History Main / Greed

Greed is the main motivation of the CorruptCorporateExecutive. It is also a FatalFlaw of the MiserAdvisor, and commonly of a MrViceGuy; in the cases of these characters, they usually learn a [[MoralOfTheStory valuable lesson]] at some point about what's really important. The GoldDigger is motivated by Greed -- as is, often enough, the BlackWidow. The SpoiledBrat is also motivated largely by Greed, but not a small bit of {{Pride}} is also a factor, which causes them to fly off the handle when they are denied what they want. A character defined by Greed often has a MoneyFetish. This trope can be the reason behind characters who are OnlyInItForTheMoney.

* Played with in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and the prequel, ''LightNovel/FateZero''. Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is insistent that everything of any worth belongs to him, and is seeking the Holy Grail not because he really wants it, but because he refuses to let anyone touch it without his permission. The thing is, at one point he really ''did'' own literally everything in the world, and due to the way magic works in this 'verse (making new things is unspeakably difficult, but making inferior copies isn't that hard), it's quite likely that everything of worth is based on things he used to own, so he's actually got a pretty good case for owning everything. So when he claims everyone else are just low-born thieves who need to be punished, he's not doing it out of greed, but out of a simple (albeit outdated) understanding of property rights. He's actually quite magnanimous with his treasures, and is more than willing to lend any of them indefinitely to vassals who ask for them.

--->"Maker spit on you! I... deserved... ''more''."

* Lina Inverse of ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' fame has this as a rather significant personality trait, though it crops up more earlier on. However she is always on the look out to make a bit of cash. It's part of the reason she left home in the first place, having gotten into trouble by selling illusions of her elder sister Luna in the bath.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': The Unique Skill [Greed] is part of the [[SevenDeadlySins Sin Series]] set of Skills and involves the manipulations of "desire". The user can MindControl others by exerting their desire over them whether over prolonged exposure or a less subtle forceful altercation. They can also amplify the desires of others to influence them, and it can even [[SuperEmpowering strengthen the user or others]]...[[CastFromLifespan by burning out their souls]]. The most powerful technique is ''inverting'' the target's innate desire to live into a desire to ''die'', acting as a OneHitKill. Its owner is Mariabell Rosso, a [[{{Reincarnation}} Reincarnated Otherworlder]] born into a powerful noble human family and who is set to inherit the power of the Rosso family, which make her the ''de facto'' power behind one of the strongest shadowy organizations in the western human nations and something she is ''very'' keen on achieving. [[spoiler:The major weakness of the Skill, however, aside from being unable to affect holders of [[NextTierPowerUp Ultimate Skills]] is that it [[NoSell won't work]] on someone whose desires are greater than her own. She finds such an idea ridiculous...until she learns the hard way one of her [[PretendToBeBrainwashed supposed pawns]], Yuuki Kagurazaka, is one such person with [[TakeOverTheWorld even grander designs than her]], and makes the reveal right after she made a ''very'' grave error that left her vulnerable and kills her while [[PowerParasite taking [Greed] for himself]].]] The Skill later evolves into the Ultimate Skill [Mammon, King of Greed], which boosts its power to RealityWarper levels and giving it several new traits, such as the ability to [[EnergyAbsorption absorb the energy of a target or their attacks]].

* [[Creator/CarlBarks Scrooge]] [[Creator/DonRosa McDuck]]. He may be a NobleDemon or just a JerkWithAHeartOfGold DependingOnTheWriter, but no matter how admirable his dedication to hard work and honesty is, Greed is always his defining [[MrViceGuy vice]].

* Pictured above is "Agent Orange", real name Larfleeze, "leader" of the [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Orange Lantern Corps]] in Franchise/TheDCU. In the emotional spectrum, Orange represents selfishness and greed, and Agent Orange is the greediest creature to ever live. True to form, he's the only true member of the corps; the others are all spirits of the people he killed in his constant search for '''''more'''''.

** Later on, ComicBook/LexLuthor is inducted as a deputy Orange Lantern and becomes so utterly consumed by greed that he turns on the other lanterns, wanting ALL the rings.
--->'''Larfleeze''' to Lex Luthor: Victory is mine! And if you had hair that would be mine, too!
** Ironically enough, his last act of the ComicBook/BlackestNight arc was tossing Luthor back to the humans, which Sinestro lampshaded was an act of him giving something to someone. Larfleeze reacts in stunned shock.

** As a bit of a TragicHero, the top thing Larfleeze wanted was [[spoiler: the ''only'' thing he really wants, his family.]]
*** In the end [[spoiler:he gets reunited with them. Then promptly falls back into stealing and hoarding because old habits die hard.]]

* In the original Lee-Ditko run of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'', the real reason J. Jonah Jameson hates Spider-Man is that Jameson has always been greedy and he [[EvilCannotComprehendGood can't understand]] how Spider-Man can give without any personal gain for himself.
** Speaking of Spider-Man, Electro pretty much shouts out a bit from the intro paragraphs verbatim in his first appearance as he gloats over his victory, readily admitting that he's greedy, but he doesn't care. Fitting then that Electro is pretty typically the most greed-driven villain in most incarnations.
* Jack Horner of ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' shows how much greed can stab you in the back. After losing a fortune several times in his series, he resigns to never spend the gold he gained from El Dorado, just to ensure he can't lose it. [[spoiler: He consequently becomes a dragon as a result of his greed. He spends at least a few years (if not decades) in this state before the last issue, in which {{everyone dies|Ending}}.]].
* This is ComicBook/TheKingpin's defining vice. He takes and takes and takes, but it's never enough. He'll always want more.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':

* ''Anime/GhostSweeperMikami'': Reiko Mikami could very well take the crown for this trope. It seems there's nothing she won't do to get a little more money.

* In the third chapter of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea|HourOfDarkness}}'', the main characters target someone specifically because they are rich and it's the [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins prinny's]] pay day.

* Lawrence from ''LightNovel/SpiceAndWolf'' suffers in episode 10 because of this trope. He ended up trying to buy too much armor on credit, only to find out that the value of armor in the city he was going to sell it in crashed. None of his merchant associates want to help him repay the debt as well because he got greedy.

* This is the defining trait towards ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''[='s=] Cinder Fall. She wants power so she can be feared by all. She will kill, maim, ruin and anything else in between to get more power. [[spoiler:This also proved to be her [[IncrediblyLamePun downfall]] -- she willingly sacrificed a perfectly wonderful plan that would prevent a needless fight just so she could get her revenge of Ruby, then attempted to steal the power of a second Season Maiden which [[BigBad Salem]] ''didn't want'', leading to Cinder getting frozen and launched into an abyss by the Spring Maiden Raven Branwen.]]

--> -- '''[[AnthropomorphicPersonification Greed]]''', ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''

For the classic silent film on the subject, see ''Film/{{Greed}}''. For the Chuck Woolery game show, see ''Series/{{Greed}}''.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': The Unique Skill [Greed] is part of the [[SevenDeadlySins Sin Series]] set of Skills and involves the manipulations of "desire". The user can MindControl others by exerting their desire over them whether over prolonged exposure or a less subtle forceful altercation. They can also amplify the desires of others to influence them, and it can even [[SuperEmpowering strengthen the user or others]]...[[CastFromLifespan by burning out their souls]]. The most powerful technique is ''inverting'' the targets innate desire to live into a desire to ''die'', acting as a OneHitKill. Its owner is Mariabell Rosso, a [[{{Reincarnation}} Reincarnated Otherworlder]] born into a powerful noble human family and who is set to inherit the power of the Rosso family, which make her the ''de facto'' power behind one of the strongest shadowy organizations in the western human nations and something she is ''very'' keen on achieving. [[spoiler:The major weakness of the Skill, however, is that it [[NoSell won't work]] on someone whose desires are greater than her own. She finds such an idea ridiculous...until she learns the hard way one of her [[PretendToBeBrainwashed supposed pawns]], Yuuki Kagurazaka, is one such person with [[TakeOverTheWorld even grander designs than her]], and makes the reveal right after she made a ''very'' grave error that left her vulnerable and kills her while [[PowerParasite taking [Greed] for himself]].]] The Skill later evolves into the Ultimate Skill [Mammon, King of Greed], which boosts its power to RealityWarper levels.

Villains -- and heroes -- seemingly afflicted by Greed can be [[PetTheDog humanized]] by demonstrating that it is not the money they are after; they need it to buy something of actual value. At the same time, their Greed may threaten to transform their goal into a TragicDream. Villains may also want it not for itself but for equally villainous reasons -- to effect {{Revenge}}, to live the slothful life of the IdleRich -- which changes the motivation without making it less evil.

Greedy characters, including villains, will often [[EnemyMine ally with heroes]] to [[EvilVersusOblivion defeat more destructive or nihilistic villains]] whose plans would generally make the world a less pleasant place to live in. For example, in Season 2 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Spike allied with Buffy in order to stop Angel and Dru from initiating an apocalypse, and in the Franchise/{{Batman}} comics, ComicBook/ThePenguin frequently collaborates with CommissionerGordon on Gotham to take down any villains who would make organized crime less profitable.

May lead to DeathByMaterialism. GoldFever is a {{subtrope}}, as is LovesOnlyGold. Often goes hand in hand with [[VillainousGlutton gluttony]]. Compare {{Lust}}, which is desire for abstract concepts and feelings as opposed to material possessions. If a greedy character is featured in a musical, expect a MoneySong.

* Jack Horner of ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' shows how much greed can stab you in the back. After losing a fortune several times in his series, he resigns to never spend the gold he gained from El Dorado, just to ensure he can't lose it. [[spoiler: He consequently becomes a dragon as a result of his greed. He spends at least a few years (if not decades) in this state before the last issue. [[KillEmAll Everyone Dies]] ]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'':

* In TabletopGame/YuGiOh greed is a very common theme and almost always relates to drawing cards. There is an entire, fairly large series of cards that are pots and jars all relating to the theme of greed. [[MemeticMutation Pot of greed]] is the most obvious and well-known example

** One-off villain [[ADickInName Dick Hardly]] is ''[[UpToEleven even worse]]'' than Princess Morbucks in terms of greed and [[CompleteMonster every other villain in terms of pure malicious crimes]]. His sole appearance is him manipulating the girls into giving him Chemical-X just to make [[ShoddyKnockOffProduct deliberately shoddy knock-offs]] of the girls just out of pure sociopathic greed, with his greed and overall villainy [[FromBadToWorse getting progressively worse as the episode continues]], to the point of [[OneWingedAngel becoming a literal monster]] after swallowing a bottle of Chemical-X when he refused to give it back to the girls. Thankfully, [[AssholeVictim his botched creations all ended up killing him at the end]], being one of the very few characters [[KilledOffForReal to die in the series]].

* In the [[AnimatedMusicVideo animated video]] to Music/{{Disturbed}}'s version of ''[[Music/{{Genesis}} Land Of Confusion]]'', the giant fat man is either an AnthropomorphicPersonification of greed or big industry. When [[{{Mascot}} The Guy]] kills him, he explodes, revealing that inside he was full of money and nothing else at all.

One of the SevenDeadlySins.

* Baron Danglars from ''Anime/{{Gankutsuou}}''.
* Viper from ''Manga/Reborn2004'' is a [[EnfanteTerrible baby]] who cares about nothing but money. He frequently attempts to charge his own team members for favors or just to watch him fight, and he complains if he has to do something for free. His alias, Mammon, even means greed.

* In ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis: Superman Beyond'', Superman's EvilTwin Ultraman mentions that on his world, ruled by evil, the only god people knew was Mammon, the demon who patronizes greed in the SevenDeadlySins. However, when Ultraman found out about [[MultiversalConqueror Mandrakk]] [[OmnicidalManiac The]] [[CosmicEntity Dark]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Monitor]], he was more than happy to follow this [[EvilerThanThou greater evil]].

** This is also what Mammon represents, one of the [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Lords of the Nine]]. He is the richest and most stingy archdevil in the Nine Hells. The 5e supplement ''Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes'' specifies that deals with him can be made over gold rather than souls, but you'd need more wealth than a dozen kingdoms' worth to make a deal that doesn't involve selling your soul.
* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'': Mammon is the [[AnthropomorphicPersonification Demon Prince of Greed]], although lately he's lost a lot of his power and influence, particularly to Haagenti, the [[VillainousGlutton Demon Prince of Gluttony]] -- and since modern consumerism is more focused on obsessive and wasteful consumption of things than on hoarding of wealth, it's technically a function of Gluttony instead of Greed.. The game describes the difference between the two as that, while Gluttony wants to consume, Greed just wants to ''have''. Mammon's demons aren't allowed to give away anything... even the time of day.

* The major villains of ''VideoGame/{{Persona 5}}'' correspond to the SevenDeadlySins. The fifth major boss of the game is fast food company CEO Kunikazu Okumura, and he embodies Greed, far more in the ambitious sense, but as a CEO who shows no care for his employees and prioritizes the bottom line, he does show a yearning for money as well. Far from satisfied with being an extremely wealthy business owner, he wishes to enter the political world, despite showing absolutely no talent or skill for that field. While the Phantom Thieves initially pursue him due to him being on the top of an online poll demanding changes of heart, what ''really'' sets them off is how he puts his daughter [[LonelyRichKid Haru]] up for an ArrangedMarriage with the son of a member of the Diet in order to expand into politics, and not only does he view Haru as little more than a bargaining chip/a walking womb, but said son is all too eager to practice the MaritalRapeLicense trope on her. Tying all of this together is that his Shadow's demonic form is that of Mammon, the demon who classically represents the sin of greed.

* ''VideoGame/TrillionGodOfDestruction'' has Mammon, the adopted cousin of Great Overlord Zeabolos and holder of the Crest of Greed. Right before the game's events, she skipped out on watching the Gate of Hell so she could go treasure hunting, which ironically saved her life when Trillion struck. Reflecting this is her starting off with a rank in Item and Money drop skills. [[spoiler: Her backstory involves her having been a former slum-dweller before being adopted into the Overlord's family, and as you progress through her events, you learn that she's actually been quite Charitable, fencing her treasures and putting the money towards helping the slums' inhabitants. Her 100% ending has her moving everyone out of the slums and into a brand new high-rise building, greatly increasing living conditions. Zeabolos even mentions that she could create a world where there is no difference between the rich and poor.]]

* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': Greed is represented by a girl/demon named Mammon, one of [[SevenDeadlySins the Seven Stakes of Purgatory]] and Ange's "closest friend". She's the one who is serious about "taking [[spoiler:Sakutaro]] home", and constantly wants more of pretty much everything, whether it's knowledge, affection, or material things.

** The Demiurge [[MeaningfulName Mammon]] represents the sin of greed amongst the [[SevenDeadlySins seven remaining Demiurges]]. Driven by ambition to obtain power and wealth, he [[KinslayingIsASpecialKindOfEvil murdered his own family]] in order to have no distractions on his path to godhood. He presently controls much of the economy of Throne, as well as mints its dominant coinage, through the Infinite Bank that he rules as a CorporateDragon. [[spoiler:When Allison finally comes face-to-face with him she finds that Mammon has been reduced to [[AgeWithoutYouth a senile, blind husk of his former self]], reduced by TheFogOfAges to meaninglessly [[ImpossibleTask count the infinite wealth]] inside his vault while having entirely forgotten ''why'' he accrued it all in the first place. In one of his more lucid moments [[PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou he asks Allison to kill him]].]]

* Kaz from ''WesternAnimation/HiHiPuffyAmiYumi'' is always looking for ways for the girls to make more money. Once he tried to charge them rent for ''their own trailer''.

** Princess Morbucks is a LonelyRichKid from a family so wealthy, her allowance alone amounts to ImpossiblyCoolWealth. However, after WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls reject her application for membership, she decides to become a villain out of envy that she can't be a Powerpuff Girl.

* Lucius on ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes''. Not his main sin (that would be {{Pride}}) but definitely present, as noted by his demand for more gifts at his birthday and his willingness to [[ArrangedMarriage marry Beezy off]] in exchange for a large dowry.

* Prince John in ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood'' is profoundly greedy, trying to tax every last cent from the country when the villagers sing a song parodying his immaturity, with John doubling and tripling the taxes. Ironically, greed is very nearly Robin Hood's undoing as well: if he'd just left that last bag of gold in Prince John's bed, he'd have made a clean getaway instead of alerting Sir Hiss and Prince John to his presence.

* Pooh-Bah in ''Theatre/TheMikado''.
-->'''Pooh-Bah''': ''I am, in point of fact, a particularly haughty and exclusive person, of pre-Adamite [[BlueBlood ancestral descent]]. You will understand this when I tell you that I can trace my ancestry back to a protoplasmal primordial atomic globule. Consequently, my family {{pride}} is something inconceivable. I can't help it. I was born sneering. But I struggle hard to overcome this defect. I mortify my pride continually. When all the great officers of State resigned in a body because they were too proud to serve under an ex-tailor, did I not unhesitatingly accept all their posts at once?''\\
'''Pish-Tush''': ''And the salaries attached to them? You did.''
* Fafnir from ''Theatre/DerRingDesNibelungen''. His greed was so great that he transformed himself into a [[DragonHoard dragon to protect his hoard]]. Possibly the inspiration for Smaug from ''Literature/TheHobbit''.

* In ''TabletopGame/InNomine'', Mammon is the [[AnthropomorphicPersonification Demon Prince of Greed]], though lately he's lost a lot of his power and influence, particularly to Haggenti, the [[VillainousGlutton Demon Prince of Gluttony]]. The game describes the difference between the two as while Gluttony wants to consume, Greed just wants to ''have''. Mammon's demons aren't allowed to give away anything...even the time of day.

* Greed is a gameplay mechanic in ''TabletopGame/BurningWheel'', where every dwarf feels it in their hearts and can tap into for when they desire something, or when they're creating magnificent objects of their own.
* "Greed" is a purchasable disadvantage for characters in ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings''. Samurai are expected not to care about material things, but they're also in a position to acquire ''large amounts'' of such things. The Mantis Clan has this as their hat, and as such, they earn an extra [[PointBuildSystem Character Point]] if they take the "Greed" disadvantage.

* In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', Greed is represented by a girl/demon named Mammon, one of [[SevenDeadlySins the Seven Stakes of Purgatory]] and Ange's "closest friend". She's the one who is serious about "taking [[spoiler: Sakutaro]] home", and constantly wants more of pretty much everything, whether it's knowledge, affection, or material things.