Cartoon Characters With Money: 12 of the Richest in Animation

Cartoon characters with money have always fascinated me. From Mr. Burns and his energy fortune to Scrooge McDuck and his mountain of gold, these are the richest names in animation. But the best cartoon characters with money are not just about showing off.

These rich cartoon characters work as mirrors for our society.

They exaggerate our values, they play up our stereotypes, and sometimes they say something real about power. Beyond the jokes, they taught me about the gap between wealth and happiness.

So here are my 12 favorite cartoon characters with money, from spoiled rich kids to a duck who swims in coins.

The Best Cartoon Characters With Money

Princess Morbucks (The Powerpuff Girls)

I always loved to hate Princess Morbucks. She kicks off our cartoon characters with money as the queen of entitlement.

• A spoiled rich kid who is desperate to be a Powerpuff Girl
• She has no Chemical X, so she buys gadgets and costumes instead
• Pure jealousy of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup drives her

So she is the perfect foil to their real heroism. Money buys her the toys, but never the respect.

Gideon Gleeful (Gravity Falls)

In the weird world of Gravity Falls, no one mixes money and menace like Gideon Gleeful.

• He got rich running his own psychic stage show
• Still, he looks cute on the outside while staying cruel underneath
• He uses his cash to chase influence and supernatural power

Still, under the expensive suit, he is a mess of insecurities. That is what makes him fun.

Sir Topham Hatt (Thomas & Friends)

Sir Topham Hatt, also known as the Fat Controller, is the boss of the whole Sodor railway.

• The show never shows his bank account, but the wealth is obvious
• Also, he controls engines, stations, and staff across the island
• His whole operation hints at a massive fortune

So he is the classic industrialist. He is strict and obsessed with efficiency, but he does care about his useful engines.

Carter Pewterschmidt (Family Guy)

In the satire of Family Guy, Carter Pewterschmidt is greed in a suit.

• Also an old-money billionaire, and Lois’s father
• He dismisses Peter constantly for being poor
• Despite his age, he is cunning and ruthless

So Carter proves that money does not buy kindness. It just buys the freedom to do whatever you want.

Mom (Futurama)

In Futurama, Mom is a giant of 31st-century money. She is unchecked capitalism in one character.

• To the public, she is a sweet, plump grandmother
• Behind closed doors, she is a chain-smoking tyrant
• Still, she will do anything to protect her profits

So she is the ultimate warning about trusting a warm corporate logo.

Seto Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh!)

In anime, few cartoon characters with money match Seto Kaiba for pure ego. As the CEO of KaibaCorp, his resources feel endless.

• He built a space station and holographic tech just for card games
• Also, he is arrogant, cold, and fiercely competitive
• Still, he is deeply devoted to his younger brother Mokuba

So the man built a space elevator to play a card game. That single fact tells you everything.

Tony Stark (Iron Man)

Across Marvel’s animated superhero shows, Tony Stark stands out for the money as much as the armor.

• His fortune comes from the Stark Industries tech empire
• He starts as a weapons maker, then pivots to clean energy and defense
• The money funds every suit and every save

So what I admire is the journey. Stark’s story is really about the accountability that comes with that much power.

Lex Luthor (Superman)

Lex Luthor is one of the greatest villains ever drawn. His wealth is huge, but his brain is the real threat.

• He built LexCorp with raw intellect, not just inheritance
• Once, he even served as President of the United States
• He has everything, yet he is eaten alive by envy of Superman

So Luthor is proof that money cannot buy the one thing he wants. He wants to be a god.

Bruce Wayne (Batman)

For me, Batman: The Animated Series is the definitive version, and Bruce Wayne is its beating heart.

• His fortune funds the Batcave, the Batmobile, and every gadget
• But his trauma, not his money, is what really drives him
• He treats his wealth as a tool for justice

So Bruce is the rare rich cartoon character who gives back with his checkbook and his fists.

Mr. Burns (The Simpsons)

Mr. Burns is not just a Simpsons staple. He is the definitive evil billionaire in animation.

• He owns the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
• Also, he is ruthless, miserly, and mentally stuck in the 1800s
• He cares more about his hounds than his workers

So Burns is the old, wealthy industrialist stereotype, sharpened to a point. And still lovable somehow.

Richie Rich

Richie Rich is a true classic. He is the only child of billionaires, and shockingly well-adjusted for it.

• Also, he is kind-hearted and always trying to help people
• Still, he keeps hitting problems money cannot fix
• He is the fantasy of a roller coaster in your own backyard

So Richie is the innocent face of wealth on this list. No greed, just a very lucky kid.

Scrooge McDuck (DuckTales)

But one name stands head and wings above the rest. The great Scrooge McDuck is the gold standard for cartoon wealth.

• His Money Bin full of gold coins is the stuff of legend
• Also, fans have spent years trying to guess his net worth
• Those numbers often rival the GDP of whole countries

But here is the twist. Unlike almost everyone else here, Scrooge made his money square. He earned every coin.

Who Is the Richest Cartoon Character?

People argue about this constantly, so here is the real answer. Of all the cartoon characters with money, one duck wins by a landslide.

• Scrooge McDuck topped Forbes’ Fictional 15, a list of the richest characters in fiction
• His estimated fortune hit about 65.4 billion dollars, mostly in gold
• Only Smaug the dragon came close behind him
• Several names on my list made that same Forbes list, including Mom, Mr. Burns, Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark, and Richie Rich

So the crown goes to Scrooge. You can read more about the ranking on the Forbes Fictional 15 page. For me, he earns it twice over, because he built his fortune himself instead of inheriting it.

Every Cartoon Character With Money at a Glance

Here is every cartoon character with money on this list, side by side. So if you just want the quick version, this table is it.

So that is my run through the best cartoon characters with money. Some earned it, some inherited it, and one built a space station for a card game. Which of these rich cartoon characters would you want to be? Tell me in the comments.