DrForester
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Sadly no top companies this year.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/13/fictional-15-richest-characters-opinions-fictional_land.html
1. Carlisle Cullen
2. Scrooge McDuck
3. Richie Rich
4. Tony Stark
5. Jed Clampett
6. Adrian Veidt
7. Bruce Wayne
8. The Tooth Fairy
9. Thurston Howell III
10. Sir Topham Hatt
11. Artemis Fowl II
12. C. Montgomery Burns
13. Charles Bass
14. Jay Gatsby
15. Lucille Bluth
Recap: 2008's Top companies.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/13/fictional-15-richest-characters-opinions-fictional_land.html
It's a great time to be imaginary.
Global markets are rapidly recovering from the 2008 financial crisis, and so are the fortunes of the fictitious. There are six new characters on the 2010 edition of Fictional 15, our annual ranking of fiction's richest, with an average net worth of $7.3 billion. In aggregate, the nine returning members are worth $79.8 billion, up 9% since we last checked in on them.
Topping the list this year is newcomer Carlisle Cullen, patriarch of the Cullen coven of vampires in the Twilight series of novels. Cullen, age 370, has accumulated a fortune of $34.1 billion--much of it from long-term investments made with the aid of his adopted daughter Alice, who picks stocks based on her ability to see into the future. Low-key and undead, Cullen has spent recent years posing as a mortal doctor in a small town in Washington State.
Chuck Bass, the brooding, manipulative heir to deceased New York real estate legend Bart Bass, makes his Fictional 15 debut this year with an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion. The Gossip Girl star and fashion icon (daywear, the three P's: Purple, Plaid and Preppy; nightwear, the three V's: vests, velvet and Valentino) recently sat for a Forbes Fictional Interview.
Also new to this year's list: Sir Topham Hatt ($2 billion), the railroad tycoon from television's Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends, Lucille Bluth ($950 million), the matron of the dysfunctional Bluth real estate family from Arrested Development, and the Tooth Fairy ($3.9 billion), who has blown several previous fortunes 50 cents at a time. Jay Gatsby, the shady Long Island dandy from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, returns to the list after an absence of several years with a billion-dollar fortune.
Uncle Sam is the highest profile drop-off this year. The crusty frontiersman and former U.S. Army recruitment officer had the largest net worth swing in Fictional 15 history, from an estimate of "infinite" last year to less than a billion today. Yes, he has the ability to print money--literally--but how much exactly is that money worth? Gordon Gekko, the hero of the forthcoming Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, drops off the list after a stint in federal lock-up. We also mourn the passing of Jabba the Hutt from the Star Wars universe. The crime lord was found dead late last year under salacious circumstances.
Fictional 15 perennials Scrooge McDuck ($33.5 billion) and Jed Clampett ($7.2 billion) had banner years, reflecting surging gold and oil prices respectively. Only Richie Rich ($11.5 billion) and Thurston Howell III ($2.1) billion have seen their fortunes decline over the past year.
To qualify for the Fictional 15, we require that candidates be an authored fictional creation, a rule which excludes mythological and folkloric characters. They must star in a specific narrative work or series of works. And they must be known, both within their fictional universe and by their audience, for being rich.
Net worth estimates are based on an analysis of the fictional character's source material, and valued against known real-world commodity and share price movements. In the case of privately held fictional concerns, we sought to identify comparable fictional public companies. All prices are as of market close, April 12, 2010.
We reserve the right to bend or break any of our own rules--so yes, we know Uncle Sam and the Tooth Fairy are folkloric.
1. Carlisle Cullen
Immortal vampire and small-town doctor has quietly amassed a fortune over the centuries. In 1670 received generous handout from Italian friends; put savings in bank, reaped billions in compound interest. Made shrewd long-term investments in steel, gold, oil, thanks to prescience of daughter turned financial advisor Alice; saw recessions coming, invested early in Wal-Mart. Earned doctor's salary for 340 years without paying for groceries, health care expenses. Avoids sunshine and public displays of wealth but owns several valuable properties, including yacht, private island, collection of Renaissance art. New member. (For more on Carlisle Cullen, see "Blood Money.")
Featured in the Twilight books and films.
2. Scrooge McDuck
The quacking Croesus saw net worth increase due to record-high price of gold; McDuck keeps most of his fortune in gold coins, all piled high inside his Duckburg "money bin." Gains were crimped because of money spent having adventures with three nephews and bumbling personal pilot. Apologized to stockholders for temporarily abandoning penny-pinching ways; promises to be stingier in the new year. Member since 1947.
Featured in Uncle Scrooge comics.
3. Richie Rich
"The richest kid in the world" still most monied minor, despite slip in net worth due to bad investment in Chinese bow-tie factories. Future prospects better thanks to success of new Rich Industries robotic maids: over 2 million of the iron-clad matrons sold to date. Class action sexual-harassment suit filed by owners of Roomba vacuum cleaners to slow sales, dent Rich Industries stock price. Other businesses lagging but still profitable; analysts are bullish about market potential of Professor Keenbean's latest invention, a fusion-powered ice cream scoop. At home, the boy once known for his extravagant parties (hot dogs sprinkled with gold dust, lemonade cooled with chunks of arctic ice cap) has been missing from Richville social scene since June: Reportedly still mourning death of close friend and "spiritual advisor" Michael Jackson. Member since 1953.
Featured in the Richie Rich comics and films.
4. Tony Stark
Billionaire arms manufacturer experiences turbulent year after confessing he is the armored super hero known as Iron Man. Called before Congress and urged to share the super-suit's technical secrets; Stark declined, boasted that he has "privatized world peace." Shares of Stark Industries stock up over 20% after the performance. Stark's already legendary drinking and womanizing reportedly reaching new levels. Incurred significant fire damage to Manhattan pied-à-terre after attempting to smash open a magnum of champagne with an experimental plasma rifle; caught by paparazzi canoodling with all three Kardashian sisters in consecutive dates on the same night. Member since 1963.
Featured in the Iron Man comics and films.
5. Jed Clampett
Price of crude oil nearly doubles in past year, and value of Clampett's "Texas Tea" soars. Finally fulfills threat to fire longtime banker Milton Drysdale amid allegations of double-dealing; Granny snipes that Drysdale is "such a liar he has to get someone else to call his dog for him." Extended clan thriving: Jethro parlayed sixth-grade education, family fortune into hit reality television drama L.A. Shore; Elly May heading "treat the critters right" campaign for PETA. Member since 1962.
Featured in the television show The Beverly Hillbillies.
6. Adrian Veidt
Born into wealth, industrialist known as "the smartest man on the planet" inherited sizable fortune at age 17, gave away entirely to charity. Remade himself as costumed crime fighter "Ozymandias," upon retirement, made another fortune marketing own heroic image. Massive merchandising business still prospering in weak economy; sales of genetically engineered pet lynxes soaring; tickets to 24-city OzyFest music and gymnastics tour sold out in under 10 minutes. Former hero now holed up in Antarctic retreat, reportedly developing plan to save the world, in consultation with Bill Gates and Bono. Member since 2008.
Featured in the comic book and film Watchmen.
7. Bruce Wayne
Gossip columnists having field day with Wayne, implying bachelor billionaire hangs around all day in "man cave," dons flamboyant S&M-themed costumes at night, parties with teen boys he keeps as "wards." Wayne dismisses reports as "batty," files libel suit against New York Post's Page Six. Family firm Wayne Enterprises thriving under leadership of celebrity CEO Lucius Fox; many details remain classified but has battery of lucrative Pentagon contracts, said to be working on unmanned drone that uses sonar to "see." Member since 1939.
Featured in Batman comics and films.
8. The Tooth Fairy
Mythological sprite recently gifted multibillion-dollar grant from Santa Claus (who remains off Fictional 15 this year due to volume of letters to Forbes from children insisting that he is real). Endowment sufficient to finance annual tooth collection duties out of interest alone; Claus insisted on legally binding covenant forbidding spendthrift "Toothie" from touching principal, noting she blew through $145 million last year, mostly in very small cash gifts. Rumored to sell baby teeth to gray-market Chinese labs researching human cloning; other theories hold teeth are an ingredient in Colonel Sander's secret Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. New member.
Featured in folklore and film.
9. Thurston Howell III
Reclusive billionaire lives on remote Pacific island, forces genius inventor known as "The Professor" to create green technology for Howell Industries. Recent product launches include coconut cell phones, bicycle powered washing machines, bamboo spacecraft. Rumored to be developing seashell-derived nuclear weapons. Company revenues were up 7% over the last year, but Howell's personal fortune plummeted after a monkey tricked personal assistant Willy Gilligan into giving him Howell's ATM code.
Featured in the television show Gilligan's Island.
10. Sir Topham Hatt
Britain's railroading billionaire boasts the world's largest collection of vintage steam engines, which are the main mode of transport on Sodor, the island off the coast of Britain where he owns almost every square inch of property. Owns some diesel engines but insists that they will never take a place of honor on "his railroad." Insists on giving directions to his engines, which he addresses by name as if they are people. Pride of his collection: a blue London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) E2 Class tank engine ("Thomas") and a a 4-6-2 LNER A1 ("Gordon") that resembles the famous "Flying Scotsman" engine.
Featured in the television show Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends.
11. Artemis Fowl II
Son of an Irish crime lord took over family business when his father disappeared. Rapidly expanded the syndicate, establishing new lines of business in Russia and the Arctic; stole famed work of art The Fairy Thief from an ultra-secure Swiss bank vault. Recently reunited with his father, Fowl now attempting to steer the business toward legitimacy; developing new handheld super-computer. A child prodigy with the highest-tested IQ in Europe, Fowl's known aliases include "Emmesey Squire" and "Dr. C. Niall DeMencha." Member since 2008.
Featured in the Artemis Fowl series of books.
12. C. Montgomery Burns
Owner and operator of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant recently arrested by police for possession of stolen artwork; control of energy giant passed to longtime assistant Waylon Smithers. But jailhouse conversion to Christianity lost its luster, and Burns bought his way to freedom. Now returning to legendarily evil ways. Once blocked out the sun over Springfield to increase electricity use; constructed children's hospitals for use as personal organ banks; releases vicious attack dogs on unwelcome house guests. Hobbies include taunting immigrant laborers, stealing candy from babies, making fur clothing out of puppies. Member since 1989.
Featured in The Simpsons.
13. Charles Bass
Brooding, manipulative heir to deceased New York real estate legend Bart Bass wrestled control of multibillion-dollar family empire at height of real estate market. Promptly sold majority stake in Bass Industries to stepmother Lily van der Woodsen. Used proceeds to buy Empire Hotel, where 80% average occupancy and weeknight $75,000 bar takings has coffers swelling. Willing to go to great lengths for press: launched illegal hotel speakeasy to much fanfare; kissed man in ploy to make rival jealous; dates New York society fixture Blair Waldorf. Obtained a trademark on the phrase "I'm Chuck Bass." Says it often. Daytime wardrobe embraces three P's--purple, plaid and preppy. For night, three V's--vests, velvet and Valentino. Rumors birth mother may still be alive could throw wrench in plans. New Member. (For an interview with Chuck Bass, click here.)
Featured in the television show Gossip Girl.
14. Jay Gatsby
Mysterious Long Island billionaire famed for wild all-weekend parties, clothing collection that would put Imelda Marcos to shame. War hero reportedly miffed by Social Register's refusal to list him, upset by establishment sneers about fly-over country origins, darker rumors of organized crime connections. Despite all, archetypical self-made man said to be hopeless romantic at heart. Member since 1925.
Featured in The Great Gatsby.
15. Lucille Bluth
Matron of dysfunctional real-estate empire revealed to be mastermind behind Bluth Company's legal and financial woes. While husband and former CEO George Bluth served time for crimes including fraud, malfeasance and illegally building homes for then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, estranged wife secretly consolidated family power, manipulated sons into running the company. Said to have squirreled away millions in Swiss bank accounts and inside the walls of family-run frozen banana stand. Federal investigators currently attempting to locate Bluth after she slipped their grasp and fled by sea; thought to be traveling southeast Asia with a one-handed man. Hobbies include drinking, plastic surgery and abusing her housekeepers. New Member.
Featured in the television program Arrested Development.
Recap: 2008's Top companies.
1. CHOAM
2. ACME Corp.
3. Sirius Cybernetics Corp.
4. MomCorp
5. Rich Industries
6. Soylent Corp.
7. The Very Big Corporation of America
8. Frobozz Magic Corp.
9. Warbucks Industries
10. Tyrell Corp.
11. Wayne Enterprises
12. Virtucon
13. Globex
14. Umbrella Corp.
15. Wonka Industries
16. Stark Industries
17. Clampett Oil
18. Oceanic Airlines
19. Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems
20. Cyberdyne Systems Corp.
21. d'Anconia Copper
22. Gringotts
23. Oscorp
24. Nakatomi Trading Corp.
25. Spacely Space Sprockets
