quote: The Forbes Fictional 15 Oliver ''Daddy'' Warbucks C. Montgomery Burns Scrooge McDuck Richie Rich Jed Clampett Mr. Monopoly Bruce Wayne Tony Stark Prince Abakaliki of Nigeria Thurston Howell III Willy Wonka Lucius Malfoy Tony Montana Lara Croft Mario
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The biggest change to this year's list comes at the very top. For the first time in the Fictional 15's history, Santa Claus has been unseated from the number-one spot, replaced by defense contractor Oliver ''Daddy'' Warbucks.
We still estimate Claus' net worth as infinite, but we excluded him from this year's rankings after being bombarded by letters from outraged children insisting that Claus is "real." We don't claim to have settled the ongoing controversy concerning Claus' existence, but after taking into account the physical evidence--toys delivered, milk and cookies devoured--we felt it was safer to remove him from consideration.
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Other characters were dropped for more prosaic reasons. Plummeting demand for fur coats hit puppy-hating Cruella De Vil especially hard, while playboy billionaire Arthur Bach died from liver failure. Ebenezer Scrooge gave the bulk of his $1.7 billion fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. And Superman nemesis Lex Luthor is struggling to rebuild his fortune after blowing billions on his latest (futile) attempt to take over the world.
With a net worth of $7.1 billion, Atlantic City real-estate tycoon Mr. Monopoly is the richest newcomer. Also making his Fictional 15 debut: spam entrepreneur Prince Abakaliki of Nigeria. Abakaliki is notable for being the only fictional character on our list who regularly e-mails real people, usually begging for assistance in recovering large sums of money. We estimate Abakaliki to be worth more than $2.8 billion.
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The wheel of fortune has a tendency to turn especially fast for the members of the Fictional 15, and this year proved no exception. Longtime member C. Montgomery Burns doubled his fortune to $16.8 billion in just 12 months, thanks in large part to a "technology exchange" deal with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Wait a sec... Prince Abakaliki of Nigeria ain't real?!?
Uh oh.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Where's Warren Worthington III? And Mr. Potter from Bedford Falls?
This list is incomplete!
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
"Mr. Monopoly"?!
His name's Milburn Pennybags.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
He has a big ego. He likes the flashy title.
I mean geez, he wears a monocle, a top hat, and created an empire around his own greed. I'd say he's earned the right to go by a pseudonym.
You HAD to of Wikipedia'd to find Milburn. I refuse to believe you read the Monopoly Companion book that Orbanes wrote.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
Interesting article, but I really wish that these sites would stop using slideshows. Either I end up clicking the next button anyways, in which case the slideshow is pointless, or I want to spend more time with a given slide. Either way you look at it, they are pointless annoyances.
Posted by Dead_Horse (Member # 3027) on :
Milburn Pennybags? I thought you were describing Mr. Peanut.
(edit: I know I can't type, but how did that R move clear over there?)
Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :
Milton Pennybags? Of the Boston Pennybags?
I knew him back in '49. He sported the monocle even then the old devil.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: You HAD to of Wikipedia'd to find Milburn. I refuse to believe you read the Monopoly Companion book that Orbanes wrote.
I don't doubt that he knew that off the cuff, without looking it up. We're all bastions of useless information around here; that hasn't been proven enough?
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
I wikied the first name. I always knew him as "Rich Uncle Pennybags," which apparently predates "Milburn."
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
But to redeem myself, let me point out that I am wearing my WWTBAM Million Point Winner jacket today.
(And I must guiltily admit that it's not just because it's cold. I am showing off. )
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Trying to show off you mean.
And failing.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
*shrug*
Do you have one of these?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Icarus: I wikied the first name. I always knew him as "Rich Uncle Pennybags," which apparently predates "Milburn."
Ah, Rich Uncle Pennybags I'll give you, lots of slightly older people know that one. He was apparently known as RUP until the late 90's when his name was "officially" changed to Mr. Monopoly.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: . . . lots of slightly older people . . .
What the--?!
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
Wait a second... Pennybags is on there? Malfoy is on there? And D.D. Harriman isn't on there? I protest!
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
quote: Ah, Rich Uncle Pennybags I'll give you, lots of slightly older people know that one.
(You know I am teasing, Icarus. )
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
How is Lex Luther not there?
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
He lost his money trying to take over the world.
Why is Lucious Malfoy so rich though? I'd enjoy an explanation of both that, and when the next book is coming out.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Icarus:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: . . . lots of slightly older people . . .
What the--?!
How old are you Ick?
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by Icarus: *shrug*
Do you have one of these?
They are $.30 on ebay, and I didn't have to wait in line.
How's the PotC game, BTW? Need any more help?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:How old are you Ick?
Old. Older than me, even.
But not OTB.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
No, not Older Than Bob.
Heaven forbid!
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
In my defense, "slightly older" for me means anyone over 25.
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pwned
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