History Main / InventorOfTheMundane

-->'''[=McCoy=]:''' You realize that by giving him the formula you're altering the future.\\

* In ''LightNovel/ByTheGraceOfTheGods'', the protagonist Ryouma Takebayashi makes his fortune "inventing" mundane technologies and processes such as washing machines, waterproof fabrics, and barley tea when he was just trying to figure out new ways to use his army of tamed slimes or for his own use. As he wasn't the first reincarnated soul from earth, he quickly discovers several more had the same idea, like the famed magician inventing the "Clay Pigeon" target launching device for his unique spell, "Shotgun" or the entrepreneur that invented a revolutionary shipping and commercial travel system using flying monsters, dubbed the "Airport".

[[folder:Light Novels]]

* In ''LightNovel/DrugstoreInAnotherWorld'', Reiji Kirio makes most of his money by selling a revolutionary healing potion that's leagues more effective (and pleasant) than the previous standard, capable of bringing someone back from the brink of death in moments. However, his other bestsellers are modern conveniences remade in a fantasy world, such as all-purpose deodorant, dish detergent, and eyedrops for strained vision.
* In ''LightNovel/TheSaintsMagicPowerIsOmnipotent'', the protagonist Sei was transferred to another world against her will, and thanks to her hobby of using herbs for cooking and medicine plus her newfound magical powers, she ends up "inventing" a lot of new uses for medicinal herbs. These include creams that can rid you of the most stubborn and ugly acne and revolutionary seasonings for meals.
* In ''LightNovel/TheWorldsFinestAssassin'', Lugh establishes a false identity as a wealthy merchant by inventing moisturizer, thus revolutionizing the cosmetics industry.
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[[folder:Literature]]

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* One ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strip showed Dilbert's great-grandfather as the inventor of sliced bread, the greatest thing since unsliced bread.
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Compare with WeekendInventor when inventing is a hobby rather than a lucrative living. See also BunglingInventor, GadgeteerGenius, and MrFixit. If the inventor was an ancestor, then it is RoyaltiesHeir. If the character only ''claims'' to have invented something, then it is InventionPretension. If they think they've invented it, but someone else has before, see ItsBeenDone. In a number of cases, this also doubles as a ShoutOut or a NamesakeGag.

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'' during a group therapy session Dr. Evil mentions that his father claimed to have invented the question mark (among many other, equally strange declarations).

* In ''Film/GardenState'', one of Zach Braff's friends invented "silent velcro" and became a multi-millionaire. He now spends his time driving golf-carts around his mansion.

* In ''LightNovel/ByTheGraceOfTheGods'', the protagonist Ryouma Takebayashi makes his fortune "inventing" mundane technologies and processes such as washing machines, waterproof fabrics, and barley tea, when he was just trying to figure out new ways to use his army of tamed slimes or for his own use. As he wasn't the first reincarnated soul from earth, he quickly discovers several more had the same idea, like the famed magician inventing the "Clay Pigeon" target launching device for his unique spell, "Shotgun" or the entrepreneur that invented a revolutionary shipping and commercial travel system using flying monsters, dubbed the "Airport".

* In ''LightNovel/TheManPickedUpByTheGods'', the protagonist Ryouma Takebayashi makes his fortune "inventing" mundane technologies and processes such as washing machines, waterproof fabrics, and barley tea, when he was just trying to figure out new ways to use his army of tamed slimes or for his own use. As he wasn't the first reincarnated soul from earth, he quickly discovers several more had the same idea, like the famed magician inventing the "Clay Pigeon" target launching device for his unique spell, "Shotgun" or the entrepreneur that invented a revolutionary shipping and commercial travel system using flying monsters, dubbed the "Airport".

* In ''Literature/TheSaintsMagicIsOverpowered'', the protagonist Sei was transferred to another world against her will, and thanks to her hobby of using herbs for cooking and medicine plus her newfound magical powers, she ends up "inventing" a lot of new uses for medicinal herbs. These include creams that can rid you of the most stubborn and ugly acne and revolutionary seasonings for meals.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''LightNovel/TheManPickedUpByTheGods'', the protagonist Ryouma Takebayashi makes his fortune "inventing" mundane technologies and processes such as washing machines, waterproof fabrics, and barley tea, when he was just trying to figure out new ways to use his army of tamed slimes or for his own use. As he wasn't the first reincarnated soul from earth, he quickly discovers several more had the same idea, like the famed magician inventing the "Clay Pigeon" target launching device for his unique spell, "Shotgun" or the entrepreneur that invented a revolutionary shipping and commercial travel system using flying monsters, dubbed the "Airport".
* In ''Literature/TheSaintsMagicIsOverpowered'', the protagonist Sei was transferred to another world against her will, and thanks to her hobby of using herbs for cooking and medicine plus her newfound magical powers, she ends up "inventing" a lot of new uses for medicinal herbs. These include creams that can rid you of the most stubborn and ugly acne and revolutionary seasonings for meals.
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In other cases, the character is shown to be someone who isn't necessarily a great scientist, but clever and practical minded. Perhaps the character won't get famous or wealthy off of the invention, but their product at least will be a household name.

Compare with WeekendInventor when inventing is a hobby rather than a lucrative living. See also BunglingInventor, GadgeteerGenius, and MrFixit. If the inventor was an ancestor, then it is RoyaltiesHeir. If the character only ''claims'' to have invented something, then it is InventionPretension. If they think they've invented it, but someone else has before, see ItsBeenDone. In a number of cases this also doubles as a ShoutOut or a NamesakeGag.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', this is given as a reason why Chase's parents are wealthy enough to hang out with the families of the other characters, whose parents are doctors, businessmen and famous actors, among others. Specifically, they invented a thing "that thing" that lets you open CD covers without ruining your fingernails. Subverted because it's partially a lie - his parents, just like those of the other kids, are actually supervillains in control of the entire West Coast criminal underground, although they are also world-class inventors and well known enough that Tony Stark is able to recognize Mr. Stein by voice.

[[folder: Film ]]

* Creator/PatrickDempsey is portrayed as one in the movie ''Film/MadeOfHonor''. He invented that cardboard thing that goes around the coffee cup that keeps your hand from getting burned--named in the movie as the "Coffee Collar." Patrick Dempsey got 10 cents whenever one was used.

* {{Invoked}} in ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion''. The girls ''claim'' to have invented Post-It Notes, but it's a lie to impress their old high school peers. They deliberately tried to think of something everyone has heard of, but no-one's ever thought about who invented it (unaware that one of their classmates was a business school graduate where they taught about that invention in their classes.) PlayedStraight with said classmate, who invented a fast-smoking cigarette.

* In ''Film/OfficeSpace'', the character Tom Smykowski uses the settlement from a car accident to fund the invention of his "Jump to Conclusions" mat ("Have a problem? Just take out the mat and ''jump'' to a conclusion!"). In universe, it was wildly successful.

* In ''Film/NightAtTheMuseumBattleOfTheSmithsonian'', Larry Daley becomes a successful inventor, and one of his inventions is Glow-in-the-Dark Flashlight, which is based on his former job from the first movie as a night guard.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Stanley's father from ''Literature/{{Holes}}'' spent the entire novel trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers. He ultimately succeeded not only at inventing the perfect odor-eater, but also at marketing it.

* In ''Literature/JohnnyAndTheBomb'', Wobbler is left in the past, unable to return to his time due to a paradox. While taking TheSlowPath, he uses his knowledge of the present to become obscenely rich by both 'inventing' fast food chains and encouraging the inventors of other products.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Walden Schmidt from ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'' is billionaire after developing a website that he sold to Microsoft for $1.3 billion. No one has ever heard of it because Microsoft decided to bundle it with the Zune.
** Subverted with Charlie Harper. He is a very successful advertising jingle writer and he makes a lot of money in royalties. Most people could have comfortably retired on that income but Charlie spends all his money on booze, drugs, gambling and hookers so he regularly has to go back to work and write new jingles. When that is not enough to support his lifestyle, he branches out into writing children's songs and makes even more money in royalties.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': One episode reveals that Sam comes from an extremely wealthy family due to the fact that one of her great-grandfathers invented the machine that twirls cellophane around deli-toothpicks.

* ''Literature/GoodOmens'' has a list of people who invented things that, once they were invented, became so ubiquitous no one remembered they ever needed inventing. [[NamesakeGag They all have names like Device or Gadget]].

** One episode centered on this, which includes a montage of the various times Daffy asked Bugs why he is rich and Bugs answering him (including when tied near a fire and when they're about to get ''shot''). Daffy, in need of some money, ends up stealing Bugs' blueprint for an ''automated'' carrot peeler (it resembles a pencil sharpener) and becoems wealthy. Bugs ends up broke and while Daffy lets him move in, Daffy's wealth goes to his head and his demands have Bugs try and head over to his old rabbit hole. Eventually, customers riot over the auto carrot peeler (due to them exploding when overheating and Daffy not bothering to read the whole blueprints, which included a cooling system). Bugs ends up inventing a ''time machine'' to go back and get Daffy to stop asking, in order to avoid the entire debacle.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'', Bugs is wealthy and living in a nice home because he invented the carrot peeler, apparently a useful kitchen appliance.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', if you ask EDI where Cerberus gets funding from, Joker says that the Illusive Man invented the paper clip. EDI helpfully clarifies, "That is a joke."