# Who's Richer? Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark? Or, Lex Luthor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791 "2011-07-04T05:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/21 "2011-07-04T21:55:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Damn! I voted too quickly, before I saw the “probably Scrooge McDuck.” Scrooge is undoubtedly wealthier than any of them: [Who’s richer, Bill Gates or Scrooge McDuck? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1807/whos-richer-bill-gates-or-scrooge-mcduck) OK, since I wasn’t going to vote, I’ll vote for Scrooge in your place. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/22 "2011-07-04T21:57:25Z")
I don’t know if there is any methodology to it and that’s really where the fun is, but [Forbes publishes a list of the 15 richest fictional characters every year.](http://blogs.forbes.com/davidewalt/2011/04/06/the-forbes-fictional-15/) Scrooge MacDuck is on top of the 2011 list with a net worth of $44.1 billion. Tony Stark is sixth at $9.4 billion and Bruce Wayne is eighth with $7 billion. Lex Luthor is not ranked this year. I see Jeffrey Lebowski is 15th, which made me smile. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/23 "2011-07-04T22:12:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t know if there is any methodology to it and that’s really where the fun is, but [Forbes publishes a list of the 15 richest fictional characters every year.](http://blogs.forbes.com/davidewalt/2011/04/06/the-forbes-fictional-15/) Scrooge MacDuck is on top of the 2011 list with a net worth of $44.1 billion. Tony Stark is sixth at $9.4 billion and Bruce Wayne is eighth with $7 billion. Lex Luthor is not ranked this year. I see Jeffrey Lebowski is 15th, which made me smile. I see that Adrian Veidt beat Bruce Wayne last year; the WATCHMEN movie comes and goes, but Batman stays in the pop culture… ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/24 "2011-07-05T00:10:30Z")
[QUOTE=Forbes] The members of our 2011 list of wealthiest fictional characters have an average net worth of $9.86 billion, up 20% from last year. In aggregate, the Fictional 15 are worth $131.55 billion [/QUOTE] 131.55 / 15 = 8.77. Is math different for the rich, too!? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/25 "2011-07-05T14:51:05Z")
In a chart I saw years ago, the richest comic book personality was evaluated as: Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/26 "2011-07-05T15:17:05Z")
Scrooge McDuck has a vault of gold that he literally [swims in](http://investinginanunbalancedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/scrooge-mcduck.jpg). If he is not the richest comic book character, then he is at least the most pimp. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/27 "2011-07-05T15:19:32Z")
In the superhero comic book world (leaving out the Rich family & S. McDuck), there’s also Victor von Doom to consider; always hard to judge the relative wealth of sovereign leaders versus businessmen, of course. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/28 "2011-07-05T15:28:54Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Scrooge McDuck has a vault of gold that he literally [swims in](http://investinginanunbalancedworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/scrooge-mcduck.jpg). If he is not the richest comic book character, then he is at least the most pimp. Richie Rich has a skating rink that’s made out of one facet of a ginormous diamond. I’m talking about a size big enough to fill a big chunk of Scrooge’s money bin, and he keeps it _buried in the ground to skate on_. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/29 "2011-07-05T16:52:48Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > In the superhero comic book world (leaving out the Rich family & S. McDuck), there’s also Victor von Doom to consider; always hard to judge the relative wealth of sovereign leaders versus businessmen, of course. Another in that vein is the Black Panther, ruler of Wakanda. Vibranium rich and technologically advanced. Figure Doom as absolute autocrat might have greater access to Latveria’s resources, but Wakanda may have greater resources to start with. Maybe. Unfortunately the CIA Factbook hasn’t gotten around to providing precise details on their relative economic strengths. Slackers :D. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/30 "2011-07-05T17:03:42Z")
I have to say Scrooge McDuck is the richest. Sure all the other characters mentioned can fund armor suit projects and satelites and stuff, but McDuck has a huge vault full of cash that he can swim in. You know, what Monkey With A Gun just said… ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/31 "2011-07-05T17:09:32Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > P.S: besides, if you take away the “richest man on the planet” award from Luthor, you only end up with a bald git with a poor temper. That’s not great characterization for what is the second most important villain of DC comics. No, you might want to throw in there: Smartest human on the planet. That’s something, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/32 "2011-07-05T18:11:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe. Unfortunately the CIA Factbook hasn’t gotten around to providing precise details on their relative economic strengths. Slackers . Tamerlane, would you want to piss off von Doom or T’Challa? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/33 "2011-07-05T18:51:50Z")
I think I’m going to change my answer to Squirrel Girl. She may not have the bank account of other characters mentioned in this thread, but she has the unconditional love of hundreds of her furry friends. And really, isn’t loving friendship the greatest wealth of all? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/34 "2011-07-05T19:23:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Still, though, Scrooge McDuck is so far ahead of the pack that it’s only really meaningful to debate over second place. He’s managed to amass such an incredible quantity of wealth that it’s six dimensional. Let’s see anyone else pull that one off. It’s easy; you just need two piles of money, three dimensions each. > [@Bartman](#): > > And there are other listed companies/divisions including Wayne Botanical, Wayne Healthcare, WayneTech Landscaping. These three companies cooperate to produce Soylent Wayne. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/35 "2011-07-05T20:23:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Revenant, in PS238. > > “Sometimes I think access to massive amounts of money is a superpower of its own.” I’m not sure that he is rich. A [recent comic](http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2011-06-15) implies that he is financed by a rich ex-criminal turned legitimate businessman. It’s not totally clear if the assets referred to means ‘massive amounts of money’ but I think so. I don’t know if he has any money of his own. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/36 "2011-07-05T21:01:18Z")
I’m sure the Crystal Skull isn’t his only source of funds. Another comic (not sure if it’s online yet) has him keeping close tabs on a number of high-level businessmen whom he suspects of being supervillains. He was also politically well-enough connected to have a, ahem, little talk with Cranston before the latter’s retirement from politics. And of course, he had to have some resources to get the toys he used against Crystal Skull in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/37 "2011-07-07T00:59:06Z")
> [@Feyrat](#): > > It’s gotta be Luthor. He has his own SPACE STATION! Stark had one of those in a storyline a couple of decades ago. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791/38 "2011-07-07T03:11:02Z")
The more I think about it, I think Ultimate Tony Stark might be even richer. The Iron Man armor changes constantly, and like Dan Norder said, he had an orbital weapons platform. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-richer-bruce-wayne-or-tony-stark-or-lex-luthor/587791.md?page=1)