Mario the Plumber Has a Net Worth Of $800 Billion, Study Says (2024)

Although his official occupation is that of a humble plumber, video game icon Mario's net worthsitsat over $805 billion. The shocking revelation comes from a recent study by website NetCreditthatranks twelve popular video game characters in terms of their accumulated wealth in real-world value.

Before discussing the results in detail, it's important to go ever the clever methodology used to arrive at such bold conclusions about popular video game characters and their finances. NetCredit first made a list of twelve iconic characters, ranging from Mario to Geralt of Rivia, and added the currency caps of each character's respective games in which they appear as the main character. An exchange rate in USDwas determined for each currency by simply comparing the cost of a real-world item from each game to its real-world value in dollars. For instance, since agrenade launcher costs fifty musical notes in Banjo-Kazooie and $1,000 in real life, one musical note must be roughly $20.

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By multiplying the total sum of currency each character could theoretically accumulate across their respective journeys with each currency's equivalent dollar value, Barbara Davidson at NetCredit created the Video Game Character Rich List (reported byGoomba Stomp). Topping the list is the most popular video game character ever, Mario, whose net worth is over $800 billion.Davidson reached the conclusion that one coin equals $80,000 because an extra life is valued at 100 c0ins, meanwhile "the insurance industry values a human life at about $8 million." The dynamic duo of Ratchet and Clank come in second at almost $468 million, given that they've accumulated over 700 millionmetal bolts worth $0.65 each at a hardware store.The full list can be viewed below(image courtesy of NetCredit):

Commander Shepard rounds out the top three of the richest video game characters surveyed. A model ship costs 500 credits in Mass Effect, which means a credit is worth about $0.16. Fans of Donkey Kongwill be sad to know thathis net worth amounts to only $286. Since a banana juice costs twenty Banana Coins in Donkey Kong's world, a Banana Coin is valued at a mere $0.09. Also of note in Davidson's study: coins from Mario's universe are the most valuable currency, Pokémon Dollars are the least valuable currency, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the most profitable game across all the titles surveyed.

The study isn't exactly a rigorous scientific analysis, but it's still a fun, interesting, and methodological way to hypothetically compare the relative wealth of some of the most iconic and beloved video game characters. It's also nice to know that - even thoughhe is probably rich enough to buythe entire Mushroom Kingdom at this point and retire in style -Mariostill loves plumbing enough to wake up every day and do it for free.

Next:Mario's Most Useless Power-Ups & Costumes, Explained

Source: NetCredit, Goomba Stomp