History Main / PaidHarem

* ''Franchise/{{batman}}'':

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/BatmanForever https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/two_face_sugar_and_spice.png]]]]

*** Played more seriously in "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night", when [[Characters/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineGulDukat Gul Dukat]] is seen using Bajoran "comfort girls" for this purpose, including Kira's mother whom he [[MoreThanMindControl manipulates into thinking]] he's one of the more nicer Cardassian occupiers. The most chilling thing about Gul Dukat is he actually ''is'' one of the nicer Cardassian occupiers. That's not to say he is actually ''nice'', he just isn't into random acts of meaningless brutality. He is into calculated acts of meaningful brutality (aimed directly at anyone who displeased him rather than any random bystander). Sisko even confirms this at one point... after he's beaten the somewhat unhinged Dukat unconscious. (Dukat goes on to become Sisko's opposite as the Pa'Wraith's Emissary and has his own harem of Bajoran cultists as well.)

*** Played more seriously in "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night", when Gul Dukat is seen using Bajoran "comfort girls" for this purpose, including Kira's mother whom he [[MoreThanMindControl manipulates into thinking]] he's one of the more nicer Cardassian occupiers. The most chilling thing about Gul Dukat is he actually ''is'' one of the nicer Cardassian occupiers. That's not to say he is actually ''nice'', he just isn't into random acts of meaningless brutality. He is into calculated acts of meaningful brutality (aimed directly at anyone who displeased him rather than any random bystander). Sisko even confirms this at one point... after he's beaten the somewhat unhinged Dukat unconscious. (Dukat goes on to become Sisko's opposite as the Pa'Wraith's Emissary and has his own harem of Bajoran cultists as well.)

* In "Series/{{Copenhagen Cowboy}}", Chiang has a couple of women in his casino office whose main purpose is to be female and pretty.

Might be found in the DenOfIniquity during off-duty hours. Compare IgnoredEnamoredUnderling and PaidForFamily. Also compare RoyalHarem, where the relationship is more institutional than paid. See also IHaveYouNowMyPretty and GoGoEnslavement, where the villain tries to press a heroic lady into the harem. A GoldDigger on the other hand may see this as a viable lifestyle choice, making the villain a SugarDaddy.

* Thugnificent in ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' employs several beautiful women to lounge about his mansion, including one whose only job is to announce the presence of visitors by sultrily crooning, "ding... dong." He dubs her a [[JustForPun "whorebell"]].

* Lex Luthor in ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace''. As well as in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' itself. Miss Teschmacher clearly didn't stay with him out of love.

* TheRival Gary from ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' was always [[InstantFanClub surrounded by cheerleaders]] in the first seasons of the Anime. Until he lost a battle in the first TournamentArc and decided to continue his travels alone.

** [[MonsterOfTheWeek One-episode villain]] Nastina also had a harem of young men wearing only Speedos which followed her around.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ComicBook/{{Spider Man}}'s enemy the Chameleon had a group of likely-paid mistresses during his short campaign to replace the Kingpin as New York's crimelord. They were clearly afraid of him, and with good reason; he was abusive to one in one scene, hitting her simply for not peeling his grapes before bringing them to him.

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

-->'''Kuzco:''' So... Kronk seems, uh, nice.
-->'''Yzma:''' Oh, he, um, he is.
-->'''Kuzco:''' ...He's, what, in his... late twenties...?

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
* In ''Film/ThreeHundred'', King Xerxes has one, and uses the promise of women and gold to successfully tempt Ephialtes--rejected by the Spartan army due to his deformity--into selling out his countrymen.

* Mr. Freeze in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' has Ms. B. Haven.[[note]]Creator/VivicaAFox[[/note]] Given Freeze's obsession with his comatose wife, it's pretty clear she's only there because arm candy is the expected thing.
* Bruce Wayne in both ''Film/BatmanBegins'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' does this with glee to keep up his playboy image.
* Two-Face in ''Film/BatmanForever'' had Sugar and Spice, [[DualityMotif a pair]] of attractive women who represented either fluffy goodness[[note]]Creator/DrewBarrymore[[/note]] or harsh evil[[note]]Debi Mazar[[/note]] in very sexy ways. Although technically, they were both evil.

* The stewardesses in Tony Stark's private jet double as pole dancers/strippers in ''Film/IronMan''.

* Jabba The Hutt in ''Franchise/StarWars'' has a harem of [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe humanoid extraterrestrials]] around his side. [[MarsNeedsWomen Try not to think about it too hard]].
** As explained in the ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' novelization:
--> ''It explained the Hutts' need to flaunt Twi'lek dancers and other glamorous humanoids, so radically, physically ''different'' that no Hutt could possibly have found them attractive. They collected them because ''humanoids'' coveted them, and so it sent the message clearly: ''I possess everything you lust after, so I have power over you.''''

* ''Film/{{Justice|League 2017}} [[Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague League]]'': following his arrest in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', Lex Luthor has escaped from Arkham Asylum and is residing on a luxury yacht with the expected bevy of beautiful women. However there's no MaleGaze on the bikini girl in the swimming pool; instead there are several women dressed in {{Stripperiffic}} [[BadassInANiceSuit suits]], with [[BodyguardBabes automatic weapons and serious expressions]], guarding Luthor.

* Subverted in the first ''{{Literature/Deathlands}}'' novel "Pilgrimage to Hell". The Baron of Mocsin, Jordan Teague, has two girls by his side who don't change their bored expressions even when he uses them; not that Teague can do much as he's [[AdiposeRex too fat]] and doped out to care.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In the Adam West ''Series/{{Batman|1966}}'' show, if the villain of the week was male, he would invariably have an attractive female henchman serving alongside the mooks. On rare occasions, they actually served some purpose other than scenery.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' had minor character Harry Mudd, who technically did this in two appearances:
** When he first appears in "Mudd's Women", he's accompanied by a harem of three incredibly beautiful women. However, they're not actually ''his'' women, he intends to make a fortune by selling their hands in marriage to wealthy miners.
** In "I, Mudd", some of his androids have been fashioned in this manner. Becomes a CoolAndUnusualPunishment when they get replaced by 500 copies of his nagging shrew of an ex-wife.
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. Used in the traditional fashion in the MirrorUniverse episodes, and Quark's Dabo girls probably count too. Played more seriously in "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night", when Gul Dukat is seen using Bajoran "comfort girls" for this purpose, including Kira's mother whom he [[MoreThanMindControl manipulates into thinking]] he's one of the more nicer Cardassian occupiers.
** The most chilling thing about Gul Dukat is he actually ''was'' one of the nicer Cardassian occupiers. That's not to say he was actually ''nice'', he just wasn't into random acts of meaningless brutality. He was into calculated acts of meaningful brutality (aimed directly at anyone who displeased him rather than any random bystander). Sisko even confirms this at one point...after he's beaten the somewhat unhinged Dukat unconscious. (Dukat goes on to become Sisko's opposite as the Pa'Wraith's Emissary and has his own harem of Bajoran cultists as well).
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''. Mentioned though not seen in the [[RolePlayingGame holodeck program]] ''The Adventures of Captain Proton!'', where MadScientist Dr Chaotica has a harem of slave girls which the players are meant to liberate.

[[folder:Pinball]]

[[folder:Theater]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]

* The Penguin in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' has two women dressed as kabuki-styled geishas following him around in his debut episode... who also happen to be ninjas with razor sharp claws.
** They may also be [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot robots]]. It's not exactly clear.
** Judging by their bizarre neck movements, being TheVoiceless, never seeing an inch of exposed flesh, along with the Penguin being an expert bird-trainer, they may well be ''giant trained birds.'' Perhaps even ''mutant'' or genetically-engineered giant birds. Really, it's one of the series' most amusing EpilepticTrees.
* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', particularly the ''New Adventures'', did this a few times as well, including a villainess with Chippendale-esque henchmen and Mr. Freeze with women in {{stripperiffic}} ''parkas''. When the Penguin became TheDon (much like he currently is in the comic), he employed cocktail waitresses at his nightclub who were also his enforcers.

* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Colonel Gaddafi]] of Libya had an all-female entourage called the [[BodyguardBabes Amazonian Guard]]. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Gaddafi head of the African Union. When Gaddafi fell during the Arab Spring, it was revealed that the Amazonian Guard were less bodyguards and more a private harem mainly full of women who weren't there of their own free will - which might explain why none of them stayed around to protect him when things went south.

As the picture illustrates, the "sultan" in this harem also has a habit of dressing the floozies in a thematically appropriate manner that coincides with their job or even [[AstonishinglyAppropriateAppearance criminal theme]]. Not surprisingly, their employer [[ItsAllAboutMe doesn't have any real affection or attachment]] to the harem, and will [[NoHeroToHisValet disrespect or mistreat them;]] sometimes dumping them on the ground when [[ShootTheMessenger hearing bad news]], ordering the floozy out when he talks shop, or outright using them as [[BulletproofHumanShield human shields]]/distractions in a firefight.

-->--'''''Website/TheAgonyBooth''''' on ''Film/BatmanForever''

[[folder:Music Videos]]
* This is basically the everyday mansion life of every rapper as portrayed in their songs, with throngs of gorgeous women in bikinis doing little more than strutting sexily in slow motion, dancing, swimming, or making out.
[[/folder]]

* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Colonel Gaddafi]] of Libya had an all-female entourage called the [[BodyguardBabes Amazonian Guard]]. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Gaddafi head of the African Union. When Gaddafi fell during the Arab Spring, it was revealed that they were less bodyguards and more a private harem mainly full of women who weren't there of their own free will - which might explain why none of them stayed around to protect him when things went south.

* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Colonel Gaddafi]] of Libya had an all-female entourage called the [[BodyguardBabes Amazonian Guard]]. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Gaddafi head of the African Union. When Gaddafi fell during the Arab Spring, it was revealed that he and his people abused many of them.

* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Colonel Gaddafi]] of Libya had an all-female entourage called the Amazonian Guard. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Gaddafi head of the African Union. When Gaddafi fell during the Arab Spring, it was revealed that he and his people abused many of them.

* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGhaddafi Colonel Ghaddafi]] of Libya had an all-female entourage called the Amazonian Guard. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Ghaddafi head of the African Union. When Ghaddafi went down during the Arab Spring, it was revealed that he and his people abused many of them.

* Colonel Gadaffi of Libya had an all-female entourage called the Amazonian Guard. He believed that his would-be assassins would be hesitant to shoot a woman. Critics of the regime found his claim to be suspect, as his female bodyguards were required to take a vow of chastity. He was friends with Italy's Silvio Berlusconi for a reason: Berlusconi shipped Italian escort girls to Africa to bribe officials into appointing Gadaffi head of the African Union.