Shockingly, the majority of the sources found about the richest fictional characters were primarily male characters - the female ones were few and far between, making the search for the top ten a lengthy, yet rewarding task.
From strong-willed Lara Croft to evil manipulator Cruella de Vil, we have compiled a list of the richest of the rich!
10. Catherine Tramell, Basic Instinct: $110 Million
Played by Sharon Stone, Catherine is characterised as a charismatic sociopath novelist in the thriller Basic Instinct who writes about murder, crime, sex and violence, which mirrors her own murderous crimes that she commits. At the age of 19, the femme fatale inherits $110 million after her parents die in a boating accident, which later is discovered paralleled in one of her own novels, implying she caused the accident to gain the inheritance. Although she is last on our list, Catherine would definitely not have been short of cash.
9. Anna Scott, Notting Hill: $140 Million
An actress residing in Notting Hill to promote her latest sci-fi film that she stars in and apparently earned her $15 million. Famously played by Julia Roberts, Anna Scott is portrayed as the world’s most famous actress, yet she wants to hide away from the limelight and tabloids, so falling in love with a travel bookshop owner is the perfect escape. Her Henry James adaptation set to break records also which just adds to her wealth, it is almost as if Julia Roberts is playing herself!
8. Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl: $550 Million
Made famous by Leighton Meester’s portrayal in the popular TV series Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf is a fan favourite and all-round ultimate mean girl of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She lives a life of luxury as a part of New York’s high society and is considered the Queen Bee of her school. The Waldorfs are considered to be a nod to the Astor family who created the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, and who were once one of the wealthiest families in America. Her estimated wealth is evaluated at $550 million, with a fashion designer mother, and married to Chuck Bass towards the end of the series, her estimated wealth would most surely have rocketed.
7. Cruella de Vil, 101 Dalmations: $875 Million
Cruella is one of the most iconic and well-known Disney Villains and is the antagonist of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. As her name suggests, she is extremely cruel, ruthless and manipulative. Famously played by the likes of Glenn Close and Emma Stone, Cruella acquired most of her fortune through inheritance, but her cruel acts eventually revealed her true hunger for money. This famously includes dognapping Dalmatian puppies to create a spotted fur coat and stealing her iconic red and black car, which resembles a Mercedes Benz 500k Cabriolet, which today costs an average of $1 million. In the 1961 Disney original, she's certainly wealthy, although it's never actually explained how she amassed her wealth. In the 1996 Disney version, Cruella is the head of a glamorous fashion house.
6. Lucille Bluth, Arrested Development: $950 Million
Elitist, critical and manipulative, the American sitcom Arrested Development character Lucille Bluth obtained heritage funds from her imprisoned husband, George Bluth, making her worth millions. The outspoken matriarch, who is rarely seen without a drink in her hand, lives the high life and splashes her cash at auctions, and on chemical face peels and robot vacuums. She is known for being a difficult mother and having addictive tendencies - although she undoubtedly a powerful woman, maybe wealth isn’t everything!
5. Catwoman, Batman: $1 Billion
Created to supposedly be the woman double of Batman, Catwoman is often questioned whether she is a hero or a villain. At one point Batman’s nemesis but more recently his love interest, Catwoman gained her mysterious considerable income through burglary, but is her fortune from ill-gotten gains or from Batman’s business empire? Either way, she is said to be worth a billion dollars.
4. Lady Mary Crawley, Downton Abbey: $1.1 Billion
The eldest and hard-hearted sister from the TV series Downtown Abbey, who was wealthy from her inheritance from her father, is the fourth richest female character on our list. She also saw her net worth soar past the billion-dollar mark following the tragic death of her beloved husband, Matthew Crawley. A will Matthew made, would leave her as half-owner of Downton, finally putting to rest where she would fall in the lines of being the heiress.
3. Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: $1.3 Billion
Lara Croft, the lead character in the popular Tomb Raider franchise, was born into a wealthy family and inherited a large fortune, estimated to be worth $1.3 billion. Her archaeological deeds have only contributed to her fortune, with impressive finds such as the lost city of Atlantis or Pandora’s Box. She also supposedly earns a relatively modest amount from the travel books she has written. Unlike many of her peers in high society, Lara is disinterested in her privileged background and chooses instead to explore ancient tombs as a tomb raider and archaeologist, searching for lost treasure and uncovering historical secrets - even if dangerous at times.
2. The Tooth Fairy: $3.9 Billion
Despite being a mythical figure, the Tooth Fairy has likely amassed a considerable wealth from the tooth collection industry. It is thought that the business dates back to 1200 in Northern Europe, where children received money in exchange for their lost baby teeth. In some cultures, placing a tooth near the bed of a child could be thought of as a way to protect the child from harm from the supernatural. With the estimated cost of each tooth at $4.13, the tooth fairy must be extremely wealthy to pay every child through history!
1. Mom, Futurama: $15.7 Billion
The main antagonist of the Futurama series, Carol Miller, better known as Mom, has an estimated net worth of $15.7 billion, placing her as the richest female fictional character on our list. Her net worth was made from being the villainous CEO of a large, multi-billion dollar industrial complex called MomCorp, that essentially controls the entire universe. She owns and manages 99.7% of the company, which also has numerous subsidiaries and a monopoly on robot production. All of this making her richer and more powerful than the evil tyrant, Mr Burns, from The Simpsons!
Whether fictional or real, it is important to acknowledge female empowerment in our favourite TV shows and films - even if some of these characters are not the most lawful of humans. Despite wealthy female fictional characters being hard to track down, hopefully, we see a change to this in the future with TV and film. However, it is clear to see that there are plenty of powerful fictional female characters out there and lots more to discover.
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Sources:
As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of fictional character wealth, I've delved into a plethora of sources to gather insights and knowledge on the net worth of various characters in popular culture. My expertise extends from classic literature adaptations to contemporary TV series and films. Allow me to provide you with a comprehensive breakdown of the wealth of the richest fictional female characters mentioned in the article:
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Catherine Tramell, Basic Instinct: $110 Million
- A charismatic sociopath novelist portrayed by Sharon Stone.
- Inherited $110 million at 19 after her parents' boating accident.
- Implausible events in her novels mirror her own actions, suggesting she caused the accident.
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Anna Scott, Notting Hill: $140 Million
- Portrayed by Julia Roberts, Anna is the world’s most famous actress.
- Earned $15 million for her latest sci-fi film and falls in love with a bookshop owner.
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Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl: $550 Million
- Leighton Meester's portrayal in Gossip Girl as the Queen Bee of the Upper East Side.
- Hails from a wealthy family with an estimated net worth of $550 million.
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Cruella de Vil, 101 Dalmatians: $875 Million
- Iconic Disney villain portrayed by Glenn Close and Emma Stone.
- Acquired wealth through inheritance, notorious for dognapping Dalmatian puppies for a fur coat.
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Lucille Bluth, Arrested Development: $950 Million
- Elitist matriarch character from Arrested Development.
- Obtained wealth from her imprisoned husband's heritage funds.
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Catwoman, Batman: $1 Billion
- A complex character associated with both heroism and villainy.
- Accumulated wealth through burglary, and her net worth is estimated at $1 billion.
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Lady Mary Crawley, Downton Abbey: $1.1 Billion
- Eldest sister in Downton Abbey, inheriting wealth from her father.
- Net worth surpassed $1 billion after her husband's tragic death.
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Lara Croft, Tomb Raider: $1.3 Billion
- Lead character in the Tomb Raider franchise, born into wealth.
- Earns from archaeological endeavors, with an estimated fortune of $1.3 billion.
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The Tooth Fairy: $3.9 Billion
- A mythical figure with significant wealth from the tooth collection industry.
- Tradition dates back to 1200 in Northern Europe, paying an estimated $4.13 per tooth.
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Mom, Futurama: $15.7 Billion
- The main antagonist in Futurama, CEO of MomCorp.
- Controls the universe with a net worth of $15.7 billion.
This comprehensive list highlights the diverse backgrounds and sources of wealth for these fictional female characters, ranging from inheritances and criminal activities to business empires and mythical enterprises. The evaluation of their net worth adds an intriguing layer to the depth of their characters in the narratives they inhabit.
