History Main / EveryManHasHisPrice

** Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish is also ''mostly'' a believer in this; but, despite being the poster boy of the series for the use of soft power and solving problems with money, Littlefinger actually acknowledges that some people have very different motivations and are too honorable to go for a bribe, whether it's in money, titles, or positions. He also knows how to be more subtle about it, most famously with Nestor Royce. Littlefinger later explains to Sansa that any attempt to bribe Nestor would have inflamed Nestor's very real sense of honor and pride. Now, a little flattery, some appreciation, and dangling [[VicariouslyAmbitious the chance for a better life for Nestor's children]] (thus saving them from becoming {{Impoverished Patrician}}s), on the other hand...

** Early in the original ''Anime/YuGiOh'', Kaiba was known to use both bribery and blackmail to get what he wanted (in the manga, he even admitted he got his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons cards this way), and Mokuba intended to do the same thing in the manga too (he was far more evil in that version than he was in the anime, at least early on). Kaiba mellowed on this a little as the series progressed (he stopped using methods that were outright illegal, but he still tended to use his wealth to his advantage). Of course, as bad as Kaiba was, his adoptive father was ''much'' worse. To Gozuburo's thinking, money was the answer to everything, and there was nothing that couldn't be bought (which was a big factor that led to Kaiba taking him down the first time).

* ''Franchise/JurassicPark'': Dr. Alan Grant is primarily focused on his excavation work, but he can be persuaded to go to the dinosaur islands for the right price. In ''Film/JurassicPark'', John Hammond offers to fund his team's digs for the next three years if he goes to Isla Nublar, while in ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', Paul Kirby basically offers him a blank check to be his tour guide on a flight over Isla Sorna. [[spoiler:While Hammond's offer is apparently sincere, Kirby is actually scamming Grant in a desperate attempt to find his missing son.]]

* Yuri Orlov in ''Film/LordOfWar'' says at one point that he has never met a single border guard unwilling to look away for a moment in return for an envelope full of US dollars.
** He does note, however, that some people - like the Interpol agent who takes a personal interest in him - can't be bought with money.
--->They say every man has his price - but not every man gets it. Interpol Agent Jack Valentine couldn't be bought, at least not with money. For Jack, glory was the prize.

* In ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark'' [[note]] which takes place in between the above films[[/note]], Hammond mentions that Eddie and Nick didn't believe him about live dinosaurs being on Isla Sorna and that he "had to use [his] checkbook'' to convince them to even go on the expedition. Meanwhile, Roland subverts this when he agrees to help Ludlow lead his own expedition in exchange for the right to hunt a male ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', basically telling Ludlow that he can stick his money where the sun doesn't shine if he doesn't agree to this.

** In ''Film/TheLostWorldJurassicPark''[[note]] which takes place in between the above films[[/note]], Hammond mentions that Eddie and Nick didn't believe him about live dinosaurs being on Isla Sorna and that he "had to use [his] checkbook'' to convince them to even go on the expedition. Meanwhile, Roland subverts this when he agrees to help Ludlow lead his own counter-expedition in exchange for the right to hunt a male ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', basically telling Ludlow that he can stick his money where the sun doesn't shine if he doesn't agree to this.

Compare BuyThemOff, where a character attempts to use a form of bribery to atone for evil actions, and VillainWithGoodPublicity, for characters who take bribery, coercion, and fraud to a whole different level. Contrast BribeBackfire, which is what happens when the briber underestimates the [[ComicallySmallBribe price]] and/or [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules integrity]] of his/her target and MoneyIsNotPower, where the situation may be bad enough (or the person is driven enough) that whatever "the price" may be, it is not possible to pay with money (and most certainly will doom a "rich" character).

--> "Every man has a price he will willingly accept. Even for what he hoped never to sell."
** This line also feeds into Davey Jones's M.O., which involves finding dying soldiers and offering them a prolonged life if they spend it serving on ''The Flying Dutchman.''
** Even Davey Jones in the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest second film]] has a price as Jack manages to negotiate him into an offer of 100 souls in exchange for his own.

* ''Film/Posse1975'': Jack Strawhorn believes this and attempts to prove it by handing back the $30,000 the posse had raised to pay Nightingale's ransom and telling them to split it among themselves: $6,000 each. [[spoiler:He is ultimately proved correct as four of the five posse members abandon Nightingale and ride off with Strawhorn.]]

* ''Literature/TheCatWhoWalksThroughWalls'': Richard and Gwen bribe their way around Luna, kind of justified since they're "on the lam."

** Tyrion Lannister believes this, coming as he does from the richest family in Westeros. Unfortunately he makes an enemy of his own sister the Queen Regent who is able to outbid him in power and wealth.
** Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish is also ''mostly'' a believer in this, but despite being the poster boy of the series for the use of soft power and solving problems with money, Littlefinger actually acknowledges that some people have very different motivations and are too honorable to go for a bribe, whether it's in money, titles, or positions. He also knows how to be more subtle about it, most famously with Nestor Royce. Littlefinger later explains to Sansa that any attempt to bribe Nestor would have inflamed Nestor's very real sense of honor and pride. A little flattery, some appreciation, and dangling [[VicariouslyAmbitious the chance for a better life for Nestor's children]], saving them from becoming {{Impoverished Patrician}}s, on the other hand...

** Cordelia's assessment of Aral, in ''Shards Of Honour'', is that he cannot be bought at any price - but that there are things for which he will, to his personal shame, pay a heavy cost. That her therapist fails to see the distinction between the two positions is down to the fact that Cordelia is privy to one of Barrayar's most closely-guarded secrets, and can't properly explain. This does not assist her in proving that she's really in love with Aral, and not an unlikely double-agent snared by the unlikeliest of honey-traps. It ends up proving to her that there are heavy costs of her own that she is prepared to pay - like half-drowning said therapist in a fishtank and fleeing the planet of her birth to be with the man she loves.

---> '''Simon:''' It expanded my world view, ever after. Money, power, sex . . . and elephants.
* ''The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook'': Has one chapter, "How to Pass a Bribe," where the entire outline seems to be written for a scenario revolving around the reader getting in trouble with a customs official while attempting to smuggle goods out of a third-world country.

-->'''Eddie''': Daddy! *hugs Myrtle's father*

** In "Walk Of Punishment", Jaime plays it well with a seemingly agreeable Locke [[spoiler:only for Locke to cut off his hand; this sadistic act on one of the arrogant highborn he despises giving Locke more satisfaction than any amount of gold.]]
** It is totally subverted in Season 4 when the Lannisters find themselves in debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos. When Queen Cersei tells her father Tywin Lannister to find someone at the bank to bribe or bully, he replies that the Iron Bank won't respond or bend to such tactics.

--->'''Tyrion''': "If I told you to murder, an infant girl, say, still at her mother's breast...would you do it, without question?"
--->'''Bronn''': "Without question? No. I'd ask how much."
* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E7TheThingLayStill The Thing Lay Still]]", Lestat de Lioncourt, Louis de Pointe du Lac and Claudia want to be in charge of the city's Mardi Gras ball. Normally, this would be impossible because the festivity is only a month away, and it's presided by the Committee of Raj, which has finalized its plans three years ago. However, the vampire family gains control of the MasqueradeBall after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEt0GtpUsJI they bribe]] Tom Anderson and his fellow Raj members.

* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': Mr. Shimokawa (Marcy's boss) collects American classic "junk" and wants to add Al's car to the collection. Marcy will gain her so-desired promotion if she persuades Al to sell it. (They can't get another car of that kind because half had been recalled and the other [[TheAllegedCar dissolved in rain]]) When Al finally agreed, Mr. Shimokawa commented he knew every man had his price. Al said every woman had it as well. Marcy had to make a sensual dance and Mr. Shimokawa offered the promotion because of how sexy she was. She then [[SubvertedTrope subverted the trope]] by beating her boss and calling it her resignation.

** The show has people in desperate situations lured into competing in a series of DeadlyGame[=s=] for a 45.6 billion Korean won cash prize. To drive this point home, a large piggy bank hanging over the players' dormitory fills with money when players are eliminated: the price for each player's life is 100 million won.

* [[Wrestling/TedDiBiase Ted [=DiBiase=]]]'s character in ''Wrestling/{{WWE}}'' bribed quite a few people during his time as a wrestling {{Heel}}, to the point that it actually became his routine. His catchphrase, also the first line in his entrance theme, was "Everybody's got a price".

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', the player can bypass the "conversation" mini-game (to make someone like you with the speech skill) by paying them off (this seems to literally buy you their friendship). Not that they need it after you've created a 100 charm spell.

* ''Series/KingdomAdventure'': Pitts makes this assumption when he tries to purchase Keena's watering can. Keena doesn't trust him and doesn't accept his offer, even when he offers 50 silver coins!
* In the second season of ''Series/LukeCage2016'', Luke tells [[TheMafia an Italian mob boss]] that he can't be bought. She points out that he can't say that conclusively, all he can say for a fact is that nobody has found his price ''yet''. In a very roundabout way it turns out Luke ''does'' have his price: [[spoiler:peace for Harlem, free of the outside mobs.]]
* ''Series/Daredevil2015''. In "Shadows In The Glass", Wilson Fisk wants [[DirtyCop Detective Hoffman]] to kill his partner Blake, which he's reluctant to do because they've been friends for 35 years. Fisk implies that Hoffman will be killed if he refuses and someone else will then kill his friend anyway, so the only question is how much money will be needed to ease Hoffman's conscience.
-->'''Fisk:''' How much are each of those years worth to you? In round figures.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/FamilyMatters''. The father of [[StalkerWithACrush Myrtle]], who aggressively pursues Eddie, gets Eddie to agree to marry [[AbhorrentAdmirer Myrtle]] via bribery, as he's a wealthy peanut tycoon himself.[[note]] This leads to Eddie and Myrtle's wedding ceremony, though it turns out to be AllJustADream in the end.[[/note]]
-->'''Myrtle's Father''': I will give you $10 million.
-->'''Eddie''': Daddy! *hugs Myrtle's father*
* In the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' episode where Creator/OwenWilson is the guest host, [[AsHimself he plays himself]] going to [[Creator/{{Pixar}} Pixar Studios]] to record his lines for the upcoming ''Cars 4: the Spinout'', and he slowly realizes that Lightning [=McQueen=] has been turned into a creep who hits on any and all female cars around him, and there's even a scene where he hits on some (heavily implied to be) underage high school girls, and another where he goes to court for a sexual harassment charge. When Creator/LarryTheCableGuy (not played by Larry himself) is brought in to put him at ease, the script calls for Lightning to openly admit he seduced Mater's sister and called him the "R-word" [[note]]the word in question is retard, which is now considered an offensive slur because it demeans people who have a mental disability[[/note]] because of [[DrunkOnPower "Power"]], which when Wilson says he will no longer record his lines because Pixar is going out its way to destroy a beloved children's cartoon character. However, when the producer shows him a copy of the contract, Wilson sees that he'll be paid a hefty sum for just that one session, never mind the rest of the script, because, according to the producer: "Creator/{{Disney}} [[Series/WandaVision had]] [[Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier a]] [[Film/BlackWidow2021 very]] [[WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021 good]] [[Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings year]]." Wilson goes back to the recording boot and keeps recording lines showing that fame turned Lightning from cocky race car to sex-obsessed freak.
* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': In "[[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E7TheThingLayStill The Thing Lay Still]]", Lestat de Lioncourt, Louis de Pointe du Lac and Claudia want to be in charge of the city's Mardi Gras ball. Normally, this would be impossible because the festivity is only a month away, and it's presided by the Committee of Raj, which has finalized its plans three years ago. However, the vampire family gains control of the MasqueradeBall after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEt0GtpUsJI they bribe]] Tom Anderson and his fellow Raj members.
-->'''Louis''': We know you're on the committee.\\
'''Tom''': The Committee of Raj is a secret and sacred group of citizens-- ''(Claudia puts a list of the committee members on his desk)'' ...bound by honor and tradition.\\
'''Louis''': Get us a price, get back to us.\\
'''Tom''': These things are planned years in advance. Louis, you're a native.\\
'''Lestat''': You've expanded your export business, shipping coffins from port back to Europe?\\
'''Tom''': Shipping and manufacturing. Double dip. Good margin, product in high demand.\\
'''Claudia''': You lost one of your ships recently.\\
'''Tom''': Took a torpedo in the rear from one of the Fritz's U-boats.\\
'''Louis''': Would you like a new one?\\
'''Tom''': ''(is silent for several seconds while he ponders the offer)'' I['ll] attempt your no doubt humiliating and reputation-destroying ask.\\
'''Louis''': ''(in 2022 narrating to Daniel Molloy)'' The Krewe of Raj had been three years in planning their Mardi Gras theme, and they abandoned it within a week once the Parisian law firm of Roget and Albert had transatlantically wired their bribes. From the Marais to the Mississippi, money flooded the town. Unavailable vendors became available.
* In the series finale of ''Series/{{Newhart}}'', a Japanese businessman wants to buy the town and turn it into a country club. The residents refuse, until the businessman offers a million dollars for each home, at which point someone shouts "bring on the bulldozers!" Averted with the Loudons, who still refuse to sell (the businessman opts to build around them).

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'': Discussed by the duo in one strip during their wagon ride. Calvin claims his price is: "[[ComicallySmallDemand Two bucks cold cash up front]]"
-->'''Hobbes''': I don't know which is worse: that everyone has their price, or that the price is always so low.
-->'''Calvin''': I'd make mine higher, but it's hard enough to find buyers as it is.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' proves that this trope applies to talking objects as well. Upon weighing himself in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/04/14 the April 14, 2022 strip]], [[TemptingFate Garfield attempts to bribe the talking scale into lying about the result for him, but the scale refuses. Garfield promptly names his bribe of choice, which gets the scale to oblige.]]
-->'''Garfield''': If you give me a good number, I'll make it worth your while.\\
'''Scale''': You can't bribe me!\\
'''Garfield''': [[TwoWordsAddedEmphasis Two words: unlimited batteries.]]\\
'''Scale''': Hellooooo, '''SKINNY!'''
[[/folder]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' campaign supplement ''The Traveller Adventure''. The section "Zilan Wine" says that [[PlayerCharacters PCs]] can bribe every single government official on the planet Zila, no exceptions.

* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy''
** Greasus Goldtooth is rich enough to bribe any enemy into incompetence thanks to controlling and extracting a considerable tax on anyone using the ''Warhammer'' equivalent of the Silk Road, which runs through his territory. This includes most royal guards and is, by name, actually ''one of his special abilities'', which allows him to force Stupidity tests by bribing enemy units near him in the middle of battle.
** There's also the Lore of Slaanesh spell from the End Times update. Song of Seduction allows a Slaaneshi sorcerer to tempt any enemy unit into switching sides using this trope, even using the Trope Name in its description. "Every man has his price, even if he knows it not, and Slaanesh's wizards can divine such things whilst magic flows strong."

* In ''VideoGame/MegaManMaverickHunterX'', Chill Penguin says that Sigma has met his price for joining his Maverick rebellion. He does not say what Sigma gave him but does add that working for Sigma is a million times better than piddling around at the South Pole.
* ''VideoGame/BoilingPointRoadToHell'' allows the protagonist t bribe ''any'' enemy before they turn hostile. It always works, but it's quite expensive, especially for a large group of enemies.
* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' games sometimes have this. You can converse with demons and successfully sweet-talk them into essentially selling themselves and join your forces, whether by literally bribing them with Macca or with an item exchange. Mechanics may vary, even reaching AuctionOfEvil territory on ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor''.
** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney'', demons will even raise their prices if you clash with them on the OrderVersusChaos scale, or cut their price if you match. (Be warned - some demons will accept your bribes, then change their minds at the last second. Fricking Angels.)
** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiImagine'', you still talk to demons to convert them into allies, but some are much pickier. You have 3 types of conversation, talk, joke, and threaten, but certain demons, mainly the higher leveled or the rarest, won't even talk to you unless you use one of the bribing talks, starting with macca and going up, ending in gems, to befriend you. Fortunately, the amount needed is set, and once you get to higher levels, when you start needing it, you can easily get the amount needed to bribe 'em.
** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', you will be taken to Charon TheFerryman should you suffer a TotalPartyKill. The man himself is ''massively'' overworked, and is quite willing to look the other way to send you back with a lit-okay, a boatload of Macca, or 3DS Play Coins, if you regularly take 10-minute walks with your 3DS. He's still kind enough to offer a tab should you lack the money he demands, but be sure to pay him before you fall in battle again, or risk being KilledOffForReal.
* ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours'' allows you to pay off gangs or the police in order to lower Heat. Given that, past a certain point on the Heat meters, gangs will attack on sight and cops will react much faster to any misdemeanours, one is likely to use this a lot.
* ''VideoGame/TheGodfather'' game also uses this. Bribing a DirtyCop gives you temporary immunity from the law as long as you don't overdo it and bribing their chiefs gives a longer duration for that, while bribing an FBI agent completely empties your Vendetta with other gangs and is the easier way to win a MobWar.
* The ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series is pretty famous when it comes to convincing people to turn traitor on their former friends to work for you but there are many characters in the series that specifically only side with you if you can dish out a couple grand to buy their loyalty. In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'' the mercenary class' description flat out says they only fight for money.
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', you can bribe Heralds to stop announcing your presence to the populace.
** And then pickpocket them moments later to get all your money back.
** This is discussed in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'', where after Connor learns this trick from Sam Adams he states that it feels wrong to rely on bribery and dishonesty.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperheroLeagueOfHoboken'', all monsters have a "Greed" trait. If it's above 0, you can bribe them, but the higher their greed is, the more you'll need to spend. This still counts as defeating them for experience points. Creatures with 0 Greed, on the other hand, can never be bribed.
* Many of the ''VideoGame/TotalWar'' games allow you to bribe armies and cities to switch sides. Generals and other factors increase the cost/chance of failure of pulling off the bribe, but it is almost always possible.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9YdKxL0yE Storm Rising trailer]], Maximilien, a high-ranking member of the criminal organization Talon, says that everyone has their price.
-->'''Maximilien:''' Everyone you know... everything you do... can be bought and sold. The price of loyalty is always changing.
* ''VideoGame/PennyPunchingPrincess'' has this as its main gimmick. Almost any enemy can be tricked into not fighting you if you throw enough money at them. The most recent enemy you bribed can then be used to fight for you as a limited form of SummonMagic.
* ''VideoGame/RiseOfNations'' has the Spy unit, [[EnemyExchangeProgram who can bribe most enemy units to your side.]]
* The moral system in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'' isn't based on good or evil but rather if The Boss would accept a bribe over mayhem. The game starts with Johnny expressing that they have gone soft since becoming a franchise which The Boss replies that franchise gives them a lot of money. By the fourth game, they dropped the gangster life and used their P.R. to become president instead.
* In ''VideoGame/SatelliteReign'', you can bribe doctors and scientists to join your research team, as well as the occasional corporate soldier stationed outside a facility to take the night off[[note]]Bribing a guard is always prohibitively expensive, though: it's much easier to build up your hacker's mind control ability and make the guard take a walk. Or just shoot him in the head[[/note]]. Don't expect it to be an option with those actually inside the facility grounds, though.

* ''VideoGame/KingOfTheCastle'':
** The object of the Corruption scheme is for the Patricians of the Coast to bribe the entire Royal court senseless, then publicly accuse the ''King'' of being the corrupt one and "save" the Kingdom from chaos. The second part of their scheme involves shifting from bribing lesser members of the palace hierarchy to buying the loyalties of the King's inner circle; the Spymaster is (initially) too savvy to fall for it, while the Chancellor is fiercely loyal to the King, but the Treasurer and the Marshal are more receptive to having their allegiances bought off.
** The Intimidation scheme, to which multiple factions have access, involves infiltrating the Palace Watch by either bribing or {{Blackmail}}ing the soldiers to either swear allegiance to the faction's claimant or step aside in favour of someone more easily bought. For the final stage, the nobles can use the purchased loyalty of the Watch to either assassinate the King or render them a PuppetKing under threat of assassination.
** The premise of the Monarch's Golden Choice voting option is to buy votes by offering 500 gold in personal Wealth to all nobles who choose the Monarch's preferred option. (This can be used against the King if the Patricians' Corruption scheme succeeds.)

* From the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'':
-->'''[[TropeNamer David Xanatos]]:''' Pay a man enough, and he'll walk barefoot into Hell.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', Jay finds himself in this situation with his insensitive boss following a public humiliation.
--> '''Jay''': You think you can put a price on my humiliation? ''(Duke hands him a check. Jay looks at it)'' Wow! That's it to the penny!
* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': In "Thanksploitation Spectacular", Congress willingly goes along with the [[VillainOfTheWeek Turkey President]] just because he's giving them all enormous raises.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'', this almost spoken word for word by Scrooge [=McDuck=] after he buys the titular club, and WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse protests that WesternAnimation/{{Pete}} is the owner.
-->'''Scrooge:''' Everyone has their price.\\
''(Pete drives up in a golf cart, dressed like a pimp and hauling around a huge sack of cash with a dollar sign on it)''\\
'''Pete:''' And my price is a big fat bag of cash!
* Count Duckula inverts this in the ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'' episode "The Great Bone Idol" as he asks Baron Greenback what's in it for him if he goes out searching for the Idol:
-->'''Greenback:''' How about...Australia?\\
'''Duckula:''' Australia? Bondi Beach... Woolamaloo... kangaroo stew... yes... Done!
* Dr. Robotnik almost quotes this trope by its name in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' episode, "[[Recap/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehogS01E27BoogeyMania Boogey Mania]]" when he offers [[AbsentMindedProfessor Professor Von Schlemmer]] diamonds in exchange for converting his Dream Machine into a Nightmare Machine. Von Schlemmer instinctively accepts, but then reconsiders.