The 20 richest fictional characters ever, ranked

Which fictional character has the biggest fortune?

From Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos, we're all familiar with the world's wealthiest people. But have you ever wondered how rich the most powerful fictional characters would really be?

Back in 2023, Forbes Advisor unveiled its on-screen rich list, revealing the 20 wealthiest characters from film and TV based on their estimated fortunes. Read on to discover who made the cut – and how they made their fictional millions, and in some cases, billions. 

All dollar amounts in US dollars.

20. Jay Gatsby: $805 million

Kicking off the countdown is Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. The timeless literary character has been brought to life on screen several times, most recently by Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured).

Self-made millionaire Gatsby amassed most of his $805 million fortune from bootlegging during America’s Prohibition era. He splashed his illegally earned cash on an opulent mansion in Long Island, a cream-colored Rolls-Royce, and extravagant parties, all to impress his unrequited love, Daisy Buchanan. 

19. Gordon Gekko: $870 million

Portrayed by Michael Douglas, cutthroat corporate raider Gordon Gekko appears in the 1987 movie Wall Street.

Gekko amassed his $870 million fortune from his financial investment company, Gekko & Co., which profited from stripping companies and selling their assets. Famed for his saying "greed is good," Gekko was relentless in his pursuit of wealth, even committing crimes like insider trading and fraud.

=16. Cruella de Vil: $1.3 billion

Disney villain Cruella de Vil amassed her $1.3 billion net worth from fashion, particularly the heinous fur industry. 

The dastardly de Vil stopped at nothing to build her business empire, even stealing family pets. The feared fashionista's wealth continued to grow due to investments in high-end brands and luxury goods. Aside from the beloved 1961 animated Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, arguably her finest portrayal was by Glenn Close in 1996.

=16. Mr Burns: $1.3 billion

Featured in The Simpsons, nuclear power plant owner Mr Burns is the wealthiest and most powerful resident in Springfield, with a fortune of $1.3 billion.

Mr Burns inherited his wealth and business acumen from his adoptive grandfather, Colonel Wainwright Montgomery Burns. The cunning businessman, who’s not above exploiting his employees to make a buck, has investments in everything from energy to media to real estate. 

=16. Walden Schmidt: $1.3 billion

Featured on the sitcom Two and a Half Men, billionaire Walden Schmidt is portrayed by Ashton Kutcher.

The genius tech tycoon sold his first website to Microsoft as a teen and channeled the proceeds into technology, environmental conservation projects, and charitable initiatives. Unlike some of the greedy characters in this round-up, philanthropist Schmidt used his wealth to help humanity.

15. Willy Wonka: $2 billion

Kooky chocolatier Willy Wonka first appeared in the Roald Dahl children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, though he has been portrayed on screen by Gene Wilder (pictured), Johnny Depp, and Timothée Chalamet.

Wonka's high-tech chocolate factory and delicious confectionery, including the fabled Wonka Bar and the Everlasting Gobstopper, helped him accumulate his $2 billion fortune.

14. Tywin Lannister: $2.3 billion

Created by fantasy author George R. R. Martin, Tywin Lannister is the scheming patriarch of House Lannister in the Game of Thrones series. On-screen, he is portrayed by British actor Charles Dance (pictured).

The $2.3 billion fortune of House Lannister comes from interests in gold mining. The politically ambitious Tywin used his money to gain power in the kingdom of Westeros. Eventually, he succeeded in placing his villainous grandson, Joffrey Baratheon, on the Iron Throne.

13. Bobby Axelrod: $5.4 billion

Portrayed by Damian Lewis, Bobby Axelrod is the ruthless, self-made billionaire from the TV drama Billions.

As the head of the hedge fund Axe Capital, the savvy businessman Axelrod amassed a fortune of $5.4 billion. The New York Mets owner and well-known hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen served as inspiration for the character.

12. Jabba the Hutt: $9 billion

Grotesque criminal kingpin Jabba the Hutt is the wealthiest creature in the Star Wars universe, with a staggering $9 billion fortune. 

The diabolical Hutt earned his money from illegal activities such as smuggling and piracy. His ill-gotten gains afforded him a life of luxury in a sprawling palace on the desert planet of Tatooine.

Liking this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY

11. Smaug: $9.2 billion

Smaug, created by British fantasy novelist J. R. R. Tolkien, is the fearsome dragon who appears in The Hobbit books and film series. On-screen, he is voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Smaug amassed his $9.2 billion fortune over centuries by plundering it from helpless civilizations. The greedy creature hoarded his loot, which included gold, Elvish armor, and gemstones, in his lair in the Lonely Mountain.

10. Scrooge McDuck: $9.6 billion

As you probably guessed from his name, the Disney character Scrooge McDuck is modeled on the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The frugal Scrooge McDuck is known for hoarding his cash in a giant money bin. His vast $9.6 billion fortune comes from varied investments in everything from space travel to telecommunications.

9. Bruce Wayne: $9.8 billion

Bruce Wayne’s $9.8 billion net worth comes from global conglomerate Wayne Enterprises, which he inherited from his parents after their untimely deaths.

The philanthropic billionaire invested in cutting-edge technology, clean energy initiatives, and urban development projects to improve the city of Gotham. He spent a significant portion of his income on becoming his crime-fighting alias, Batman.

8. Mom: $18.7 billion

Featured in the animated sitcom Futurama, business mogul Mom amassed her $18.7 billion fortune via her conglomerate MomCorp, which monopolized sectors such as robotics, manufacturing, and space exploration. 

The diabolical businesswoman expanded her money-spinning empire at all costs, often exploiting workers to increase profits.

7. Logan Roy: $19.3 billion

Logan Roy, featured in the TV series Succession and played by Brian Cox, is the patriarch of the Roy family and heads a global media and entertainment conglomerate.

With investments in sectors including news, film production, and theme parks, Roy is worth a staggering $19.3 billion. Real-life media mogul and billionaire Rupert Murdoch apparently served as the model for the character.

6. Daddy Warbucks: $38.8 billion

Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks (portrayed here by Albert Finney in 1982's film version of Annie) amassed his $36.7 billion fortune via investments in sectors such as aerospace, manufacturing, and media.

The previously cold-hearted businessman changed his ways after adopting an orphan girl named Annie, donating his billions to causes like children's welfare, education, and healthcare.

5. Lex Luthor: $80.2 billion

DC supervillain Lex Luthor built his $80.2 billion fortune from his organization, LexCorp, which has interests in real estate and biotech.

The crooked Luthor used his wealth and power to cause chaos in the city of Metropolis and to defeat his arch-nemesis, Superman.

4. Tony Stark: $85.6 billion

Tony Stark, a brilliant inventor, built his $85.6 billion wealth through his cutting-edge technology business, Stark Industries. The company profited from manufacturing and selling advanced weaponry and pursuing advancements in AI.

Stark funded the development of the infamous Iron Man suit and led the superhero group The Avengers.

3. Molly Novak: $116 billion

Portrayed by comedian Maya Rudolph, Molly Novak is a character in the TV series Loot. Novak gained her $116 billion fortune after divorcing her tech billionaire husband, who she married without a prenup.

On receiving the colossal sum, Novak embarked on a mission to change the world through philanthropic work.

2. Mina Tepes: $311 billion

Mina Tepes is the mysterious vampire queen featured in the anime series Dance in the Vampire Bund. 

The immortal royal amassed her $311 billion fortune over centuries. She used her money to buy an island off the coast of Japan and to pay off the country's national debt. 

1. T'Challa: $535 billion

Taking the top spot in the round-up is superhero T'Challa – also known as Black Panther – with a $535 billion fortune.

T'Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman in the Marvel movies) is the king of Wakanda, a technologically advanced nation rich in the fictional metal vibranium. The philanthropic ruler invested in scientific research, education, and infrastructure to enrich the nation of Wakanda and combat global injustice.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveMONEY

Now meet the world's richest families back here in the real world