Estimated wealth: $9.7bn A comic book character so well-off that his name is sometimes literally rendered as Ri¢hie Ri¢h (actually, cents don't really denote wealth...), this entrepreneurial scamp is barely off the annual Forbes Fictional 15 list, although he does tend to pinball around in the rankings a little. With the ironic title of the "poor little rich kid", Richie Rich is the only child of a couple of seriously wealthy parents who give him anything he asks for. If he sounds totally insufferable before you get to the fact that he's a 10-year-old who wears a bow tie and coat tails...you would be right. Except Richie is a charitable sort, and likes to spread the money around, giving to the less fortunate. Whatever his parents do, it must be pretty darn lucrative and secure, since however much he gives away, there's always more waiting at home. In their mansion. Where they live. Take into account the theory that Casper the Friendly Ghost, a fellow Harris Comics character, is actually Richie Rich after he's died, and you've got a comic character who is going to be wealthy for eternity.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
