefcase model number 24. Episode records identify her as Briefcase Model #24. A later auction listing also connected the number 24 briefcase with her and said she used it for most of her appearances. )

3. How many episodes was Meghan Markle in?

Meghan appeared in 34 episodes of the U.S. version of Deal or No Deal. Her appearances took place between 2006 and 2007, before she became widely known for her role as Rachel Zane on Suits.

4. Why did Meghan Markle leave Deal or No Deal?

Meghan later said she left because she did not like feeling that the job focused mainly on her appearance. She also made clear that she was grateful for the work because it gave her income and health insurance while she was pursuing acting.

5. Did Meghan Markle win money on Deal or No Deal?

No. Meghan was not a contestant. She worked as a briefcase model. The contestants were the people who played the game and made deals with the Banker. Meghan’s role was to hold and present one of the numbered cases.

6. Was Meghan Markle briefcase number 24?

Yes. Number 24 is the briefcase most closely connected with Meghan. Records from the show identify her as model number 24, and an auction listing for a show briefcase said she used number 24 for 31 of her 34 episodes. )

7. Did Meghan Markle talk about Deal or No Deal later?

Yes. In 2022, Meghan discussed her time on the show on her Archetypes podcast. She explained that she appreciated the job but felt uncomfortable with the way she believed the role focused on beauty rather than her other abilities.

Conclusion

The answer to “meghan markle deal or no deal” is clear. Meghan Markle really was part of the U.S. version of Deal or No Deal. She worked as a briefcase model, not as a contestant.

She appeared on the show from 2006 to 2007 and was mainly associated with briefcase number 24. It appeared in 34 episodes. Her work happened during an early stage of her acting career, before her major role as Rachel Zane on Suits.

Years later, Meghan talked openly about the experience. She said she was grateful for the job because it helped pay her bills and gave her health insurance. At the same time, she said she did not like feeling that her appearance received more attention than her intelligence and abilities.

It is also useful to separate Meghan’s personal experience from the experiences of other models. Some former cast members have spoken positively about the opportunities the show gave them.

So, if you are looking for the basic answer, remember three facts: Meghan was a briefcase model, she was mainly number 24, and she appeared on the show from 2006 to 2007.

Ethan Carter

Ethan Carter is a language writer at Wordellect who helps readers understand word differences, grammar rules, and spelling variations through simple and accurate guides.