History Main / EccentricMillionaire

-->-- '''[[JohnCleese Donald Sinclair]]''', ''RatRace''

* Mr Toad in ''TheWindInTheWillows'' could be a deconstruction on this trope; he enjoys blowing his inherited money on whatever he thinks is most enjoyable, from a caravan, to a motor car, but got in trouble when his obessive with motor cars went too far. And he risks losing his fortune on his obsessives when he could have used it responsibly to help him live his entire life comfortably.

* In the highly metatextual ''CompleteWorldKnowledge'' series, author John Hodgman claims to be the "Deranged Millionaire" he plays in some TheyMightBeGiants' work. See below under Music.

* Chairman Kaga in ''Series/IronChef'' and his nephew [[FanNickname Chairman Mark]] in ''IronChefAmerica''. The former is on record as stating he spent ¥843,354,407 just on ingredients for Kitchen Stadium (roughly $8 million at the time), while the latter has ''several'' Kitchen Stadiums built (including one [[RecycledInSpace In Space]]). And let's remember, this is to host ''{{Cooking Duel}}s''. If that ain't eccentric...

* Creator/HowardHughes was considered this back in the day, with his plane design "[[InsistentTerminology Hercules]]" (known to others as "the Spruce Goose") being a major obsession. In hindsight, though, he had debilitating mental illness.

* Samuel Westing of ''TheWestingGame'' fits this trope. He loved fire works, playing dress up, and generally messing with people. He also involves all the main characters [[spoiler:(one of which turned out to be him)]] in a complicated game for his inheritance.

* The deceased uncle in the various film (and theatrical) adaptations of ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewster%27s_Millions Brewster's Millions]]'' (named Rupert in the Richard Pryor version, but given different names in other versions). Part of the bit is that he was the classic skinflint tycoon in life, but had enough guile to leave a booby trap in his will intended to make his inheritor hate spending money.

* As the page quote indicates, John Cleese's character in ''Rat Race''.

* Señor Senior Senior and his son, Señor Senior Junior, on ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible''. After some unwitting suggestions from Ron, SSS decides to take up villainy as a hoppy (and as a way to bond with his son), strictly adhering to CartoonishSupervillainy for the fun of it, and SSJ's obsessed with his appearance and becoming a world famous celebrity (usually a pop singer of some kind).

* Surprisingly, Marvel's [[TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]]. After his death, Namora and Venus go about trying to put all his affairs in order, and discover he owns everything from pleasure resorts to a hospital/orphanage for the children of mythological monsters. Also, a good chunk of his still-living [[GirlOfTheWeek ladies]] were gifted homes. Apparently, he made a few really smart investments, then just never bothered to keep up with them and bought whatever he damn pleased on the (correct) assumption that he just ''could''.

* JohnHodgman has a reoccurring part as a "Deranged Millionaire" on ''Series/TheDailyShow''.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen -- Ted Allen, host of the popular cooking/food show, ''Series/{{Chopped}}'', humorously remarked that the show was originally going to take place in an eccentric millionaire's mansion, with the millionaire's butler as the host and the losing dishes being fed to the millionaire's pet Chihuahua. Naturally, the Creator/FoodNetwork found this "too weird," but wanted to keep the general premise of the show and put it in more straightforward competition format.[[/folder]]

* ''Series/FrontierCircus'': Duke Felix Otway in "The Race". An EgomaniacHunter and [[TheCollector collector of men]], he makes a $1,000 bet that his men can beat all comers in a cross-country horse race.
[[/folder]]

* ''TheMagicChristian'' revolves around Sir Guy Grand, a millionaire who uses his fortune to play cruel practical jokes on others.

* Felix Happer of LocalHero, a Big Oil executive whose office doubles as a planetarium and is willing at the end to spend untold millions [[spoiler:setting up a center for marine and astronomy research instead of]] building an oil refinery.
* Adam Sandler's uncle in ''Mr. Deeds'' fits the description before he dies.

* John Beresford Tipton, the mysterious Millionaire from the series of the same name. Even though he doesn't actually appear on screen, he acts as a trickster by throwing a disruptive catalyst (i.e., a check for a million dollars) into people's lives.

* Chairman Kaga in ''IronChef'' and his nephew [[FanNickname Chairman Mark]] in ''IronChefAmerica''. The former is on record as stating he spent ¥843,354,407 just on ingredients for Kitchen Stadium (roughly $8 million at the time), while the latter has ''several'' Kitchen Stadiums built (including one [[RecycledInSpace In Space]]). And let's remember, this is to host ''{{Cooking Duel}}s''. If that ain't eccentric...

* In the 2007-09 series ''Life'', [=Detective Charlie Crews=] definitely fits the bill. (If you were in the LAPD and they railroaded you for a murder you didn't commit, then you were exonerated years later and received a multi-million dollar settlement from the LAPD for your false imprisonment, would you really go back to work for the LAPD?)

* JohnHodgman has a reoccurring part as a "Deranged Millionaire" on TheDailyShow.

* Howard Hughes was considered this back in the day, with his plane design "[[InsistentTerminology Hercules]]" (known to others as "the Spruce Goose") being a major obsession. In hindsight, though, he had debilitating mental illness.

* Señor Senior Senior and his son Señor Senior Junior on ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible''. The former decides to take up {{supervillain}}y as a post-retirement hobby (strictly adhering to CartoonishSupervillainy for the fun of it) and the latter is obsessed with his appearance and becoming a world famous pop sensation.

* Honey, Sunako's aunt in ''TheWallflower'' who spends her time globe-trotting in a helicopter and schmoozing at parties. She also wants her dark niece to turn into a lady, and gives the job to four {{Bishonen}} in exchange for free rent in a mansion...if they succeed.

* Never quite confirmed if he is a millionaire, but Barney Stinson from ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' qualifies if so. He's spent money on two TV's that cover an entire wall, as well as many different contraptions to upgrade his apartment.
** One of the classic examples obliquely shows how rich he is: during a fit of rage, he smashes a TV that was discarded in a dumpster. He discovers that it's cathartic, and the RunningGag of the episode has him smashing a TV from the dumpster every time he gets upset. When the dumpster runs out of [=TVs=], he freaks out, goes to a nearby store, and ''buys a brand new TV so he can smash it''.

* Sir Iknik Blackstone Varrick in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' is a profound case of this. And of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor.

* Sir Iknik Blackstone Varrick in ''[[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra]]'' is a profound case of this. And of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor.

* Jimmy James from ''NewsRadio''.
* Never quite confirmed if he is a millionaire, but Barney Stinson from HowIMetYourMother qualifies if so. He's spent money on two TV's that cover an entire wall, as well as many different contraptions to upgrade his apartment.

** In one episode, Crews encounters a support group for multi-multi-million dollar lottery winners. [[spoiler: At the end of the episode, Crews asks if he can join the group. He tells them that he didn't win the lottery, ''per se''. However, his settlement amount (which he is forbidden to disclose) would otherwise qualify him for membership in their club.)]]

* Canadian financier Charles Vance Millar was an infamous practical joker. His best known eccentricity was the Great Stork Derby, wherein Millar, having no heirs at the time of his death, left the majority of his estate to the Canadian woman who gave birth to the most children in the ten years following his death. TruthInTelevision, indeed.

* Howard Hughes was considered this back in the day, with his plane design "[[InsistentTerminology Hercules]]" (known to others as "the Spruce Goose") being a major obsession. In hindsight though he had debilitating mental illness.
* [[ARareSentence Billionaire clown]] (and CEO of Cirque du Soleil) Guy Laliberté plays high stakes poker for fun, and does quite well, possibly because the money involved is nowhere near enough to make a difference to him. In 2012 he announced a $1 million buy in tournament to raise money for a charity he founded. He's also been into space.

Compare with UnclePennybags, which is equally nice but not that of an overspender. Compare/contrast UpperClassTwit, RichBitch, SpoiledBrat, and UpperClassWit. May be a {{Socialite}}, a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob, as well as RichInDollarsPoorInSense.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* {{Ouran High School Host Club}}....the Club itself, but hell, the entire freaking Ouran Academy. When Haruhi says "Rich Bastards" she isn't kidding!

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Surprisingly, Marvel's [[{{TheIncredibleHercules}} Hercules]]. After his death, Namora and Venus go about trying to put all his affairs in order, and discover he owns everything from pleasure resorts to a hospital/orphanage for the children of mythological monsters. Also, a good chunk of his still-living [[GirlOfTheWeek ladies]] were gifted homes. Apparently, he made a few really smart investments, then just never bothered to keep up with them and bought whatever he damn pleased on the (correct) assumption that he just ''could''.
* [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]], anyone?

[[folder: Film ]]

* ''{{The Magic Christian}}'' revolves around Sir Guy Grand, a millionaire who uses his fortune to play cruel practical jokes on others.

* Felix Happer of LocalHero, a Big Oil executive whose office doubles as a planetarium and is willing at the end to spend untold millions [[spoiler: setting up a center for marine and astronomy research instead of]] building an oil refinery.

* Tony Stark as portrayed by Creator/RobertDowneyJr in the ''[[Film/IronMan Iron Man]]'' movies. He buys million-dollar paintings just because they're overpriced, but dislikes being handed anything. He flies to Monaco to watch an F1 race, but decides at the last minute to instead actually compete. Getting the picture?

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Jimmy James from ''{{NewsRadio}}''.

* A {{Lampshade Hanging}} example from [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsYoeoEE3ww Mitchell and Webb]].

[[folder: Music]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

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** One of the classic examples obliquely shows how rich he is: during a fit of rage, he smashes a TV that was discarded in a dumpster. He discovers that it's cathartic, and the RunningGag of the episode has him smashing a TV from the dumpster every time he gets upset. When the dumpster runs out of TVs, he freaks out, goes to a nearby store, and ''buys a brand new TV so he can smash it''.

* Tony Stark as portrayed by RobertDowneyJr in the ''[[Film/IronMan Iron Man]]'' movies. He buys million-dollar paintings just because they're overpriced, but dislikes being handed anything. He flies to Monaco to watch an F1 race, but decides at the last minute to instead actually compete. Getting the picture?

* Never quite confirmed if he is a millionaire, but Barney Stinson from HowIMetYourMother qualifies if so. He's spent money on two TV's that cover an entire wall, as well as many different contraptions to upgrade his apartment

* Bruce Wayne, who, as a RichIdiotWithNoDayJob, has a public image as above, but his real eccentricity is that he is the superhero, {{Comicbook/Batman}} (and borderline psychopath, depending on the writer).

* Samuel Westing of ''TheWestingGame'' fits this trope. He loved fire works, playing dress up, and generally messing with people. He also involves all the main characters in a complicated game for his inheritance.

* Señor Senior Senior and his son Señor Senior Junior on ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible''. The former decides to take up villainy as a post-retirement hobby and the latter is obsessed with hair gel and becoming a world famous pop sensation.
* Franklin Sherman from WesternAnimation/TheCritic

* Howard Hughes was considered this back in the day, [[strike:spruce goose]] [[InsistentTerminology Hercules]] being a major obsession, in hindsight though he had debilitating mental illness.
* Billionaire clown(and CEO of Cirque du Soleil) Guy Laliberté plays high stakes poker for fun, and does quite well, possibly because the money involved is nowhere near enough to make a difference to him. In 2012 he announced a $1 million buy in tournament to raise money for a charity he founded. He's also been to space.