History Main / RichIdiotWithNoDayJob

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16723903170.78923100 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/{{Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bruce_wayne_drinking.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The rich idiot with no day job in his natural environment. GamblerGroupies optional.]]

->'''Alfred:''' Strange injuries, a non-existent social life. These things beg the question as to "What exactly does Bruce Wayne do with his time and his money?"\\
'''Bruce:''' And what does someone like ''me'' do?\\
'''Alfred:''' Drive sports cars, date movie stars, buy things that are not for sale. Who knows, Master Wayne -- you start pretending to have fun, you might even have a little by accident.
-->-- ''Film/BatmanBegins''

When you think about it, the best SecretIdentity a {{superhero}} can have is that of the MillionairePlayboy. Plenty of time to devote to smiting evil, plenty of money to spend on [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys wonderful toys]] -- and if anybody becomes suspicious about these advantages, they'll be forced to admit that [[ObfuscatingStupidity you're such a feckless layabout]] you couldn't possibly be [[SomethingPerson Scaryanimalman]]. You're just too RichInDollarsPoorInSense.

Most common with {{Nonpowered Costumed Hero}}es; it's not that superpowered heroes couldn't use the fortune and the free time, but Cosmic Balance seems to say that you can't have both. Narratively speaking, for these characters, [[CrimefightingWithCash having massive wads of cash to blow]] on things like a GrapplingHookPistol ''is'' their superpower.

The most recognizable modern example is [[{{Franchise/Batman}} Bruce Wayne]], but when he first appeared this was already a live trope in the PulpMagazine medium and ProtoSuperhero genre.

For the characters they're pretending to be, see GentlemanSnarker or UpperClassTwit. If rather than concealing a SuperPoweredAlterEgo, the character actually ''is'' a rich idiot with no day job, they're UnclePennybags. If they make no attempt to mask their identity, they're a GentlemanAdventurer. If they don't have a reason for putting up this facade, they may be one of ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything.

[[FridgeLogic Just don't ask]] ''[[FridgeLogic how]]'' [[FridgeLogic they're rich in the first place if they don't have a job]]. The usual answer is they inherited it.

An {{Exploited|Trope}} form of IdleRich or UpperClassTwit. Also see OneHourWorkWeek.

A SubTrope of LivingADoubleLife and StockSuperheroDayJobs. Contrast RichGenius.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Anime/CodeGeass:''
** Lelouch Lamperouge mostly fits this trope, except that rather than pretending to be stupid, he pretends to be too BrilliantButLazy. It's not a difficult pretense, because that was precisely the case until he JumpedAtTheCall in the first episode.
** That he constantly skips class in order to con money out of the rich and powerful by preying on their arrogance ''is'' the reason people think that he's lazy, (along with his great distaste for having to commit to physical labour) as he's quite clearly capable and willing to go to absurd lengths to manipulate events for his own whims, from world conquest to helping a little bird with a broken wing.
** Kallen also somewhat falls into this category, as her father IS rich, and she spends nights fighting [[TheEmpire Britannia]]. Except replace "idiot" with "ill girl". Which is a somewhat more difficult pretense to maintain since she's actually [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower borderline superhuman]].
* Another case of this being a cover for ObfuscatingStupidity: Prince Dryden, Millerna's fiancé from ''Anime/VisionOfEscaflowne''. He poses as a rich, indifferent and lazy merchant, but he's got [[DeadpanSnarker a dry wit]] and [[GuileHero a talent]] for manipulation that saves the skins of Van and his group more than once.
* Jiraiya from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' qualifies. Ostensibly a wandering (and lecherous!) carefree hermit, he is actually quite wealthy...and in fact one of the Legendary Sannin. He's also using the act to conceal the fact that he ''still'' works as a spy for the Hidden Leaf despite ostensibly having retired from ninja duty.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** Bruce Wayne. He used to use this all the time, but after a while, realised that it hurts his endeavours as Bruce Wayne, such as his attempts to fix Gotham, and has pretty much done away with it altogether. He now acts as a level-headed CEO and philanthropist who is just very secretive. What probably helps is that he "reveals" to the media that [[MetaphoricallyTrue he's been "working with Batman"]], so that's what people assume he spends his time on. This left the impression that he'd been simply bankrolling Batman's operations, a perception reinforced by [[ComicBook/BatmanGrantMorrison Batman Inc.]] which also funds similar vigilantes all over the world. It also helped that at the time [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] was Batman (he'd hand the cowl back to Bruce shortly afterward and go back to being Nightwing), so Bruce could easily appear in public with Batman.
** The entire Club of Heroes is pretty much this; When invited to a reunion, Batman even says he's curious what happens to bored rich idiots when they're washed up. Chief Man-of-Bats flat-out admits that whatever he is or was, he was never really a hero. The Musketeer also revels in the fact that his book made him a millionaire overnight and that he sold the movie rights for even more money, meaning he's internationally famous but never has to fight crime again. That's right, he got richer and ''also quit his night job''.
---> ''He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.'' - [[http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9700946&postcount=27 Tirian]]
** The Batboys [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]], [[ComicBook/RedRobin Tim Drake]] and Damian Wayne, have usually averted this, and are seen as being extremely intelligent by the general public. Damian in particular makes no effort to hide how smart he really is, and even ''ran Bruce's company'' while he was thought dead. Dick, meanwhile, has held a very unusual mix of jobs, including police officer, museum curator, gymnastics instructor, bartender, male model, and Waynetech executive. On the other hand, he has been called "Gotham's very own Paris Hilton", so it may be a case of DependingOnTheWriter.
** Dick Grayson has also become a billionaire in his own right, repping Bludhaven, though he's made it pretty obvious he's no idiot.
** When Bane tried to track down Batman, he successfully narrowed it down to a certain area, and therefore the rich men who lived nearby. When his henchman told him Wayne was "lucky" enough to hire good execs to run the company, Bane says it might not be luck. Then he just looks at photos of the men and decides Bruce's persona is a "mask".
* Kate Kane, ComicBook/{{Batwoman}}, is also this. To most people, she's a military washout who parties all night and sleeps all day with her dead mother's money. We see this [[TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife hurting her social life]] early in her series - a girlfriend sees that Kate clearly hasn't slept and dumps her, assuming she's been out on the town with someone else.
* ''ComicBook/GreenArrow'': Oliver Queen, at least in some renditions. Before he became Green Arrow, it was said that Oliver Queen's sole survival skill was "making a martini last an entire hour".
* Averted by Ted Kord[=/=]ComicBook/BlueBeetle II who is very involved with Kord Industries, an R&D firm.
* ''ComicBook/PS238'': The Revenant. He's one of the few that openly admits to gobs of cash in his costumed identity -- as he commented (paraphrased), "Sometimes I think having access to (lots of) money is the greatest superpower." Amusingly subverted, as well, since he's wanted by the government ("warrants for arrest in eleven states"), not for being a vigilante, but because only one of his (many) identities pays taxes.
* Averted with ''ComicBook/IronMan''. Anthony "Tony" Stark is well-known as a workaholic engineer and business owner/government minister who definitely earns his money. On the other hand, he also plays as hard as he works, but it tends to be between projects and/or a backdrop to high-level negotiations.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}:''
** Creator/AlanMoore gave Dan Dreiberg, aka Nite Owl, this background, and the [[WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys expensive toys]] that go with it. Although in contrast to the more usual ObfuscatingStupidity, his cover is that he's a harmless ''intellectual''. Played with in that, as a crimefighter, Nite Owl is decisive and confident, while Dan Dreiberg is nervous and impotent. (Contrast with Rorschach, who is a Poor Lunatic With No Day Job.)
** ''Watchmen'' originally was going to feature the Creator/CharltonComics lineup, which includes the second ComicBook/BlueBeetle (Ted Kord)[[note]]Hence Dan Dreiberg being the second Nite Owl, with a retired first Nite Owl (Hollis Mason) being part of the ''Watchmen'' backstory and having a minor part in the current story, to mirror Kord being the chosen successor of the first Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett.[[/note]], who also fits this trope. Though like many of these examples, Blue Beetle is supposed to be a genius inventor within his setting, rather than a true "rich idiot".
* ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre'': Wesley Dodds was a mild form of this. He was very geeky, no one thought he was dumb by any means, and he was shown to be actively involved in business ventures (although usually in the background of the story).
* DC's recent reinvention of the old ''Creator/ArchieComics'' character The Web is one of these. The twist is that he's actually an inversion- whereas Batman is a grim vigilante who fakes being a feckless playboy, The Web is a feckless playboy who took up vigilanteism as a hobby. [[DeathByOriginStory Then criminals killed his brother]]. In contrast, the original 1940s version was a college professor/criminologist who moonlighted as a vigilante, and the 60s version was a HenpeckedHusband who had to sneak around his wife to fight crime. So more of a "comfortably well-off intellectual with a job that leaves him plenty of free time" than this trope.
* Ariana Von Holmberg of Creator/RashidaJones' ''Frenemy of the State'' offers a female twist on this character as an UpperClassTwit recruited by the CIA.
* In ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'', Woody is technically one of these; after the death of his father, he's inherited a fortune and a sizable stake in the company. However, the trope is subverted because a messy divorce settlement and several inheritor clauses mean he has no ''direct'' access to his fortune but must instead get regular payouts from the estate's executor... which happens to be his {{Vitriolic Best Bud|s}} Quantum.
* Invoked in one half-issue of ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', when the second Trickster speculates that his SecretIdentity is one of these -- "I can tell he's one of those pretty boys under that mask. Probably has jet-black hair. Dozens of girlfriends. Bet he lives in a mansion somewhere, too." He happens to be completely wrong since the Flash at this point is a redheaded, HappilyMarried police mechanic. Doubled as a MythologyGag regarding Bruce Wayne.
* A villainous variant is done in ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', where the parents of the six protagonists pretend to be your standard dull but well-meaning affluent, upper-class couples, when in reality, they are twelve incredibly corrupt and powerful super-villains.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Drowntown}}'', Vincent Drakenberg has a public image of a playboy, but he's actually quite heavily involved in the affairs of his family's MegaCorp — as a kind of hitman, rather than a businessman.
* Never explicitly stated in the heroic fantasy/superhero mashup ''Night's Dominion'' vol 1: [[spoiler: The Furie is a Batman-like hero who defends the city of Umber, and is particularly infuriated when a thief seemingly hurts Lord Soledad's housekeeper. The housekeeper knows the Furie's real identity and is fond of him. Soledad himself is the most dissipated and useless member of the city council ... but in Chapter 4 he turns out to have unexpected fighting skills and then disappears mysteriously, just before the Furie shows up somewhere else.]]
* Deconstructed in the Iris Raritan arc of ''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck''. Iris decides to try to become a vigilante because rich people always seem to be able to do it with ease, but she's so incompetent that even usual Marvel loser villains the Circus of Crime end up being a serious threat to her, and the resulting debacle leads to Paul being shot and Winda getting severely beaten and possibly raped.
* ComicBook/MickeyMouseComicUniverse: In one story, Mickey visits a BizarroUniverse where everyone is vaguely the opposite of their normal selves: Mickey is a nasty loser, Goofy is an arrogant rich guy, Doc Static is a DiabolicalMastermind, and the Phantom Blot is a costumed crimefighter. The ending reveals that in this universe, the Phantom Blot's secret identity is Goofy.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1920}}'' features Creator/DouglasFairbanks as the lazy, meek Don Diego -- and also Franchise/{{Zorro}}. Ditto [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro1940 the 1940 version]] with Creator/TyronePower as Zorro. 2005's ''Film/TheLegendOfZorro'' has Alejandro resistant to playing an idle don when not out swashbuckling [[spoiler:but ends up becoming one when Elena divorces him]].
* ''Film/AboutABoy'': Will lives comfortably from the royalties of his father's hit song, Santa's Super Sleigh.
* ''Film/BatmanAndRobinSerial'' has Bruce playing this up to the point at which his boredom and exhaustion make it seem like he suffers serious anemia.
* ''Film/MysteryMen'': Wealthy lawyer Lance Hunt is the alter-ego of Captain Amazing. Since Amazing is very focused on making money through sponsorships, and isn't exactly the brightest guy around, he's probably a pretty lousy lawyer.
* ''Film/TheShadow'': After the protagonist reforms and devotes himself to fighting crime, he adopts the cover identity of wealthy man-about-town Lamont Cranston. (To keep things simple, the movie avoids mentioning the complicated backstory from the pulps, wherein Lamont Cranston is an actual separate person whose identity the Shadow borrows. The novelization by James Luceno brings it back in, along with several other bits of pulp continuity the movie left out.)
* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'':
** Bruce acts as a well-meaning, but seemingly ditzy philanthropist. He keeps that hidden from the public by using Lucius Fox both as a decoy and an actual trusted advisor -- probably to keep suspicions down.
** In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Bruce actually provides an interesting example of being a serious man, who pretends to be a rich idiot, pretending to be a serious businessman. The world is under the impression that Bruce Wayne is the dignified head of Wayne Enterprises, while those who actually meet him are under the impression that he is a rich idiot and Lucius Fox is the real brains of Wayne Enterprises. While a small selection of people, including Alfred and Lucius Fox, know who he really is.
* ''Film/DontLoseYourHead'', based on ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'', has Sir Rodney (The Black Fingernail/Scarlet Pimpernel {{Expy}}) and Lord Darcy, who hear of the news of [[UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution French aristocrats being executed]] and decide to rescue them. Before that, they were rich men in a fancy mansion in the countryside that spent their spare time womanizing, having fancy parties, and fishing with beautiful women.
* ''Film/IronMan1'': In the movie, Tony Stark is more of a Rich Idiot ''with'' a day job, where he only has to pay attention as long as he doesn't get bored. Naturally enough, ''that'' is almost his downfall. However, in the first movie at least, he is one of the top engineers in the world, but only barely competent as a business manager. He delegates that part of his job to his [[TreacherousAdvisor trusted lifelong friend]] Obadiah Stane, and later his [[HypercompetentSidekick hypercompetent secretary]] Pepper Potts. By the end of the movie, he goes and renders the whole SecretIdentity trope irrelevant by revealing the truth at a press conference. By the time ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' rolls around, being a superhero ''is'' his day job.
* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
** As usual for the character, this is [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne's]] public persona. When he goes to ComicBook/LexLuthor's charity gala in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', he plays the [[TheAlcoholic drunken playboy]] to the hilt, especially when being interviewed by [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Clark Kent]].
--->'''Bruce:''' Oh, my foundation's already issued a statement in support of, uh, books... ''[after being [[DistractedByTheSexy distracted]] by [[Franchise/WonderWoman Diana]]]'' Wow. Pretty girl, bad habit. Don't quote me, alright?...
** Later, in ''[[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague Justice League]]'', we get this exchange:
--->'''Barry Allen:''' What are your superpowers, again?\\
'''Bruce Wayne:''' ''[matter-of-factly]'' [[NGOSuperpower I'm rich.]]
* In ''Film/TronLegacy'', while it's not immediately obvious, the fact that Sam has a controlling interest in Encom stock implies that he's rather wealthy. While he doesn't exactly flaunt his wealth, he's not really depicted as doing anything with his life other than griefing Encom, aside from various charity work Alan alludes to. There is a subtle display of wealth; BASE jumping gear isn't exactly cheap, and his Ducati Sport Classic retails for around $10k USD.
* François Toulour, the BigBad of ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Twelve]]''. By day he's the playboy son of an Italian noblewoman. By night he's [[GentlemanThief The Night Fox]], one of the most elusive thieves in the business. Since he's already incredibly rich he has no financial motivation for his heists and is instead motivated by a desire for glory and just plain [[EvilIsPetty spite]]. Danny Ocean outright describes him as "rich and bored".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* The TropeMaker may be ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'', whose eponymous hero disguises himself as a fabulously wealthy but brainless [[TheDandy fop]].
** The Scarlet Pimpernel is, if anything, an UnbuiltTrope. The foppish, effeminate dandy is not an affectation or a disguise, Lord Blakeney really is like that. (Only the stupidity is feigned; he is in fact highly intelligent and creative.) His heroics in France are not done out of any desire to do good, but merely an attempt to deal with the same thrill-seeking boredom that causes him to gamble away fortunes and chase anything in a skirt.
* ''Radio/TheShadow'': Lamont Cranston. However, Walter Gibson later revealed that the Shadow only impersonated Lamont Cranston, a separate person, in order to move about in the circles of the wealthy for intelligence. Kent Allard, a former secret agent, represented the Shadow's true identity. The Shadow had access to Cranston's wealth due to Cranston having taken an extended tour abroad. In the meantime, Allard had begun to impersonate him and forged his signature (it also helped that the two were dead ringers for one another). Once Cranston returned to America, The Shadow gave him an offer -- either go back abroad, allowing The Shadow to continue to use the Cranston persona, and gain a very tidy allowance for the rest of his life (Allard had been a ''very'' good, if unauthorized, steward of Cranston's money), or have The Shadow ruin him financially.
* ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey''. Younger brother of an UpperClassTwit, Lord Peter goes ''out of his way'' to cultivate an UpperClassTwit image himself. The hapless criminals of Britain think of him as "[[Literature/JeevesAndWooster Bertie Wooster]] playing detective"; by the time they find themselves face to face with Lord Peter's frightening intelligence, it's ''much'' [[OhCrap too late]].
* Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d'Anconia from ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''. Though he has a well-known day job as owner of d'Anconia Copper, he still uses his millionaire playboy status as ObfuscatingStupidity. [[spoiler:Unlike most rich idiots, the public persona that spends money like water and can't make a good business decision to save his life ends up driving d'Anconia Copper directly into the ground...AllAccordingToPlan]].
* Prince Diarmuid of ''Literature/TheFionavarTapestry'' generally gives the impression of being a shallow, frivolous twit who gets away with his shenanigans (like sneaking into an enemy country to woo their princess) because he's the heir to the throne. It works, until you realise that most of the crap he pulls actually requires quite a lot of strength, bravery, and cunning.
* Alec Checkerfield from ''Literature/TheCompanyNovels'' is an earl who plays at being an idiot, and on his own time funds various charities and countries while making money via being a pirate. Oh yeah, and he's a computer genius/cyborg who later decides to fight evil. At one point he gets compared to Literature/TheScarletPimpernel, but since it's the 24th century, he has no idea what that means.
* Henry Fitzroy from the ''Literature/BloodBooks'' (and ''Series/BloodTies2007'' TV show) is a (romance or comic, depending on the medium) writer by night, somewhat subverting the trope in that he actually does something for a living. He seems to be fairly financially well off, presumably because he's saved up money over the years.
* Several ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' novels by Elaine Cunningham feature Danilo Thann, a young nobleman from Waterdeep, [[http://dndvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Columns.Detail&category_select_id=15&id=166 inspired by]] ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel''. In ''Elfshadow'' he initially appears as a none-too-bright dandy who dabbles in (frequently miscast) magic and (bad) music; Arilyn Moonblade briefly takes him hostage and ends up stuck with him, to her great dismay. It's eventually revealed, however, that Danilo is actually [[spoiler:a member of the secret society of heroes known as the Harpers, generally very savvy, and was actually assigned to observe Arilyn all along]]. Another character who knows Danilo's true status [[{{lampshaded}} observed]] that nobody would ever believe that he of all people is [[spoiler:a Harper]]. More than once Danilo is shown getting heartily sick of [[ObfuscatingStupidity playing the idiot]], but he reluctantly continues because he can't deny how useful a cover it is.
* The first ''Literature/{{Deathstalker}}'' series featured as one of its side characters the son of a noble clan who was well-known for his sole skill of always being up to date with court fashion, no matter how extravagant or obscure. He was also considered the greatest fop and dandy of his age. No one even suspected that he was secretly the Masked Gladiator, the deadliest and most revered fighter in the Arena (and actually the second person to inhabit the identity.) When his Family was obliterated by a rival Clan, he turned his skills to being a warrior and assassin for the Underground.
* Kylar from ''Literature/TheNightAngelTrilogy'' poses as a poor nobleman as his cover identity. In reality, he is an [[ProfessionalKiller apprentice assassin]]. While Kylar does have obscene amounts of money, he can't use it since that would draw attention to him, but posing as a poor nobleman gives him both access to his targets and anonymity.
* Sheftu from ''Literature/MaraDaughterOfTheNile''. At court, he is the glittering Lord Sheftu who hovers somewhere between GentlemanSnarker and UpperclassTwit, while simultaneously being [[TheChessmaster the mastermind]] of the faction trying to put Thutmose on the throne, and also carrying much of the plots out himself, under the guise of the scribe Sashai.
* Seregil and later Alec play this in the ''Literature/{{Nightrunner}}'' series. Seregil is seen as an exile, a failure at the court, a party boy, a great listener with no strong opinions, and decadent rich idiot. In truth, he is a master swordsman, famous cat burglar for the Nobles, and probably the greatest spy the kingdom has Alec is groomed as this as well though most dismiss him as Seregil's boy toy. They both find the act a burden and are eager to escape it.
* Thomas [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] his own portrayal of this in ''Literature/DeathMasks'', book 5 of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''.
-->Don't look at me. I'm a drunken, chemical-besotted [[MillionairePlayboy playboy]] who does nothing but cavort, sleep, and feed. And even if I had the mind to take a bit of vengeance on the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Red Court]], I wouldn't have the backbone to actually stand up to anyone. I'm totally harmless.
* ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' -- Don Diego Vega acts like a nebbishy bookworm and [[TheDandy dandy]] to deflect suspicion that he is the titular vigilante. He arguably has more of a rightful claim to being the TropeMaker than the Scarlet Pimpernel, because he only plays at being a fop, rather than legitimately being one. As such, Zorro is the most direct inspiration for Batman, the Shadow, and so on. [[{{SeinfeldIsUnfunny}} This far-reaching influence is partly why even the most clueless modern readers can figure out Zorro's true identity from the second he first appears in the original novel]].
* In the ''Literature/DominoLady'' pulps, Ellen Patrick maintains a cover as a brainless socialite to mask her activities as the vigilante Domino Lady.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': While not actually one - he is always fighting on the front line and is a competent battlefield commander - Adolin is considered one by most of the Alethi upper crust, who make it clear that they think he is an arrogant fop. At least, up until the point where he thoroughly beats their asses in duels.
* In ''Literature/{{Honorverse}}'', Aivars Terekhov's brother-in-law Charlie O'Daley is a classic version, being outwardly an UpperClassTwit playing at a diplomat with a OneHourWorkWeek, but is actually [[spoiler: a Special Intelligence Service's finest counterintelligence field agent]].
* William Kraft in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is this when first introduced. To the world, he appears as a well-off harmless eccentric; actually, he is the leader of the revolution against the corrupt regime.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Averted in the 1960s series ''Series/TheGreenHornet'' (and the original radio series), in that Britt Reid's day job is publishing ''The Daily Sentinel'', a newspaper that's been owned by his family for years. However, in the original radio series and in two film serials based on it, this trope gets some lip service: while Reid has a day job, he often ignores it much more than his family likes.
* ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'':
** Tsurugi Kamishiro is this trope in the most literal sense, emphasis on "Idiot." But then he finds out his family fortune has long since dried up, gets an actual day job, and clings to the "idiot" part for dear life.
** Kabuto himself, Souji Tendou, also spends the first half of the series as this trope (Minus the idiot part, he never so much as pretends to be stupid), [[InsufferableGenius though he'll obtain high-level positions relevant to finding the week's worm and quit them after it's been dispatched]], so he flip-flops.
* Lampshaded and subverted in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. Julian Bashir likes holonovels in which he is a Film/JamesBond character. On one occasion Garak (a [[strike:real secret agent]] [[MostDefinitelyNotAVillain completely innocuous tailor]]) joins him in one of these games. When Julian explains that his cover is a rich playboy, Garak remarks "I obviously joined the wrong secret service".
* Sort of in ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''. Paladin plays the role of city dandy in San Francisco and generally wears light-colored clothing there, but when hired for a job, puts on an all-black ensemble. However, he calls himself Paladin in whatever location he's in, so there isn't a pure SecretIdentity here.
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': At times, [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Oliver]]. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Tess]] seems to enjoy encouraging the idea. ("I work; he plays.")
* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Oliver Queen adopts this image in Season One so he can focus on hunting down the List. Although he does eventually open up a ''night''club, this is mostly just to help push his Rich Idiot image, and he has to get his friend Tommy Merlyn and later his sister Thea to manage it. In Season Two he's forced to become CEO of Queens Consolidated for real, causing problems as his nightly activities as the Arrow often interfere with this so he appears to be irresponsible when he's actually trying to do the right thing. He eventually loses his family's megacorporation, then successfully runs for Mayor in Season 4, but again faces the problem of balancing his vigilante work with his job. Incidentally, he eventually [[spoiler:loses that job, then gets outed, and joins the police force as the Green Arrow.]]
* Sir Percy Blakeney in the TV movie ''Film/{{The Scarlet Pimpernel|1982}}'', and heavy emphasis is placed on the fact that it's very important his enemies don't see through the hero's cover.
-->'''Sir Percy:''' He was looking for the Scarlet Pimpernel. I pray he found a fool.
* Alex's current cover on ''Series/{{Nikita}}'' season 3.
* Averted in the live-action series version of ''Series/Batman1966'', where Bruce poses as a somewhat airheaded but much-loved philanthropist.
* Played straight on ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' beginning in Season 4, when Bruce takes on a "spoiled billionaire brat throwing money around" persona to bid on an ancient knife he suspects Ra's al Ghul has been trying to acquire. Alfred was the one to suggest this as one of the many masks Bruce will have to wear if he insists on continuing to work as a vigilante. His main regret is that this is ''exactly'' the sort of disgraceful attitude Bruce's parents had been determined to ensure their son ''not'' develop.
* ''Series/IronFist2017'': In "Felling Tree with Roots," Madame Gao makes an offer for Danny Rand to stay with Rand Enterprises and reap all the rewards of this trope, like buying a yacht or eating in fancy restaurants [[ImpliedDeathThreat with his friends Colleen Wing and Claire Temple]], all while Gao and the Hand continue using Rand's resources for their goals.
* ''Series/Daredevil2015''. Lampshaded when Claire Temple asks Daredevil if he's one of those billionaire playboys, which is why he can afford to spend his nights fighting crime. When Daredevil explains that he does have a day job (he's a lawyer) she quips, "Damn! I thought I'd lucked out."
* ''Series/MurdochMysteries:'' RecurringCharacter Roger Newsome has a lot of family money, has no job, isn't very socially adept, and bounces around from one hobby club to another while trying to act as if he's better at said hobbies than he really is.
* ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'': Jack Duquesne seems like a clueless UpperClassTwit - and indeed, while [[spoiler:being arrested for laundering money for the Tracksuit Mafia]], his defense is that he's never worked a day in his life. On the other hand, he did go to a shady auction, and he ''is'' an unusually skilled swordsman. [[spoiler:Turns out he's a subversion - he has nothing to hide. He really is just a clueless UpperClassTwit... who just happens to be good at fencing.]]
* ''Series/RunningWilde'': Both Steve and Faad.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* The Red Panda of ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' is an interesting example; it's explained in the {{backstory}} that he basically ''was'' a rich idiot until he began training and fighting crime. This led to a SecretIdentityIdentity in the present day. When UsefulNotes/WorldWarII rolls around, he throws his company's full weight behind the war effort but doesn't go to the front himself, like a bunch of other men his age, ostensibly because of his connections. [[spoiler:Also, because Canadian intelligence wants to keep him at home, fighting off saboteurs as the Red Panda. He eventually decides to go to the front anyway. Then he vanishes under mysterious circumstances...]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'':
** The Ashwood Abbey society is a group of rich socialites who are so bored with life that the only thing that can provide a sufficient thrill is hunting down vampires and werewolves.
** On the even more villainous end of the scale, we have the Hunt Club. They [[SerialKiller Serial Kill]] as a ''point-based sport''.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'', [[PointBuy 15 points]] buys you the "Filthy Rich" Perquisite, which turns your character into this.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' there is a handwave/justification available for this in the form of the Advantage "Independent Income" that represents having "people" who will do some of your work for you (actually taking time out of your day to work is still required if you want your full income, though).
* ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'':
** The classic character [[http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Danilo_Thann Danilo Thann]] is the very image of inane and decadent highborn dandy, mildly annoying due to his habit of singing [[BawdySong bawdy couplets]] and hurling spells that tend to fail in spectacular ways. Behind the image is a Harper secret agent, a wizard who managed to impress his master Khelben "Blackstaff" (a champion and apprentice of the ''gods of magic'') time and again and dares to confront him, a talented bard and a decent fencer. Even shrewd opponents disregarded him -- until it was too late.
** Haedrak III, the Tethyrian throne's last heir who participated in a war, has a RightfulKingReturns celebration... and that's about it. Yet another useless lordling dabbling in magic and absent-mindedly playing with his familiar instead of listening to the serious discussions. ''H''aedrak ''E''rrilam ''A''lemander ''O''losar ''L''horik was also previously known as "[[RealNameAsAnAlias Lhaeo]]". Remember that ObstructiveBureaucrat with PhotographicMemory who for more than twenty years was the Old Mage's assistant, SeenItAll, and survived to never tell about it? So, he was also an apprentice (and Elminster developed a handful of spells personally for him), knows almost all the important people on the continent and lots of ''very'' exclusive secrets. After crowning Haedrak proved to be an investigator good enough to let ''Khelben'' (having half of the Harpers spy on his behalf) know some things happening in Blackstaff's own city. He didn't stop working with Harpers just because he doesn't serve one of their founders anymore.
* Donnie Rhodes of ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}}'', specifically the Scion of Aphrodite, is a darker version of this -- his father opted to give him as little attention as legally necessary (the elder Rhodes didn't take the whole "a goddess dumped their kid on his doorstep" thing well), so he threw himself into this lifestyle. His mother saved him from getting shot in a nightclub one night, and he grew out of it once he met his Band. ''Losing'' his Band in ''Scion: God'' caused him to revert a little.
* The default setting for player characters in ''TabletopGame/SpiritOfTheCentury'', thanks to its pulp sensibilities. Even Centurions who ''aren't'' filthy rich can access the considerable resources of the Century Club to maintain a life of leisure. Consequently, they never ''have'' to do all of the insane things they do -- they do it because they love it.
* George Weathermay of TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}} is more of a Rich ''Wallflower'' With No Day Job, as he was born into one of Mordentshire's most well-off families, but was so socially awkward as a youth that he avoided parties and gatherings to spend time with his horses and hounds. He grew up to be a formidable monster-hunting ranger, battling lycanthropes and other horrors, yet he kept his heroic deeds a secret to shield his family from monstrous payback and ensure their reputations wouldn't be overshadowed by his reckless and morbid pursuits.
* A possible player character career in ''TabletopGame/Space1889''. There's the Dilettante Traveler template, that merely requires a high social standing. The Gentleman Companion NPC is another one, who gives cover to the Adventuress.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Played with in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity''. Batman wasn't enough to get the prison city shut down, so he started putting on the pressure as Bruce Wayne. And was immediately kidnapped on live television and thrown inside.
* In ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', Thomas "Hush" Eliot uses this as his justification for [[spoiler:holding Lucius Fox hostage]] and stealing Bruce Wayne's money: Bruce has never had to fight for ''anything'' in his life, while Tommy has had to scrabble for all he has. [[spoiler:Then Batman unmasks and reveals his SecretIdentity to Tommy, who [[ThisCannotBe can't believe what he's seeing]] - if Batman is Bruce, then he's had to fight for ''everything''. Batman uses Tommy's shock as an opening to disarm him and knock him out.]]
* ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'': [[SharpDressedMan Robert]] [[CulturedBadass Garcia]] is the scion of one of the wealthiest families in the world and is the current CEO of the Garcia Foundation. He's also jointly responsible for taking down [[TheDragon Mr. Big's]] [[TheSyndicate syndicate]] and was personally responsible for laying the smackdown on Big, who happens to be one of South Town's most feared and powerful crimelords.
* Garrus in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' is subtly revealed to have been carrying on this deception to his family after becoming the vigilante Archangel, as revealed in a transmission from him to one of his siblings that can be read in the ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC. He claims he's on a "cruise around the galaxy," which, [[ExactWords strictly speaking isn't a lie]]. He just left out the part where he was fighting the Collectors. Or that he was secretly funding his mother's very expensive medical treatment by sending Collector corpses to a salarian research group.
* Delta Theta Gamma in ''VideoGame/ObsCure II'' is an organization of these. On the surface, they appear to be college {{fratbro}}s more interested in [[WackyFratboyHijinx liquor, drugs, partying, and pranks]] than anything. [[spoiler:They're actually a [[SecretCircleOfSecrets secret society]] hundreds of years old that has more in common with Skull & Bones than [[Film/AnimalHouse Delta House]]. They have [[GovernmentConspiracy members highly placed in the US government]], and they serve as the GreaterScopeVillain, revealed as having funded Herbert Friedman's experiments from the first game in search of the secret of {{immortality}}.]]
* Ezio Auditore from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' starts of as this: he's a 17-year-old minor delinquent who spends his time drinking, seducing girls, [[LeParkour running on the roofs]] and getting into fistfights with other Rich Idiots With No Day Job - his only job in his father's bank is to run the occasional errand. He is quick to lose that attitude, however, as his family is arrested and wrongly executed early in the game.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* To outsiders, ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'''s Vanamonde von Mekkahn looks like a young loafer who does nothing but laze around and drink coffee. In reality, he wrote a definitive book on coffee (under a pen name), is (according to Carson) "more competent than he appears", and, oh yeah, secretly runs Mechanicsburg.
* Before he became the eponymous ''Webcomic/LavenderJack'', the main protagonist, Mimley, was very much this -- albeit with a drinking problem and a broken heart. While he's less asocial under the auspices of Ducky, he still does present the flamboyant appearance of the last of a wealthy family line.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Played with in ''Literature/NewYorkMagician''. Michel's job both makes him very wealthy and lets him take lots of time off, but he's smart and very good at it, even without magical assistance.
* ''Blog/HowToHero'' calls these types of heroes Billionaires with Issues™.
* [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1805308-batman One viral post]] holds that Bruce Wayne also poses as a ConspiracyTheorist online spamming boards with badly-written rants on Bruce Wayne being Batman, offering evidence like grainy photos from different angles claiming that "the butts match", culminating in Bruce being invited to a talk show, where they just happen to have a Batman mask... [[IfOnlyYouKnew and Bruce wears it, threatening to sic his butler on any criminals with the gall to attack him, or giving them money to stop robbing a bank, to the joy of the crowd]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': Downplayed -- here, Bruce takes a more active role in Wayne Enterprises, but he still puts on a BunnyEarsLawyer mask when in public. In "Nothing to Fear", thanks to a snide remark from an old friend of his father, Bruce fears that this trope is making him a disgrace to the family name. His public guise is good enough to protect his identity from an attempt to reveal it:
-->'''Hugo Strange:''' I was set up! Bruce Wayne is Batman!\\
'''Two-Face:''' [[CassandraTruth That's absurd!]] I know Bruce Wayne. If he's Batman, [[AndImTheQueenOfSheba I'm the king of England]]!\\
'''Joker:''' And people say ''I'm'' crazy! ''[[[EvilLaugh laughs]]]''
* Prince Adam from ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'' is a feckless layabout ''Prince'' who is mysteriously never suspected to be the {{Big Damn Hero|es}} for precisely the reasons mentioned in the trope definition (also, everyone thinks he's a coward because he [[HenshinHero always disappears]] when the villains attack).
* In ''WesternAnimation/FriskyDingo'', Xander Crews has a secret identity as Awesome X. He has no superpowers other than his small army of mercenaries. This is mocked by others, as "your super power is management". Awesome X did kill every villain, but he is hardly heroic as he is a total dick. [[UpperClassTwit He's also not all that good at management]].
* {{Adam West|ing}}, a.k.a. Catman on ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''. {{Lampshaded}} at one point when he wonders what to do now that he has to quit crime fighting, to which Timmy responds "Oh, I don't know, [[SarcasmMode go home to your mansion and watch TV]]?"
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Homer's family is apparently unable to convince him that Bruce Wayne is secretly Batman because he's too much of a playboy (not to mention CEO of Wayne Enterprises) to have the time. They are somewhat freaked out by his disturbing level of denial ("Why does he think Alfred's friends with Batman?").
* Larryboy both plays this straight or averts this, depending on the series. In the standard ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' episodes, he is never shown with a job. In the ''WesternAnimation/LarryBoyTheCartoonAdventures'' spinoff, he's still a billionaire, however, he works as a janitor at the Daily Bumble, the town's newspaper. According to Archie, his butler, this is so he can "keep his finger on the pulse of Bumblyburg". Why janitor? It was the only job he was qualified for. It's implied that Larry then has ''two'' secret identities, having to hide the Rich Idiot side from those who know him as a janitor.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' The Monarch initially doesn't believe his father was The Blue Morpho for this very reason, deriding him as "a boozed-up socialite who collected butterflies in his ''copious'' spare time." Henchman 24 is quick to [[LampshadeHanging hang a lampshade]] on his boss's comment.
-->'''Henchman 24:''' Dude, millionaire playboy is, like, the number one superhero alter-ego!
[[/folder]]
----

** Bruce Wayne. He used to use this all the time, but after a while, realised that it hurts his endeavours as Bruce Wayne, such as his attempts to fix Gotham, and has pretty much done away with it altogether. He now acts as a level-headed CEO and philanthropist who is just very secretive. What probably helps is that he "reveals" to the media that [[MetaphoricallyTrue he's been "working with Batman"]], so that's what people assume he spends his time on. This left the impression that he'd been simply bankrolling Batman's operations, a perception reinforced by [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman Inc.]] which also funds similar vigilantes all over the world. It also helped that at the time [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] was Batman (he'd hand the cowl back to Bruce shortly afterward and go back to being Nightwing), so Bruce could easily appear in public with Batman.

* In ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'', Woody is technically one of these; after the death of his father, he's inherited a fortune and a sizable stake in the company. However, the trope is subverted because a messy divorce settlement and several inheritor clauses mean he has no ''direct'' access to his fortune but must instead get regular payouts from the estate's executor... which happens to be his [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]] Quantum.

* A possible player character career in TabletopGame/Space1889. There's the Dilettante Traveler template, that merely requires a high social standing. The Gentleman Companion NPC is another one, who gives cover to the Adventuress.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** Kallen also somewhat falls into this category, as her father IS rich, and she spends nights fighting [[TheEmpire Britannia]]. Except replace "idiot" with "IllGirl". Which is a somewhat more difficult pretense to maintain since she's actually [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower borderline superhuman]].

'''Alfred:''' Drive sports cars, date movie stars, buy things that are not for sale. Who knows, Master Wayne--you start pretending to have fun, you might even have a little by accident.

For the characters they're pretending to be, see GentlemanSnarker or UpperClassTwit. If rather than concealing a Super Powered Alter Ego the character actually ''is'' a rich idiot with no day job, they're UnclePennybags. If they make no attempt to mask their identity, they're a GentlemanAdventurer. If they don't have a reason for putting up this facade, they may be one of ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything.

** Bruce Wayne. He used to use this all the time, but after a while, realised that it hurts his endeavours as Bruce Wayne, such as his attempts to fix Gotham, and has pretty much done away with it altogether. He now acts as a level-headed CEO and philanthropist who is just very secretive. What probably helps is that, he "reveals" to the media that [[MetaphoricallyTrue he's been "working with Batman"]], so that's what people assume he spends his time on. This left the impression that he'd been simply bankrolling Batman's operations, a perception reinforced by [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman Inc.]] which also funds similar vigilantes all over the world. It also helped that at the time [[ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} Dick Grayson]] was Batman (he'd hand the cowl back to Bruce shortly afterward and go back to being Nightwing), so Bruce could easily appear in public with Batman.
** The entire Club of Heroes is pretty much this; When invited to a reunion, Batman even says he's curious what happens to bored rich idiots when they're washed up. Chief Man-of-Bats flat out admits that whatever he is or was, he was never really a hero. The Musketeer also revels in the fact that his book made him a millionaire overnight and that he sold the movie rights for even more money, meaning he's internationally famous but never has to fight crime again. That's right, he got richer and ''also quit his night job''.

** ''Watchmen'' originally was going to feature the Creator/CharltonComics lineup, which includes the second ComicBook/BlueBeetle (Ted Kord)[[note]]Hence Dan Dreiberg being the second Nite Owl, with a retired first Nite Owl (Hollis Mason) being part of the ''Watchmen'' backstory and having a minor part in the current story, to mirror Kord being the chosen success of the first Blue Beetle, Dan Garrett.[[/note]], who also fits this trope. Though like many of these examples, Blue Beetle is supposed to be a genius inventor within his setting, rather than a true "rich idiot".

* DC's recent reinvention of the old ''Creator/ArchieComics'' character The Web is one of these. The twist is that he's actually an inversion- whereas Batman is a grim vigilante who fakes being a feckless playboy, The Web is a feckless playboy who took up vigilanteism as a hobby. [[DeathByOriginStory Then criminals killed his brother]]. In contrast, the original 1940s version was a college professor/criminologist who moonlighted as a vigilante, and the 60s version was a HenpeckedHusband who had to sneak around his wife to fight crime. So more of a "comfortably well off intellectual with a job that leaves him plenty of free time" than this trope.

* In ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'', Woody is technically one of these; after the death of his father, he's inherited a fortune and a sizable stake in the company. However, the trope is subverted because a messy divorce settlement and several inheritor clauses means he has no ''direct'' access to his fortune, but must instead get regular payouts from the estate's executor... which happens to be his [[VitriolicBestBuds Vitriolic Best Bud]] Quantum.
* Invoked in one half-issue of ''ComicBook/TheFlash'', when the second Trickster speculates that his SecretIdentity is one of these--"I can tell he's one of those pretty boys under that mask. Probably has jet black hair. Dozens of girlfriends. Bet he lives in a mansion somewhere, too." He happens to be completely wrong, since the Flash at this point is a redheaded, HappilyMarried police mechanic. Doubled as a MythologyGag regarding Bruce Wayne.

* ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1920}}'' features Creator/DouglasFairbanks as the lazy, meek Don Diego -- and also Franchise/{{Zorro}}. Ditto [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro1940 the 1940 version]] with Tyrone Power as Zorro. 2005's ''Film/TheLegendOfZorro'' has Alejandro resistant to playing an idle don when not out swashbuckling [[spoiler:but ends up becoming one when Elena divorces him]].

** In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Bruce actually provides an interesting example of being a serious man, who pretends to be a rich idiot, pretending to be a serious businessman. The world is of the impression that Bruce Wayne is the dignified head of Wayne Enterprises, while those who actually meet him are of the impression that he is a rich idiot and Lucius Fox is the real brains of Wayne Enterprises. While a small selection of people, including Alfred and Lucius Fox, know who he really is.

** The Scarlet Pimpernel is, if anything, an UnbuiltTrope. The foppish, effeminate dandy is not an affectation or a disguise, Lord Blakeney really is like that.(Only the stupidity is feigned; he is in fact highly intelligent and creative.) His heroics in France are not done out of any desire to do good, but merely an attempt to deal with the same thrill-seeking boredom that causes him to gamble away fortunes and chase anything in a skirt.

* Francisco Domingo Carlos Andres Sebastián d'Anconia from ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''. Though he has a well-known day job as owner of d'Anconia Copper, he still uses his millionare playboy status as ObfuscatingStupidity. [[spoiler:Unlike most rich idiots, the public persona that spends money like water and can't make a good business decision to save his life ends up driving d'Anconia Copper directly into the ground...AllAccordingToPlan]].
* Prince Diarmuid of ''Literature/TheFionavarTapestry'' generally gives the impression of being a shallow, frivolous twit who gets away with his shenanigans (like sneaking into an enemy country to woo their princess) because he's the heir to the throne. It works, until you realise that most of the crap he pulls actually requires quite a lot of strength, bravery and cunning.

* Seregil and later Alec play this in the ''Literature/{{Nightrunner}}'' series. Seregil is seen as an exile, a failure at the court, a party boy, a great listener with no strong opinions, and decadent rich idiot. In truth he is a master swordsman, famous cat burglar for the Nobles, and probably the greatest spy the kingdom has Alec is groomed as this as well though most dismiss him as Seregil's boytoy. They both find the act a burden and are eager to escape it.

** Tsurugi Kamishiro is this trope in the most literal sense, emphasis on "Idiot." But then he finds out his family fortune has long-since dried up, and gets an actual day job, and clings to the "idiot" part for dear life.

* Sort of in ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''. Paladin plays the role of city dandy in San Francisco, and generally wears light colored clothing there, but when hired for a job, puts on an all-black ensemble. However, he calls himself Paladin in whatever location he's in, so there isn't a pure SecretIdentity here.

* Sir Percy Blakeney in the TV-movie ''Film/{{The Scarlet Pimpernel|1982}}'', and heavy emphasis is placed on the fact that it's very important his enemies don't see through the hero's cover.

* Averted in the live-action series version of ''Series/Batman1966'', where Bruce poses as a somewhat airheaded but much loved philanthropist.
* Played straight on ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' beginning in Season 4, when Bruce takes on a "spoiled billionaire brat throwing money around" persona to bid on an ancient knife he suspects Ra's al Ghul has been trying to acquire. Alfred was the one to suggest this as one of the many masks Bruce will have to wear if he insists in continuing to work as a vigilante. His main regret is that this is ''exactly'' the sort of disgraceful attitude Bruce's parents had been determined to ensure their son ''not'' develop.

* The Red Panda of ''Podcast/RedPandaAdventures'' is an interesting example; it's explained in the {{backstory}} that he basically ''was'' a rich idiot until he began training and fighting crime. This led to a SecretIdentityIdentity in the present day. When UsefulNotes/WorldWarII rolls around, he throws his company's full weight behind the war effort, but doesn't go to the front himself, like a bunch of other men his age, ostensibly because of his connections. [[spoiler:Also, because Canadian intelligence wants to keep him at home, fighting off saboteurs as the Red Panda. He eventually decides to go to the front anyway. Then he vanishes under mysterious circumstances...]]

** Haedrak III, the Tethyrian throne's last heir who participated in a war, has a RightfulKingReturns celebration... and that's about it. Yet another useless lordling dabbling in magic and absent-mindedly playing with his familiar instead of listening to the serious discussions. ''H''aedrak ''E''rrilam ''A''lemander ''O''losar ''L''horik was also previously known as "[[RealNameAsAnAlias Lhaeo]]". Remember that ObstructiveBureaucrat with PhotographicMemory who for more than twenty years was the Old Mage's assistant, SeenItAll and survived to never tell about it? So, he was also an apprentice (and Elminster developed a handful of spells personally for him), knows almost all the important people on the continent and lots of ''very'' exclusive secrets. After crowning Haedrak proved to be an investigator good enough to let ''Khelben'' (having half of the Harpers to spy on his behalf) know some things happening in Blackstaff's own city. He didn't stop working with Harpers just because he doesn't serve one of their founders anymore.

* Ezio Auditore from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' starts of as this: he's a 17-year-old minor delinquant who spends his time drinking, seducing girls, [[LeParkour running on the roofs]] and getting into fistfights with other Rich Idiots With No Day Job - his only job in his father's bank is to run the occasional errand. He is quick to lose that attitude, however, as his family is arrested and wrongly executed early in the game.

* In ''WesternAnimation/FriskyDingo'', Xander Crews has a secret identity as Awesome X. He has no super powers other than his small army of mercenaries. This is mocked by others, as "your super power is management". Awesome X did kill every villain, but he is hardly heroic as he is a total dick. [[UpperClassTwit He's also not all that good at management]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Homer's family are apparently unable to convince him that Bruce Wayne is secretly Batman, because he's too much of a playboy (not to mention CEO of Wayne Enterprises) to have the time. They are somewhat freaked out by his disturbing level of denial ("Why does he think Alfred's friends with Batman?").

** The Scarlet Pimpernel is, if anything, an UnbuiltTrope. The foppish, effeminate dandy is not an affectation or a disguise, Lord Blakeney really is like that. His heroics in France are not done out of any desire to do good, but merely an attempt to deal with the same thrill-seeking boredom that causes him to gamble away fortunes and chase anything in a skirt.

* ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1920}}'' features Creator/DouglasFairbanks as the lazy, meek Don Diego -- and also Franchise/{{Zorro}}. Ditto [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro1940 the 1940 version]] with Tyrone Power as Zorro.

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Oliver Queen adopts this image in Season One so he can focus on hunting down the List. Although he does eventually open up a ''night''club, this is mostly just to help push his Rich Idiot image, and he has to get his friend Tommy Merlyn and later his sister Thea to manage it. In Season Two he's forced to become CEO of Queens Consolidated for real, causing problems as his nightly activities as the Arrow often interfere with this so he appears to be irresponsible when he's actually trying to do the right thing. He eventually loses his family's megacorporation, then successfully runs for Mayor in Season 4, but again faces the problem of balancing his vigilante work with his job.

* Garrus in ''Franchise/MassEffect'' is subtly revealed to have been carrying on this deception to his family after becoming the vigilante Archangel, as revealed in a transmission from him to one of his siblings that can be read in the ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'' DLC. He claims he's on a "cruise around the galaxy," which, [[ExactWords strictly speaking isn't a lie]]. He just left out the part where he was fighting the Collectors.

* ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' -- Don Diego de la Vega acts like a nebbishy bookworm and [[TheDandy dandy]] to deflect suspicion that he is the titular vigilante.

* Don Diego Vega in the original ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' stories is the most direct inspiration for almost every other example on this page, especially the Shadow and Batman. [[{{SeinfeldIsUnfunny}} This is partly why even the most clueless modern readers can figure out Zorro's true identity from the second he first appears in the original novel]].