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{{ObjectInfobox|image = Moneybags.png|type = Fortune|purpose = Financial Security|users = [[Beatrice Baudelaire]] † and [[Bertrand Baudelaire]] †|affiliation = [[Baudelaire Family]]|location = [[Mulctuary Money Management]]|book appearances = * [[A Series of Unfortunate Events]] (mentioned)
 
{{ObjectInfobox|image = Moneybags.png|type = Fortune|purpose = Financial Security|users = [[Beatrice Baudelaire]] † and [[Bertrand Baudelaire]] †|affiliation = [[Baudelaire Family]]|location = [[Mulctuary Money Management]]|book appearances = * [[A Series of Unfortunate Events]] (mentioned)
 
* [[The Puzzling Puzzles]]|adaptation appearances = *[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (film)|2004 film]] (mentioned)
 
* [[The Puzzling Puzzles]]|adaptation appearances = *[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (film)|2004 film]] (mentioned)
* *[[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|Netflix Adaptation]]: (mentioned)}}The '''Baudelaire Fortune''' is a large, unspecified amount of money that was left behind by the [[Baudelaire Family|Baudelaire parents]] to the Baudelaire children.
+
*[[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|Netflix Adaptation]]: (mentioned)}}The '''Baudelaire Fortune''' is a large, unspecified amount of money that was left behind by the [[Baudelaire Family|Baudelaire parents]] to the Baudelaire children.
   
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
 
If ''[[The Puzzling Puzzles]]'' is canon, the fortune is said to be about 130 shoeboxes full of golf ball-sized diamonds. It is unclear if this simply refers to the value, or if it is literally diamonds.
 
If ''[[The Puzzling Puzzles]]'' is canon, the fortune is said to be about 130 shoeboxes full of golf ball-sized diamonds. It is unclear if this simply refers to the value, or if it is literally diamonds.
   
A reader of the series, after doing the math, equated the total Baudelaire Fortune, following this fact, to be worth $474,250,944,375 (forty-four billion, two-hundred fifty million, nine-hundred forty-four, three-hundred and seventy-five dollars).<ref>[https://overthestars-and-offtoneverland.tumblr.com/post/170727581611/so-who-wants-to-know-how-much-is-actually-in-the Baudelaire Fortune Math].</ref> In other currency, this would equate to €426,408,000,000 (four-hundred twenty-six billion, four hundred and eight million euros) or £363,182,000,000 (three-hundred sixty-three billion, one-hundred and eighty-two million pounds).
+
A reader of the series, after doing the math, equated the total Baudelaire Fortune, following this fact, to be worth $474,250,944,375 (four-hundred seventy-four billion, two-hundred-fifty million, nine-hundred forty-four thousand, three-hundred seventy-five dollars).<ref>[https://overthestars-and-offtoneverland.tumblr.com/post/170727581611/so-who-wants-to-know-how-much-is-actually-in-the Baudelaire Fortune Math].</ref> In other currency, this would equate to €426,408,000,000 (four-hundred twenty-six billion, four hundred and eight million euros) or £363,182,000,000 (three-hundred sixty-three billion, one-hundred and eighty-two million pounds).
   
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
How and when [[Beatrice Baudelaire|Beatrice]] and [[Bertrand Baudelaire]] obtained the fortune is unknown. Considering it is referred to as the "Baudelaire Fortune", it is likely that the money belonged mainly to the parent who originally had the surname ''Baudelaire.'' (Presumably Beatrice, considering she was referred to as B.B. before marriage.){{r|TBL}}
+
How and when [[Beatrice Baudelaire|Beatrice]] and [[Bertrand Baudelaire]] obtained the fortune is unknown. Considering it is referred to as the "Baudelaire Fortune", it is likely that the money belonged mainly to the parent who originally had the surname ''Baudelaire.'' (Presumably, Beatrice, considering she was referred to as B.B. before marriage.){{r|TBL}}
   
Due to their parents' very specific will, the Baudelaire children are not allowed to use a single cent until at least one of the orphans turns 18 years old; in this case, [[Violet Baudelaire]] would allow to use it the soonest as she is the eldest child, and would hypothetically be able to access it within four years post-''[[The Bad Beginning]].'' Because of the will, [[Arthur Poe]] at [[Mulctuary Money Management]] refuses to allow to orphans to access it. The fortune is also not to be used for or by any of the Baudelaire guardians.{{r|TBB}}
+
Due to their parents' very specific will, the Baudelaire children are not allowed to use a single cent until at least one of the orphans turns 18 years old; in this case, [[Violet Baudelaire]] would allow to use it the soonest as she is the eldest child, and would hypothetically be able to access it within four years post-''[[The Bad Beginning]].'' Because of the will, [[Arthur Poe]] at [[Mulctuary Money Management]] refuses to allow the orphans to access it. The fortune is also not to be used for or by any of the Baudelaire guardians.{{r|TBB}}
   
 
The fortune is [[Count Olaf]]'s main incentive for tormenting the Baudelaires in the first place, but it has been debated that the primary reason for his involvement in the Baudelaires' lives could be something else, such as his relationship with the Baudelaire parents.{{r|TPP}} He has made it clear that after obtaining the fortune, he will not hesitate to kill the children.
 
The fortune is [[Count Olaf]]'s main incentive for tormenting the Baudelaires in the first place, but it has been debated that the primary reason for his involvement in the Baudelaires' lives could be something else, such as his relationship with the Baudelaire parents.{{r|TPP}} He has made it clear that after obtaining the fortune, he will not hesitate to kill the children.
   
It is ironic that the Baudelaire fortune was intended to better the children's lives, when it actually became a burden for them due to Count Olaf's pursuit of the orphans. If the Baudelaires were never to inherit the fortune, then Count Olaf may have left them alone and they would never have experienced a series of unfortunate events. The Baudelaires also occasionally live in poverty, as they can't afford a basic bed in ''[[The Bad Beginning]]'', and are at the mercy of the world in ''[[The Hostile Hospital]]'' onwords, although it could be argued they were at the mercy of the world before then.
+
It is ironic that the Baudelaire fortune was intended to better the children's lives when it actually became a burden for them due to Count Olaf's pursuit of the orphans. If the Baudelaires were never to inherit the fortune, then Count Olaf may have left them alone and they would never have experienced their series of unfortunate events. The Baudelaires also occasionally live in poverty, as they can't afford a basic bed in ''[[The Bad Beginning]]'', and are at the mercy of the world in ''[[The Hostile Hospital]]'' onwards, although it could be argued they were at the mercy of the world before then.
   
 
By the end of the series, it's unclear if the Baudelaires ever inherited the fortune, similar to how it's also a mystery if the Baudelaires are even alive. In ''[[The End]]'', Violet says, "None of us may ever see a penny of that money" meaning she has accepted this possibility.
 
By the end of the series, it's unclear if the Baudelaires ever inherited the fortune, similar to how it's also a mystery if the Baudelaires are even alive. In ''[[The End]]'', Violet says, "None of us may ever see a penny of that money" meaning she has accepted this possibility.
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== Speculation ==
 
== Speculation ==
 
* One popular fan theory is that the Baudelaire fortune is the remains of Count Olaf's fortune, stolen by the Baudelaire parents and [[Kit Snicket]] after murdering [[Count Olaf's Family|his parents]], which would explain Olaf's personal vendetta against the Baudelaire family, why he seems to live in poverty despite being royalty, and the motive behind the assassination of his parents.<ref>[https://snicketsleuth.tumblr.com/post/144335503635/why-were-olafs-parents-assassinated Full Theory - Why were Olaf's parents assassinated?]</ref>
 
* One popular fan theory is that the Baudelaire fortune is the remains of Count Olaf's fortune, stolen by the Baudelaire parents and [[Kit Snicket]] after murdering [[Count Olaf's Family|his parents]], which would explain Olaf's personal vendetta against the Baudelaire family, why he seems to live in poverty despite being royalty, and the motive behind the assassination of his parents.<ref>[https://snicketsleuth.tumblr.com/post/144335503635/why-were-olafs-parents-assassinated Full Theory - Why were Olaf's parents assassinated?]</ref>
** This is not confirmed in the universe of the books, and seems to likely be non-canon in the Netflix canon, where [[Count Olaf's father]]'s death was an accident.{{r|TPP2}}
+
** This is not confirmed in the universe of the books and seems to likely be non-canon in the Netflix canon, where [[Count Olaf's father]]'s death was an accident.{{r|TPP2}}
 
* [[File:BassBag.png|thumb|271px|Mrs. Bass possibly holding the fortune in the Netflix series in "[[The Carnivorous Carnival: Part Two]]".]]Another popular theory is that [[Mrs. Bass]] stole the Baudelaire fortune sometime before ''[[The Penultimate Peril]]''; it is known that she was arrested for bank robbery,{{r|TMM}} and that the crime was committed during or after [[Vice Principal Nero]]'s letter in ''[[Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' and before the burning of the [[Hotel Denouement]]. It is also noted that Arthur Poe was sent to the hotel after Bass to investigate a bank robbery,{{r|TPP}} and it would make sense if he, as the executor of the Baudelaire parents' estate, was the one to investigate its theft.<ref>[https://snicketsleuth.tumblr.com/post/150390687051/did-mrs-bass-steal-the-baudelaire-fortune Full Theory - Did Mrs Bass steal the Baudelaire fortune?]</ref>
 
* [[File:BassBag.png|thumb|271px|Mrs. Bass possibly holding the fortune in the Netflix series in "[[The Carnivorous Carnival: Part Two]]".]]Another popular theory is that [[Mrs. Bass]] stole the Baudelaire fortune sometime before ''[[The Penultimate Peril]]''; it is known that she was arrested for bank robbery,{{r|TMM}} and that the crime was committed during or after [[Vice Principal Nero]]'s letter in ''[[Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography]]'' and before the burning of the [[Hotel Denouement]]. It is also noted that Arthur Poe was sent to the hotel after Bass to investigate a bank robbery,{{r|TPP}} and it would make sense if he, as the executor of the Baudelaire parents' estate, was the one to investigate its theft.<ref>[https://snicketsleuth.tumblr.com/post/150390687051/did-mrs-bass-steal-the-baudelaire-fortune Full Theory - Did Mrs Bass steal the Baudelaire fortune?]</ref>
 
** If the banking system in the universe of ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' is similar to that of reality, this may be unlikely, as banks tend to not keep all their cash in the building, instead keeping only enough to meet their anticipated transaction needs and depositing the rest in the Federal Reserve Bank.<ref>[https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-much-money-can-a-bank-hold How much Money Can a Bank Hold?]</ref> So if Mrs. Bass stole the Baudelaire fortune, it is unlikely she stole all of it. However, the banking system of the Snicket universe may work differently.
 
** If the banking system in the universe of ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' is similar to that of reality, this may be unlikely, as banks tend to not keep all their cash in the building, instead keeping only enough to meet their anticipated transaction needs and depositing the rest in the Federal Reserve Bank.<ref>[https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-much-money-can-a-bank-hold How much Money Can a Bank Hold?]</ref> So if Mrs. Bass stole the Baudelaire fortune, it is unlikely she stole all of it. However, the banking system of the Snicket universe may work differently.
** The theory is also likely non-canon in the Netflix series, as Babs steals the money inbetween "[[The Austere Academy: Part Two]]" and "[[The Slippery Slope: Part One]]," with the implication that she planned to take part in the robbery before the Baudelaires even attended [[Prufrock Preparatory School]],{{r|TAA1|TAA2}}, and the fact she was caught before the [[Hotel Denouement Fire]]{{r|TSS1}} and Poe attended the trial at the request of [[J.S.]].{{r|TPP1}}
+
** The theory is also likely non-canon in the Netflix series, as Babs steals the money in between "[[The Austere Academy: Part Two]]" and "[[The Slippery Slope: Part One]]," with the implication that she planned to take part in the robbery before the Baudelaires even attended [[Prufrock Preparatory School]],{{r|TAA1|TAA2}}, and the fact she was caught before the [[Hotel Denouement Fire]]{{r|TSS1}} and Poe attended the trial at the request of [[J.S.]].{{r|TPP1}}
   
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==

Revision as of 16:04, 7 June 2020

The Baudelaire Fortune is a large, unspecified amount of money that was left behind by the Baudelaire parents to the Baudelaire children.

Description

If The Puzzling Puzzles is canon, the fortune is said to be about 130 shoeboxes full of golf ball-sized diamonds. It is unclear if this simply refers to the value, or if it is literally diamonds.

A reader of the series, after doing the math, equated the total Baudelaire Fortune, following this fact, to be worth $474,250,944,375 (four-hundred seventy-four billion, two-hundred-fifty million, nine-hundred forty-four thousand, three-hundred seventy-five dollars).[1] In other currency, this would equate to €426,408,000,000 (four-hundred twenty-six billion, four hundred and eight million euros) or £363,182,000,000 (three-hundred sixty-three billion, one-hundred and eighty-two million pounds).

History

How and when Beatrice and Bertrand Baudelaire obtained the fortune is unknown. Considering it is referred to as the "Baudelaire Fortune", it is likely that the money belonged mainly to the parent who originally had the surname Baudelaire. (Presumably, Beatrice, considering she was referred to as B.B. before marriage.)[2]

Due to their parents' very specific will, the Baudelaire children are not allowed to use a single cent until at least one of the orphans turns 18 years old; in this case, Violet Baudelaire would allow to use it the soonest as she is the eldest child, and would hypothetically be able to access it within four years post-The Bad Beginning. Because of the will, Arthur Poe at Mulctuary Money Management refuses to allow the orphans to access it. The fortune is also not to be used for or by any of the Baudelaire guardians.[3]

The fortune is Count Olaf's main incentive for tormenting the Baudelaires in the first place, but it has been debated that the primary reason for his involvement in the Baudelaires' lives could be something else, such as his relationship with the Baudelaire parents.[4] He has made it clear that after obtaining the fortune, he will not hesitate to kill the children.

It is ironic that the Baudelaire fortune was intended to better the children's lives when it actually became a burden for them due to Count Olaf's pursuit of the orphans. If the Baudelaires were never to inherit the fortune, then Count Olaf may have left them alone and they would never have experienced their series of unfortunate events. The Baudelaires also occasionally live in poverty, as they can't afford a basic bed in The Bad Beginning, and are at the mercy of the world in The Hostile Hospital onwards, although it could be argued they were at the mercy of the world before then.

By the end of the series, it's unclear if the Baudelaires ever inherited the fortune, similar to how it's also a mystery if the Baudelaires are even alive. In The End, Violet says, "None of us may ever see a penny of that money" meaning she has accepted this possibility.

Desires

  • While living with Count Olaf, Klaus Baudelaire says that if he could use the fortune now instead of in years, he would buy a castle and live in it, with armed guards patrolling the outside to keep out Count Olaf and his troupe. Violet Baudelaire would like an inventing studio, Klaus a library, and Sunny things to bite.[3]
  • Violet later mentions that if she obtained the fortune, she would like to build an inventing studio for herself, potentially over Lake Lachrymose where Aunt Josephine's house used to be so she could be remembered. Klaus mentions he would build a public library, and buy back Uncle Monty's reptile collection, and take care of all the reptiles. Sunny mentions she would be a dentist.[5]
  • Olaf mentions that the first thing he'd buy is a shiny new car named after himself.[6]
  • Esmé Squalor mentions she wants the fortune because money is "in".[7]

Speculation

  • One popular fan theory is that the Baudelaire fortune is the remains of Count Olaf's fortune, stolen by the Baudelaire parents and Kit Snicket after murdering his parents, which would explain Olaf's personal vendetta against the Baudelaire family, why he seems to live in poverty despite being royalty, and the motive behind the assassination of his parents.[8]
    • This is not confirmed in the universe of the books and seems to likely be non-canon in the Netflix canon, where Count Olaf's father's death was an accident.[9]
  • BassBag

    Mrs. Bass possibly holding the fortune in the Netflix series in "The Carnivorous Carnival: Part Two".

    Another popular theory is that Mrs. Bass stole the Baudelaire fortune sometime before The Penultimate Peril; it is known that she was arrested for bank robbery,[5] and that the crime was committed during or after Vice Principal Nero's letter in Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography and before the burning of the Hotel Denouement. It is also noted that Arthur Poe was sent to the hotel after Bass to investigate a bank robbery,[4] and it would make sense if he, as the executor of the Baudelaire parents' estate, was the one to investigate its theft.[10]
    • If the banking system in the universe of A Series of Unfortunate Events is similar to that of reality, this may be unlikely, as banks tend to not keep all their cash in the building, instead keeping only enough to meet their anticipated transaction needs and depositing the rest in the Federal Reserve Bank.[11] So if Mrs. Bass stole the Baudelaire fortune, it is unlikely she stole all of it. However, the banking system of the Snicket universe may work differently.
    • The theory is also likely non-canon in the Netflix series, as Babs steals the money in between "The Austere Academy: Part Two" and "The Slippery Slope: Part One," with the implication that she planned to take part in the robbery before the Baudelaires even attended Prufrock Preparatory School,[12][13], and the fact she was caught before the Hotel Denouement Fire[14] and Poe attended the trial at the request of J.S..[15]

See Also

Sources