PokeWorld's Rich and the Powerful

[Trainer'sInsomnia]

I'm just curious. Who, in your opinions, are the most rich and successful people of the PokeWorld? The Trump, Gates, Isner, Cuban, etc...

Giovanni is obviously one. Professor Oak is possibly another.

What about the Champions? Do you think great wealth comes with their status and fame? Or do you think they're like the real world's top sport athletes?

 

[Hector]

I'd also assume that the Elite Four of each region are pretty well off as well.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

Oak? No way.

Anyone with a Giant Airship has to be exceedingly wealthy. Or was at the time, in Jirarudan's case (it's anyone's guess if he actually had anything set aside or could salvage anything of value). He's the obvious one, but since the Battle Pyramid seemed to fit Brandon's specifications, and they say in the 11th movie that Zero's ship was a custom to fit the machine, those two likely have a great deal of cashola.

Unless the Battle Pyramid was the result of Scott indulging Brandon. And actually I'd be willing to wager that Scott may be the wealthiest character we've seen in the whole series.

 

[Kalylia]

Giovanni is definitely an extremely wealthy man. He has to be, employing such vast numbers of people and Pokemon alike with the resources he has shown to posses.

I'd imagine that the leaders of the other teams are also fairly well off, though not quite as well off as Giovanni.

When it comes to the Pokemon Champions and Gym Leaders, they're obviously making a good amount of money. They're supporting themselves and their Gyms. I think they're probably the equivalent of our world's Top Athletes or actors. Like, think Brad Pitt or something.

 

[katfairy]

Actually, I would agree that Oak has a fair amount of money at his disposal. Labs and preserves don't come cheap, and the show implies that the various Professors own their facilities. My guess would be that getting to the level of an Oak or a Rowan means that you are not only respected, you have put enough away to be able to afford a private lab. The money would come from patents, royalties, grants, speaker's fees, etc. and would be invested.

 

[The Outrage]

Unless the Battle Pyramid was the result of Scott indulging Brandon. And actually I'd be willing to wager that Scott may be the wealthiest character we've seen in the whole series.

Probably, I mean he established the Battle Frontier merely because he wanted to meet strong trainers (or atleast that's what he tells us ). In the games its implied that the Battle Frontier is not affiliated with the Pokemon League so I doubt he got money from them.

I also don't think Oak is the one of the wealthiest. He's probably well off, but he's not up there. His research is probably funded by the league, and we know he's still affiliated with them.

As for more rich people:

• The Stones -Well they're already a well established company, and they had jumped into the Pokemon bandwagon by creating furniture for secret bases. And come on, the Devon company had enough money to build their own fossil regeneration machine and take on other endeavors like devices to talk to Pokemon and see their dreams. Not to mention they're new Pokeballs, which unlike Apricorns can be mass produced.
• Silph co. President -Well considering that they are practically the Pokeball company, obviously. They even had their own research facilities to develop Porygon and Porygon2 which is probably useful for other researchers.
• Bill -The primary developer of the Pokemon Storage system, need I say more?
• Backlot - Who knows where he got his money from, but considering that his butler is able to cover his ass by importing Pokemon into his trophy garden every time he toots his horn....
• Giovanni - Obviously, I mean he's the only evil boss who actually knew that money is power
• Hall - Considering that everyone Altru Inc. was actually planing to redevelop Pueltown, I mean how much money can you have to be able to do that on your own.
• Captain Stern - He is one of the top ship makers, and though not explicitly stated, its likely he built the Sea Gallop ferries since they basically work on the same principle as the SS Tidal plowing through tough currents.
• Riley - Seriously, look at his clothes. That and he refers to Iron Island as his mine, though it's probably his family's and his parents probably ran it considering his age (unless aura makes you look young and he's actually Byron's age O_O)

When it comes to the Pokemon Champions and Gym Leaders, they're obviously making a good amount of money. They're supporting themselves and their Gyms. I think they're probably the equivalent of our world's Top Athletes or actors. Like, think Brad Pitt or something.

The Pokemon league certifies these gyms and likely funds them, Though famous, the leaders are probably not as high up as you imply.

 

[VeggiePopper]

Actually, I would agree that Oak has a fair amount of money at his disposal. Labs and preserves don't come cheap, and the show implies that the various Professors own their facilities. My guess would be that getting to the level of an Oak or a Rowan means that you are not only respected, you have put enough away to be able to afford a private lab. The money would come from patents, royalties, grants, speaker's fees, etc. and would be invested.

And don't forget, Oak invented the PokéDex, which seems to be very sold in the Poké World, so the Professor should be earning a lot of royalties from it.

 

[bell02+]

I don't think Oak has to be rich to be famous, He probably gets a lot of royalties from his radio show, but we don't know where his funds go or where funds go in the Pokemon League. For all we know he could be funding the three trainers he sets out on journeys. Just because it looks free doesn't mean no one's paying for it, the cost of Pokemon Center usage and housing could come from Oak and your parents, and could cost a pretty penny. (Health insurance for 21?)

He also could have to pay to take care of all those lovely boxed pokemon. Still, he probably has most of his research projects payed for. Most real world professors do. That said, they don't necessarily get rich from it, it all depends on the terms of their contracts. He might not be getting royalties for any of his work other than recognition. (Which would explain the radio shows and poems)

 

[PDL]

I'm also assuming that you have to be plenty rich to get an offical starter Pokémon as well, which also seems kinda wasteful since you pay for the chance to choose from one of 3 extremely valuable Pokémon, but you only get one which the other two are discarded.

I'm also assuming that the people of Orre must be extremely well off to live so comfortably in such a desolete enviroment. Not to mention that Cipher bluit that Realgam Tower specifically for Pokémon battles.

 

[The Outrage]

I'm also assuming that you have to be plenty rich to get an offical starter Pokémon as well, which also seems kinda wasteful since you pay for the chance to choose from one of 3 extremely valuable Pokémon, but you only get one which the other two are discarded.

So far in the games we've seen trainers get starters because:

• They were the former friend of the Professor's grandchild, and the professor himself took particular interest--and wanted them to work on the Pokedex Project.
• In two cases the child was related to the professor
• The Professor asked the child to run an errand that would take them across a few routes and a city...
• The starter was stolen...
• The child was not only the son of a gym leader, but the gym leader was the professor's friend.
• A twist of fate that left two trainers with two of the Professor's Pokemon who let them keep it because the Pokemon had taken a likng to them.
• Being the child of the professor's assistant

So yeah, I guess you could say it costs money to get an official starter, though none of the instances so far needed to have money.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

Additionally, where do you get that the third starter is "discarded"? They go to PROFESSORS. Who have LABS.

 

[Luxio2k8]

Giovanni is wealthy so is Mr.Backlot.

I wouldn't think that Professor Oak and the other Professor's are rich. They may be successful Pokémon Scientists and do make more money then most people, but I don't think they are super wealthy.

Like real world scientists I'm sure the bulk of their money comes from research grant and donations, rather than their own personal money being spent.

The Elite Four and the Pokémon League Champions are probably like real life sports stars or celebrates and most likely make a lot of money for personal appearances and battling.

 

[giorgiano903]

heey

 

[The Jean Genie]

Any evil team leader seems well off enough, seeing as they all have their own secret bases full of complicated machines and their own scientists.
Hell, Team Rocket are pretty stuffed with cash and Galactic was greedy enough to have two bases of their own.

Though I believe they just pool donations from members/supporters, maybe with the exception of Cyrus, I can't see him being very fond of being frugal.

 

[Jayc]

Champions, probably. I think Cynthia gives out the most dough among all trainers in D/P. I would've said Palmer, if his wife and son, stuck in a crummy house in a sleepy town.

Scott is one. The Berlitz family is another obvious one. And all the presidents of the regions' big corporations. I think Sinnoh's was the Pokétch inventor, was it?

All villains with airships. Lawrence III, Zero and J. J even has henchmen, wierd gadgets and ground vehicles.

The Professors might be well-off but they certainly don't have private stashes of cash, because you don't get paid for completing the Pokédex.

 

[ShinyAeon]

James's parents, they're dissing you in this thread here! They've forgotten your mall-sized doghouse and multiple mansion-sized summer homes!

(Mind you, they only fit in the "rich" portion, they seem more like Pokemon's answer to "Upper Class Twit of the Year" contenders than like anyone "powerful.")

BTW, I also twig Professor Oak as pretty wealthy...his grandson owns a convertible he's too young to drive, for crying out loud...and even if you discount that (we don't know Gary OWNS it) the Oaks never seem to lack for money. Samuel Oak has just too much class to flaunt it like the Giovannis and the James's-parents people of the Pokeworld...to me, the Professor's lifestyle says "old money." Like, many generations old. And Samuel Oak is an un-ostentatious sort of guy.

 

[katfairy]

Yeah, I'll buy that- one of the hallmarks of old-money-types is that you don't realise they have money until you actually see their homes, or catch their names on a donor list for a charity. At least, it works that way in Maine. YMMV.

 

[ShinyAeon]

Yes! Exactly! Maine would have old money types, being in the older parts of the nation.

Mr. and Mrs. James's Parents just scream "new money." Like, got from their parents or grandparents, and try to make it LOOK like they've been rich for centuries (hence trying too hard to obey "every upper class rule" there is and making poor James miserable) but their conspicuous consumption gives it away.

Giovanni says "I am Rich and Powerful. Don't **** with me." He displays his wealth as a threat/power play. Ostentation is not the point; he's into the "Powerful" part more than the "Rich" part.

The Stones: harder to tell...Mr. Stone is clearly not that into the trappings of rich corporateness, and Steven isn't either, being into his own goals. Either they're old money, or new money who are just laid back enough not to care that much. (They're my favorite of the Pokemon rich & powerful, actually. ;-))

Wilhelmina's parents (Wilhelmina=girl with parasol and crybaby Marill, who liked Brock): old money, but not that MUCH old money. Like, they're in the lower levels of the upper class...so they try just a little too hard, wanting to be seen as the upper levels.

Bill: could be either. He could have family money, or he could have earned it himself with the Pokemon transportation system. He's a nerdboy so he'd act the same whether he were rich or not. Which makes him adorable. (Nerdboys = smexy) :-D

 

[The Outrage]

Bill: could be either. He could have family money, or he could have earned it himself with the Pokemon transportation system. He's a nerdboy so he'd act the same whether he were rich or not. Which makes him adorable. (Nerdboys = smexy) :-D

His family didn't seem that rich, and we've seen a lot of them. Then again, there's Lady Selphy on Resort Gorgeous who didn't seem all that rich but had a butler and gives away high-priced items like they were nothing.

 

[PDL]

Additionally, where do you get that the third starter is "discarded"? They go to PROFESSORS. Who have LABS.

I LOVE CAPS. THEY MAKE ME SEEM LIKE I'M MAKING A POINT.

Seriously though, the third starter doesn't get to do anything for the rest of the game... Or do you happen to know what the hell the professors actually do with these Pokémon?

It's still pretty wasteful to pay for the potential ownership of several living but only get to actually own one of them.

Perhaps it would make more sense to have three people all pitch in and pay for the starter set.