History Main / RichesToRags

* ''Literature/TheMisfitOfDemonKingAcademy'': After Emilia Lud(o)well's transformation into a half-demon, not only was she naked in that form; she also lost her job, was booted from her family home, and she had no money. While she does eventually get ragged clothes, the job she gets only nets her a limited amount of money, and she was assailed by the racism she previously advocated for. She even laments that her food was poor in quality as well, and that she could not open any canned food she got.

* ''Theatre/{{Annie}}'': A group of homeless people remember their lives before UsefulNotes/HerbertHoover and UsefulNotes/TheGreatDepression took a toll on America:

If the character is from the bluest in hue of bloods, they may be an ImpoverishedPatrician. If the character continues on as they did when they were rich, they may be a PrincessInRags. If the character stops being an AlphaBitch and is revealed to be insecure or to have other sympathetic traits that make the audience like her, this might be a FallenPrincess. It might be a result of AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted, and/or NeverWinTheLottery if the character is (well, was) NouveauRiche. TheGreatDepression took this to its LogicalExtreme. In the RiseAndFallGangsterArc, the first half of the story will depict the protagonist [[RagsToRiches rising to power]], and the second half will depict this trope. One way of showing how far they have fallen is to have them on a FallenOnHardTimesJob.

If the character is from the bluest in hue of bloods, they may be an ImpoverishedPatrician. If the character continues on as they did when they were rich, they may be a PrincessInRags. If the character stops being an AlphaBitch and is revealed to be insecure or to have other sympathetic traits that make the audience like her, this might be a FallenPrincess. It might be a result of AFoolAndHisNewMoneyAreSoonParted, and/or NeverWinTheLottery if the character is (well, was) NouveauRiche. TheGreatDepression took this to its LogicalExtreme. In the RiseAndFallGangsterArc, the first half of the story will depict the protagonist [[RagsToRiches rising to power]], and the second half will depict this trope.

It may also happen by choice. If AristocratsAreEvil, except for a good member of the rich family, this guy may decide to cut ties with his family, even if that means to give up the high-class lifestyle (this is more likely if they discover that the family wealth comes from some evil activity, such as crime). In an inversion of the classic UptownGirl story, the guy may leave with a poor girl and embrace a new simpler life without unneeded luxuries.

* ''Literature/FamilyTreeSeries'': Zander is the son of the prominent and wealthy Burley family, to the point Abby's father Luther invokes their name as a family to look up to when they move next door to them. When Zander asks to marry Abby through her father, part of the reason Luther demands that Abby do so (along with his sexist attitude) is because his family is so socially prominent and well off. [[spoiler:Abby turns Zander down the first time but accepts five years later after living on her own.]] It's only many years later [[spoiler:after Zander's [[TheAlcoholic drinking problem]] leads to his death by falling overboard and drowning in icy New York city waters]] that Abby finds out that--while Zander had made quite a lot of money as a writer--[[MsRedInk he'd spent it as fast as it came in]] ''and'' had been sending large checks to his parents in Maine since their business had failed and they could only afford their new smaller house with Zander's assistance. Abby works hard to pay off all his debts herself--which she does without asking her well-off father Luther for any help--and works multiple odd and often humiliating jobs to support their four kids, moving them around Maine to stay employed. [[{{Irony}} Ironically]], one of the reasons Luther told Abby to marry Zander when she was barely out of high school was that she would never have to worry for money, but it's all she does until she reunites with and marries [[ChildhoodFriendRomance her childhood friend Orrin]].