History Main / MoneyIsNotPower

* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and the Nazi Party were helped into power, in part, by wealthy industrialist backers. Once Hitler assumed power, he did what he wanted and was glad to nationalize a factory he thought wasn't doing what it should. When it became clear that Nazi Germany was going to lose UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Hitler's final act was going to be bringing Germany lower than Dark Ages poverty by blowing up every bridge, every farmhouse, every factory, etc. across the country. This plan was so insane that the general assigned to the plan never implemented it.

* When the Soviet Union fell, a small number of businessmen in Russia took control of recently privatised state-owned companies and basically carved up the nation's economy into personal fiefdoms. The President at the time, Boris Yeltsin, couldn't do much within the law to stop them, and they became the famous oligarchs of UsefulNotes/TheNineties. When UsefulNotes/VladimirPutin, who didn't much care for concepts like "rule of law" or "democracy", came to power he kindly reminded these very rich men that they may have the cash, but he had the guns. Contrary to popular Western imagination, the oligarchs are no longer major political power players in Russia, but more like nobles under a medieval absolute monarchy; they get to keep their money and prestigious positions, but only at the pleasure of Tsar Vladimir. After the invasion of Ukraine, when the founder[=/=]owner of one of Russia's largest banks (which also bore his name) protested the war, Putin basically stole it by forcing him to sell his controlling interest at a ''97%'' discount and, in an act of extreme pettiness, ordered the bank's board of directors to change its name to erase any connection to the founder.

* ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'': Cal tries to bribe his way off the [[ItWasHisSled doomed ship]]. While it appears to work initially, the money is thrown back in his face when it matters most.

** Remy later on provides a counter-argument: power is better than money but only as long as it ''lasts''. [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen Which it never does]].

* One of the gut punches delivered by [[UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic the sinking of the Titanic]] was that some of the (at the time) wealthiest men in the world went down with the ship, and apparently all their money and influence wasn't able to save them. However, in actual fact, there doesn't seem to have been many attempts at bribery. John Jacob Astor ''had'' asked if there was room in a lifeboat so that he and his wife Madeleine, who was five months pregnant, could stay together -- but he had the incredibly bad luck to be asking Officer Lightoller, who said that "no man is allowed on this boat or any of the boats until the ladies are off"; Officers Murdoch or Wilde might well have been more lenient, especially since (according to Madeleine's later account) there was apparently room in the boat for at least fifteen more people. Still, Astor seemed to have accepted the denial and his fate calmly, merely asking what number the lifeboat was so he could find Madeleine later. Isidor Straus refused the offer to get into a lifeboat while there were still women and children on the ship, and Ida refused to leave him, saying "We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go." Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet, realising that rescue wasn't going to come near quick enough to save the people still trapped on the ship, changed into evening wear to meet their deaths and remarked "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen."

** In ''Felina'', [[spoiler:Walt does manage to get his family money, but he has to pretend that it came from Gretchen and Elliot, who he manipulates into helping him [[MakesSenseInContext with the help of two crooks and a laser pointer]]. Also Jack tries to buy his way out of trouble, but Walt is too vengeful to really care and is also dying and has no use for the money anyway]].

* ''VideoGame/Shipwrecked64'': Broadside Animation Studios is already going down the drain fast since the death of its founder Rex Broadside in the eighties, but the new CEO, Mark Mullins starts making things worse in 1995 after [[spoiler:his wife is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer]], and he starts diverting much of the company's dwindling funds towards fighting a losing battle against it. [[spoiler:This is what ultimately seals the fate of Broadside as a company, and licensee Cogware Games gets caught in the crossfire, as Broadside has to keep cancelling projects as a last resort to stay afloat. It's all for nothing, anyway, as Mark's wife soon passes away.]]

* ''VideoGame/Shipwrecked64'': Broadside Animation Studios is already going down the drain fast since the death of its founder Rex in the eighties, but [[GreaterScopeVillain the new CEO, Mark Mullins]] starts making things worse in 1995 after his wife is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer and he starts diverting much of the company's dwindling funds to fighting a losing battle against it. [[spoiler:This is what ultimately seals the fate of Broadside as a company, and licensee Cogware Games gets caught in the crossfire, as Broadside has to keep cancelling projects as a last resort to stay afloat. It's all for nothing, anyway, as Mark's wife soon passes away.]]

** Chloé's KarmaHoudiniWarranty runs out when the new Ladybug reveals how she betrayed Team Miraculous and willingly worked with Hawk/Shadow Moth. After this, her father is no longer able to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections use his connections]] as the Mayor to get her out of trouble; in fact, he's faced with serious trouble himself as public opinion turns against him for enabling her so much in the first place. Tellingly, Chloé shows NoSympathy for her father, declaring that he's [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness not useful to her anymore]]. She also sincerely believes that she can escape the consequences of her actions by working with [[spoiler:Gabriel Agreste's legal team]], underscoring how she hasn't learned anything from the whole debacle.

** {{Discussed}} during the epilogue, when Ladybug warns Lila that while she might have [[KarmaHoudini gotten away with]] her crimes in Paris, karma ''will'' eventually catch up to her if she doesn't change her ways. No amount of money will be able to save her if she pisses off the wrong people.

Compare ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules, ScrewTheMoneyThisIsPersonal, and WorthlessYellowRocks. Contrast EveryManHasHisPrice (you can get people to do anything if you spend ''enough'' money), BribeBackfire (when money ''does'' have power, but the attempt to use it has greater negative consequences than not having done so), and the even bigger contrast CrimefightingWithCash where a character's money supply is so great it counts as a superpower in the war against crime. See also NoFameNoWealthNoService.

** Chloe's KarmaHoudiniWarranty runs out when the new Ladybug reveals how she betrayed Team Miraculous and willingly worked with Hawk/Shadow Moth. After this, her father is no longer able to [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections use his connections]] as the Mayor to get her out of trouble; in fact, he's faced with serious trouble himself as public opinion turns against him for enabling her so much in the first place. Tellingly, Chloe shows NoSympathy for her father, declaring that he's [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness not useful to her anymore]]. She also sincerely believes that she can escape the consequences of her actions by working with [[spoiler:Gabriel Agreste's legal team]], underscoring how she hasn't learned anything from the whole debacle.

There's always that one rich {{Jerkass}} -- the corporate snob, that one with the Lexus, that arrogant prick who's always looking down their nose at everybody else. "I can have anything I want, because [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney ha ha, I'm rich]]." Or maybe he [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections has quite the friendship with the mayor/governor/President]] (often because of the occasional donation), but then shit hits the fan. Maybe it's a natural disaster (or a ''super''natural disaster), an unstoppable disease, the UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic sinking, or even TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt. Or maybe it's merely a [[CommieLand Communist]] revolution or some weird kind of hyperinflation. Suddenly, all that wealth and "friendship" isn't worth so much, because people are more worried about plain ol' survival rather than making money or following whoever is supposedly in charge. However, it could be on a much smaller scale -- maybe [[KidsPreferBoxes Kids Just Prefer Boxes]] or money simply isn't important to somebody, either because [[ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules they value their honor more]] or because their desire to see you suffer is greater than any amount you could offer due to either [[ScrewTheMoneyThisIsPersonal personal reasons]] or [[AxCrazy sheer bloodlust]]. Remember to BewareTheHonestOnes, because they believe in things bigger than cold, hard cash.

Compare ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules, ScrewTheMoneyThisIsPersonal and WorthlessYellowRocks. Contrast EveryManHasHisPrice (you can get people to do anything if you spend ''enough'' money), BribeBackfire (when money ''does'' have power, but the attempt to use it has greater negative consequences than not having done so), and the even bigger contrast CrimefightingWithCash where a character's money supply is so great it counts as a superpower in the war against crime. See also NoFameNoWealthNoService.

** One of the SerialKiller Jin-e's victims tried to bribe him into leaving him alone, but Jin-e doesn't care about money, only about the fun from killing people and having interesting fights.

* ''ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand'' plays with this; in the sealed-off Gotham, all barter is for basic survival necessities, so anyone who flashes around [[WorthlessYellowRocks paper money or jewels]] and expects results is treated as an idiot by most people. However, while ''money'' may not be power, the ''trade'' that it used to represent is more important than ever, and those who master the new currencies (tinned food, batteries, servitude, etc.) become very powerful. ComicBook/ThePenguin becomes the most powerful man in Gotham this way, and is famous for being the only major trader who will accept traditional valuables as payment, but only because he has a pipeline to the outside world and enough resources to survive until the No Man's Land is lifted and the economy returns to normal.

** When the Decepticon uprising begins, corrupt senator Ratbat (who'd secretly funded the Decepticons when they were starting out participating in underground gladiatorial games) decides to pull a KnowWhenToFoldEm and get out of Kaon while the getting is good. He's fairly confident that with his wealth, connections and intelligence, he'll be fine wherever he goes. His lackey Soundwave agrees... and shoots him in the back before forcibly transferring his mind into a much smaller cassette body. Unluckily for Ratbat, Soundwave had gotten to know Megatron and concluded he liked the world Megatron was going to built a lot more than he liked whatever wealth Ratbat could offer.

** He constantly sinks money into the Crown but has increasingly little to show for it besides more debt. Tywin can't get Cersei, Robert or Joffery under control.
** Tywin offers that any lady that marries Joffery and bears a son will live in the highest luxury for the rest of her life. Unfortunately with how StupidEvil Joffery is, no one wants their daughters anywhere near him.

* ''Fanfic/FateKill'': Shirou confronts Bach, who commits the atrocity of selling girls into slavery to people who enjoy torturing and killing girls. Bach tries to offer money to be left alone and is shocked when Shirou points out his crimes cannot be paid for with mere money.

** Thanks to his ControlFreak father, Adrien is an UpperClassTwit who is rather out of touch with reality, having little idea of what anything is actually ''worth'' and taking their family fortune for granted. When Lila [[TheFarmerAndTheViper steals from the Agreste's emergency account]], Adrien assumes that the police will prioritize their case above all others simply because his family's still incredibly rich... while ignoring the ''tiny'' little detail that [[spoiler:his father was recently exposed as Hawkmoth]]. He's very confused -- and increasingly annoyed -- when the police try to explain to him that they can't magically find and return the stolen funds just on his say-so.

** Gabriel Agreste also runs into this. After he unintentionally exposes himself as Hawk/Shadow Moth, he finds himself faced with an angry mob and haughtily declares that YouHaveNoIdeaWhoYoureDealingWith... only to learn that yes, they do.

* ''Film/BoysOnTheSide'': After Robin falls ill due to a lung infection from her AIDS, Jane goes to the same tarot card woman she met months earlier and offers her money to help remove "the curse" forshadowed in her tarot cards. The woman politely refuses Jane's money, saying though she practices some form of magic and spirituality, she cannot perform miracles.
* One of the themes of the ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' are villains who aren't motivated by pure greed, but by some greater philosophic, if terrible, goal. In general, money won't get you anywhere with Batman's enemies, any more than it would with Batman himself.

* In ''Literature/BattleRoyale'', Oda is a rich asshole, but that doesn't save him from the Program. Everyone goes to the Program at random, even rich people. (Although it turns out Oda likes having the chance to kill his poor classmates anyways).

* "Literature/MyDinnerWithAres": Ogbunabali regales to Ares about a follower who he kept alive for centuries in exchange for offerings, but eventually Ogbunabali had to reap his soul since no mortal can avoid death forever. In response, the man begged to be spared, offering everything from burning his entire fortune in his honor to having Creator/StevenSpielberg make a movie glorifying him.

* In Volume 3/Episode 4 of ''Literature/RollOverAndDie'', Satils, the previous slave owner of Milkit, has Milkit kidnapped because she cannot stand to see one of her former slaves having a happy life. She tortures Milkit until Flum manages to find them. When Satils mentioning her church connections do not dissuade Flum, she attempts to bribe Flum. Flum makes it clear that no amount of money is worth all the torment she inflicted upon Milkit, and she proceeds to torture Satils to death.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': This trope is played with a lot. While illegal money can be useful sometimes, there are other times where it can't help in any way.
** In ''Ozymandias'', [[spoiler:Walt tries to bribe Jack into sparing Hank from summary execution. Jack, knowing Hank won't keep his mouth shut, kills Hank anyways. As a final twist of the knife, Jack and his crew take Walt's barrels of money, only letting Walt keep one barrel out of a twisted sense of honor]].

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': A common fate of wealthy characters, especially in the more horror-infused episodes, is "rich person who ends up being killed by the monster / disaster of the week, usually as a result of their own hubris". As a case study, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E6Dalek "Dalek"]] features Henry van Statten, a ludicrously rich man who owns the internet and is shown to be able to do things like have underperforming employees memory-wiped and ditched on the side of the road or single-handedly decide the next Presidential election. He's genuinely stunned when the Doctor tells him that the Dalek that's just escaped from his collection and started murdering all his security guards [[AlwaysChaoticEvil cannot be bribed or negotiated with, and will kill everyone in its path out of simple hatred]]. Nor does his wealth do him much good when his surviving employees, infuriated at how many people died because of his nonsense, turn on him and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard wipe HIS memory and ditch him by the side of the road]].

'''Goddard:''' And by tonight, Henry van Statten will be a homeless, brainless junkie [[IronicEcho living on the streets of San Diego, Seattle, Sacramento... Someplace beginning with "S".]]

* ''Literature/{{Riverworld}}'': In the 2010 adaptation, a bunch of modern day people wake up in a new world. While exploring it, they spot some unfriendly looking Spanish conquistadors. One of the group, Dan, suddenly comes out of hiding and tries to boss the conquistadors around while holding out his law degree, ranting that he is a rich and powerful lawyer. They kill him out of annoyance while his friends run and wonder what in the world he was thinking. The conquistadors comment on how [[TooDumbToLive stupid and arrogant he was]]. Even if he did manage to convince them to follow him, they probably would have turned on him since he lacked physical prowess and was likely not carrying that much money, if they would even accept modern money.
* In Season 3 of ''Series/TheWire'', [[spoiler:Omar Little and Brother Mouzone corner Stringer Bell in one of the buildings he's developing, intent on killing him. Stringer tries to offer money. Considering he ordered the torture/murder of Omar's boyfriend in the past, and set Mouzone up to be shot, it fails. Omar says it isn't about the money and they kill him.]]

** In the [[Literature/ActsOfTheApostles book of Acts]], Simon Magus tries to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit with money so that he could lay hands on people and give them the same power. Peter the apostle outrightly rejects it, saying that Simon's heart is not right before God and that he should pray that such a thought in his mind will be forgiven him for attempting it.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E11BurnsVerkaufenDerKraftwerk Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk]]", Burns sells the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant to some German businessmen for what he considers a very good price. Then he pays a visit to Moe's Tavern, only to get jeered at and thrown out by the plant employees that no longer have reason to fear him. So Burns decides to [[StatusQuoIsGod buy the plant back, and rehires Homer]] (who the Germans fired).

* China's in a similar position right now. After the Cultural Revolution, there was a diffusion of power throughout the CCP and limited free markets were allowed, leading to the rise of homegrown millionaires and billionaires who wielded significant influence. However, current President Xi Jinping has overseen an unprecedented level of centralisation and is considered the most powerful Chinese leader since [[UsefulNotes/MaoZedong Mao]]. He's demonstrated that he can and will simply depose, imprison and confiscate the assets of any wealthy party elite or businessman he feels like, even the heads of some of China (and the world's) biggest corporations (which unlike in Russia aren't even nominally independent of the state).

* Despite possessing vast amounts of wealth, Al-Musta'sim, the last caliph of the Abbasid Empire, was unable to save Baghdad from being destroyed by the Mongols. According to one account, Hulagu Khan mocked the deposed caliph for stockpiling his wealth rather then buying more weapons and then locked him up with his gold and jewels so he would starve to death.
* One of the gut punches delivered by [[UsefulNotes/RMSTitanic the sinking of the Titanic]] was that some of the (at the time) wealthiest men in the world went down with the ship, and apparently all their money and influence wasn't able to save them. However, in actual fact there doesn't seem to have been many attempts at bribery. John Jacob Astor ''had'' asked if there was room in a lifeboat so that he and his wife Madeleine, who was five months pregnant, could stay together — but he had the incredibly bad luck to be asking Officer Lightoller, who said that "no man is allowed on this boat or any of the boats until the ladies are off"; Officers Murdoch or Wilde might well have been more lenient, especially since (according to Madeleine's later account) there was apparently room in the boat for at least fifteen more people. Still, Astor seemed to have accepted the denial and his fate calmly, merely asking what number the lifeboat was so he could find Madeleine later. Isidor Straus refused the offer to get into a lifeboat while there were still women and children on the ship, and Ida refused to leave him, saying "We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go." Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet, realising that rescue wasn't going to come near quick enough to save the people still trapped on the ship, changed into evening wear to meet their deaths and remarked "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen."

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!

Getting hit with this trope is typically [[HumiliationConga a huge moment]] for any character used to money solving all their problems. Sometimes it can lead up to a VillainousBSOD or even a HeelFaceTurn. Or sometimes [[KarmicDeath they just die]].

* This is often pointed out regarding Doomsday Preppers who stockpile gold or cash. The theory behind stockpiling precious metals is that if a disaster destroys a country, that nation's currency will be worthless, but gold or silver would still hold value. However, in the event that there actually is a widespread collapse of civilization, money is not going to be nearly as valuable a commodity as food, medicine, or basic tools. A bag of gold coins isn't useful by itself -- it's only worth something because everyone agrees that it's worth something. A hammer and saw, a case of canned beans, or a box of clean bandages would be much more useful in a post-apocalyptic world than a bag of coins.