History Main / MockMillionaire

Contrast with KingIncognito as well as the more general SecretlyWealthy. Compare FakeAristocrat and NouveauRiche. See also PrincessForADay and IfIWereARichMan. Sister trope of PennyAmongDiamonds.

* In the later seasons of ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'', it emerges that the Eagleton municipal government in on the edge of bankruptcy thanks to indulging in ConspicuousConsumption. Pawnee ultimately merges with Eagleton to prevent their financial stupidity from impacting the whole region ([[UngratefulBastard not that the Eagletonians stop resenting Pawnee]]).

* ''Series/TokyoVice'': In season 1, Samantha gets conned by a club host, Akira, out of her life savings. In season 2, she spots Akira on a talk show flaunting his wealth and success, having become a celebrity since he absconded with her money. She tracks him down to beat her money out of him, but she discovers that he's living out of a hotel room with nothing but a few articles of clothing to his name. His whole career is a facade.

** ''Series/IWannaMarryHarry'' is similar.

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** In season 4, [[spoiler:House Lannister]] becomes this. [[spoiler:Tywin Lannister admits to Cersei that the Lannister]] gold mines have run dry and the family coffers have been nearly exhausted thanks to the recent civil war. Worse yet, a lot of the debt that they're owed is held by the Iron Throne, which itself is heavily financed by debts owed to the Iron Bank of Braavos. This is a very bad thing for [[spoiler:House Lannister]], since the only reason anyone fears/respects them at all is their supposed wealth.

* Peter from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' once pretended to be a [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot secret agent/astronaut/millionaire with a cowboy hat]] at his high school reunion. He lets his real life slip when he geeks out at meeting Tom Brady and mentions working at a brewery, and is outed as a fake because [[InsaneTrollLogic "the hat comes right off"]].

* Invoked in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Viva Las Pegasus," with Fluttershy playing the part of Impossibly Rich as part of a KansasCityShuffle.

** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E13SpringfieldUp Springfield Up]]", which parodies ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Up! Seven Up!]]'', Homer pretends to be a millionaire by moving into Mr. Burns's house without his knowledge (Burns is out of town).

** "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS7E14ScenesFromTheClassStruggleInSpringfield Scenes From The Class Struggle In Springfield]]" had Marge buying a discounted Chanel dress, and a childhood friend of hers sees her wearing it and invites her to a country club. While the rest of the family enjoy the club, she has to keep altering the dress to maintain the charade.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', Squidward pretends to be the owner of a five-star restaurant to impress his arch-rival Squilliam. It works, until [=SpongeBob=] unintentionally blows his cover. The trope is then inverted, with ''Squilliam'' claiming that he made up all his great riches to impress Squidward and is actually a cashier. . . only to reveal that he's "filthy stinkin' rich" once Squidward sympathizes with him.

** In one episode parodying ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Up! Seven Up!]]'' Homer pretends to be a millionaire by moving into Mr. Burns's house without his knowledge (Burns is out of town).
** In an earlier episode, Homer gather the extended Simpsons family to prove to Lisa that they're not all failures. It however turns out most of the men are, including one who pretends to be a millionaire at parties for a living. [[spoiler:He then admits he doesn't actually play a millionaire at parties, he just wishes he did.]]
** Another had Marge buying a discounted Chanel dress, and a childhood friend of hers sees her wearing it and invites her to a country club. While the rest of the family enjoy the club, she has to keep altering the dress to maintain the charade.

Contrast with KingIncognito as well as the more general SecretlyWealthy. Compare FakeAristocrat. See also PrincessForADay and IfIWereARichMan. Sister trope of PennyAmongDiamonds.

* Was also explored in an episode of ''Series/{{Castle}}''. That Mock Millionaire is a con artist initially intent on bilking his heiress fiancée, who then fell in love with her. He is then killed by his partner to avoid potentially ruining the con.

A Mock Millionaire is an ordinary person who is pretending to be someone who's rich, powerful, or otherwise highly influential. Maybe he's part of TheCon selling a GetRichQuickScheme, or an infatuated beau pursuing a SpoiledSweet gal, or caught up in a PrinceAndPauper or FawltyTowersPlot. Whatever the reason, expect the Mock Millionaire to play the charade up with displays of ConspicuousConsumption, casual references to [[SceneryPorn exotic places]], lots of MoneyToThrowAway, name-dropping the [[TheBeautifulElite rich and powerful]], an UnlimitedWardrobe complete with [[HighClassGlass monocle]], and maybe "borrowing" a CoolCar or BigFancyHouse.

* ''Film/ItHappnedInHollywood'': In order to keep his promise to Billy, Tim pretends that he still has his fortune and owns his ranch, and throws a party filled with doubles for famous movie stars.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'' offers up a fairly subtle example in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E5RiseOfTheCybermen Rise of the Cybermen]][=/=][[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E6TheAgeOfSteel The Age of Steel]]" with the parallel-Earth version of Jackie Tyler. However, Russell T. Davies' first few drafts originally portrayed her as a much, much more obnoxious example--"Trash With Cash!" was how he described it. Later revisions had this come more from Jackie's personality than from her surroundings. [[spoiler:It was probably for the best, [[CyberneticsEatYourSoul considering what happens to her...]]]]

* Hyacinth Bucket ([[CatchPhrase who will remind you]] [[PretentiousPronunciation it's pronounced "bouquet", dear]]) of ''Series/KeepingUpAppearances'' seeks to cultivate an image of wealthy sophistication. In truth, they're solidly middle class, and her husband is a government employee who is not highly salaried, but it doesn't stop her from sneering at those whom she deems "economical". Some of her exploits include convincing her HenpeckedHusband Richard to buy a giant country manor instead of a small cottage, and stealing a Rolls-Royce just so she can parade about in it to random strangers.

* Eddy from ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' has done this several times, such as when he made a video to send to his brother in the episode ''An Ed Is Born.'' In another episode, ''Stiff Upper Ed'', Eddy again pretends to be a millionaire in an attempt to gain access to a new "Rich Club" the neighborhood kids are holding. However, it's made plainly clear that his inability to be accepted has nothing to do with his (fake) wealth, and everything to do with the other mock millionaires not liking him. [[ObliviousToHatred Not that he realizes this.]]

* Eddy from ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'' has done this several times, such as when he made a video to send to his brother.