Making an anime character appear wealthy is a simple task for an author, as they can easily declare a character as the richest in a given series. However, it is equally important to establish and develop the character’s wealth in order to captivate a larger audience for the series.
For example, in The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED, the main character Daisuke is portrayed as a wealthy protagonist and the entire story revolves around his lavish lifestyle. However, the inclusion of a detective element adds an intriguing twist to the series, making it one of the top shows of its season.
In this article, a compilation of five of the wealthiest anime characters and five anime characters struggling financially will be presented.
Please note: This article contains the author’s opinion and may contain spoilers for the Blue Lock manga series.
The Wealthiest Anime Characters: Kaguya Shinomiya and Beyond
1) Sebastian Michaelis (Black Butler)
Ciel, a central character in Black Butler, is not only among the main protagonists but also one of the wealthiest individuals in the series, if not in all of anime. As the owner of Funtom Corporation, the most renowned toy company, he also holds the position of serving directly under the Queen.
One possible explanation for his immense wealth could potentially be linked to Ciel’s close relationship with his demon butler, Sebastian. Not only is Sebastian a handsome man, but he also prides himself on being “one hell of a butler,”according to his own words.
2) The Legendary Super Saiyan: Broly (Dragon Ball Z)
Bulma, the current owner of the Capsule Corporation, is a supporting character in the Dragon Ball franchise. She is married to Vegeta, one of the main characters in the series, and is also known as one of the wealthiest characters in anime.
As a gesture of gratitude for his role as the sole survivor in the Tournament of Power and for not destroying any universes, she bestowed Android 17 with a gift. This further solidified her already vast fortune, as the Capsule Corporation is renowned as one of the wealthiest companies in the series’ universe.
3) Reo Mikage from Blue Lock
Reo, a character in Blue Lock, is not only a supporting character but also one of the wealthiest anime characters. Being the sole successor to the Mikage corporation, a multinational electronics company, contributes to his affluent status.
The manga highlights his wealth during the Neo-Egoist League, where players from various languages participate, creating a language barrier. To address this, the Mikage corporation develops an earpiece that can translate any language.
4) Haru Katou (The Millionaire Detective – Balance Unlimited)
Despite being one of the wealthiest anime characters with a fortune of billions of yen, Daisuke Kambe, the protagonist of The Millionaire Detective, still works as a detective. His wealth has a significant influence in all aspects of his life.
Despite being in pursuit of a criminal, Daisuke still takes the time to push a prince out of his car. The prince attempts to scold him, but Daisuke quickly shuts him up with a billion yen. This shows that his wealth is not limited to just billions, but could potentially reach into the trillions.
5) Kaguya Shinomiya – Love Strategist Extraordinaire (Kaguya-sama: Love is War)
Kaguya is often considered to be the wealthiest character in anime, as she is the heiress of the highly affluent Shinomiya Cologmente family in Japan. As a result, she leads a luxurious lifestyle with a personal driver who chauffeurs her to school, a private chef who prepares her meals, and various other extravagant amenities.
Regrettably, because of her affluent background, she was never able to form any friendships during her childhood. Her sole companion is her maid and classmate, Hayasaka, and despite her position as a servant, she constantly makes an effort to bring joy to Kaguya.
Anime Characters Struggling with Financial Hardships
1) Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)
Tohru Honda, the female protagonist of Fruits Basket, is known for her constant financial struggles. In the first episode, she is introduced as a penniless girl who sets up camp on private property because she has no place to call home and no funds to support herself.
Afterward, the Souma household offers her a place to stay in return for her cooking. Shortly after, she becomes aware of the family’s curse and becomes intertwined in their familial matters.
2) Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
Despite being a deity without a shrine, Yato is the main protagonist of Noragami and must find ways to earn a living for food and shelter, despite his divine status. However, he struggles to find meaningful work and feels unable to make a significant impact.
Despite being a deity, he is a lazy bum, so he resorts to taking on odd jobs and putting up posters in exchange for food. His rate of 5 yen for his services is the same as what is typically offered at other shrines in Japan. As a result, he is known as one of the constantly impoverished anime characters.
3) Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
Gintoki, who is often portrayed as being short on funds, is a central character in the Gintama series. He is the proprietor of Yorozuya, a peculiar establishment that specializes in handling odd jobs, and is joined by Shinpachi and Kagura as his companions.
Despite earning only a small amount of money from odd jobs, Gintoki still manages to spend it on two things: food and manga series, particularly those published on Weekly Shounen Jump. Additionally, although his robbing abilities may be lacking, at least he is not resorting to criminal activities.
4) Yamada Ryou from Bocchi the Rock!
Despite coming from a well-off family, Ryou is known as one of the anime characters who is constantly struggling with finances. As the bassist of Kessoku Band, she often finds herself in need of borrowing money from others.
Despite the fact that she spends all of her money on bass guitar and music equipment, she has no money. Additionally, she has been seen eating weeds in order to satisfy her hunger. This may seem like a joke, but it is true.
5) Misaki Ayuzawa – The Feisty Maid-sama!
Misaki is the main female character in Kaichou wa Maid-sama and the object of Uzui’s affections, the male lead. Her resentment towards men stems from her father’s decision to abandon their family, leaving them in significant debt.
Despite being burdened with her family’s debt, she takes on a job at a maid café to help pay it off. However, her secret is uncovered by Uzui who later visits her family. Despite their financial struggles, her family warmly welcomes him and offers him apples, showing their hospitable nature.
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