Line #75 Main/TheTeamBenefactor


1	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rjbrande18.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:What are a few quintillion credits for, indeed?]]
3
4	->'''Maria Hill:''' All set up, boss.\
5	'''Tony Stark:''' Actually, [Steve]'s the boss. I just pay for everything and design everything and... make everyone look cooler.
6	-->-- ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''
7
8	The Team Benefactor is the member of TheTeam who allows the adventure to continue by supplying some sort of resource they (and only they) have access to rather than their own talents (unless said talents are something very narrow). The resource in question might be;
9
10	* Money (Either covering the group's expenses as they travel or providing a large sum of money to fund the trip).
11	* Knowledge of what they're specifically dealing with (characters who provide this are often TheSmartGuy as well). Military fiction (especially MilitaryScienceFiction) often has a civilian expert (or witness to whatever the protagonists are dealing with, local guide, etc) in this role.
12	* Being TheChosenZero, who hasn't got anything in their favour apart from some vague prophecy that they'll be useful or access to something OnlyTheChosenMayWield.
13	* Have something special about them (e.g. being of a given lineage needed to enter their ancestor's tomb or meeting the PhlebotinumHandlingRequirements) that the group need to continue.
14	* Just own a means of transport which the group need to make use of.
15	* Have some sort of connection to someone who fits one of the above, who agrees to help on the condition that this character can travel with the group (e.g. [[TheFace the representative of a company who's funding an expedition]] or the son of a king who lent the group a ship).
16
17	This trope is a good way to justify TheFriendNobodyLikes or an IndispensableScoundrel, since it allows the writer to include a character that is at odds with the rest but they can't get rid of. Even if they're not, it's likely that what they provide is the [[NonActionGuy only thing they can provide]] (at first), making them TheLoad. The expertise variant is the most likely to avoid this, since their knowledge might allow them to double as TheMedic or a GadgeteerGenius even if they aren't a BadassBookworm.
18
19	Characters who provide money might overlap with UnclePennybags or WealthyPhilanthropist. A [[TheChosenOne character with some sort of destiny]] in this position might be TheChosenZero if they don't provide anything but their status as such. A character who merely gives the heroes what they need and sends them on their way (without joining them) is some form of BigGood rather than this trope. If this character joins the group as the SixthRanger then they might be a MysteriousBacker or an AnonymousBenefactor. They often appear in a CaperCrew. Compare PlotTailoredToTheParty where it is contrived so each character can overcome an obstacle. See also CrimefightingWithCash (for when this trope is a superpower).
20
21	A supertrope to BeleagueredBenefactor.
22	-----
23	!!Examples:
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25	[[foldercontrol]]
26
27	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
28	* Dryden Fassa in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' is an IntrepidMerchant, with zero fighting skills but with an ''incredibly'' [[GuileHero sharp mind]], who manages to join Hitomi and Van's little gang by providing funding (read: an ungodly sum of money) for the title mech's mid-season repairs [[spoiler: which basically saves Van's life since his back-then almost fatal wounds come from his {{synchronization}} with Escaflowne itself.]]
29	* ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis'': [[FemmeFatale Sylia Stingray]] serves as both the leader and the backer for the Knight Sabers. She designs all of their equipment, including their hardsuits, and finances their operations, using her family's wealth, and by lining up assignments with high paying officials, and businessmen.
30	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
31	** Bulma and her family fund and personally build the ludicrously expensive operations of building interstellar spacecraft, time machines, and the copious amounts of food that Saiyans eat. Ox King and Hercule do too, to a lesser extent.
32	** The Briefs family and Hercule are also the go-to people for hiding stuff that would compromise the {{Masquerade}}. When a bunch of Namekians find themselves stranded for nearly 9 months, Bulma invited them to stay at her place, and when they needed to keep Majin Buu under wraps for six months, Hercule's compound proved just the ticket. Capsule Corp. even seems to have a built-in WeirdnessCensor due to the apparently copious oddities that Dr. Briefs' experiments have produced, so when a giant wish-granting dragon is summoned on his front lawn, nobody is particularly alarmed once they find out it's at Capsule Corp.
33	* In ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'', Tsukiyama becomes one to Kaneki's gang in the second half of the series. Besides using his personal connections to gather information, he financially provides for them and uses his family's influence to aid them (read: [[StalkerWithACrush Kaneki]]).
34	* ''Manga/HighschoolOfTheDead'': While [[CloudCuckoolander Shizuka]] may initially seem like TheLoad, the group's survival is largely due to her contributions:
35	** She was the one that made their escape from the school possible, by suggesting they head to the Teacher's Lounge so they could get a set of keys for one of the buses. And she was the only one who knew how to drive it, along with all the other times [[BadassDriver her driving]] has gotten them out of hairy situations.
36	** They also had [[TraumaInn a place to eat and rest]] at the end of their first day, since she [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW6ZzFfugxM let them use her friend's apartment.]] Which is how they were able to arm themselves, thanks to Rika's weapons cache and supply of ammo. Plus, it gave them access to a new vehicle and a change of clothes.
37	** And it was due to her medical expertise as a SchoolNurse that Rei was able to fully recover from her back injury (ep. 10 and 11); keeping their fighting force at four strong.
38	* ''[[Anime/ProjectAko Project A-ko]]'': Mr. Daitokuji uses his wealth to supply Graviton City's defense force with advanced aircraft and mecha, in exchange for their help in trying to stop his daughter [[PersonOfMassDestruction and A-ko]] from demolishing the city during their fights.
39	* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'':
40	** Kibayashi is a FriendOnTheForce (at the [[AdventureGuild Hunter's Office]]) version of this. Kibayashi's support is in the form of favorable contracts where the government pays for Akira's consumables, as well as classified information with the preface that it's "just my guess" or "you didn't hear this from me".
41	** Viola provides vital information as a KnowledgeBroker, due to either being payed or (more often) threatened for it. She also invests a ton of money into Sheryl's gang to prove she's worth keeping alive due to the schemes she'd pulled on Sheryl and Akira.
42	** Inabe provides government backing and sells relics to Sheryl while fortifying her HomeBase into a veritable fortress to keep them from being stolen.
43	** Hikaru, who gets assigned as essentially Akira's talent agent. As an IOweYouMyLife reward, she uses her negotiation skills and connections to get Akira and his friends equipment far exceeding [[FantasticRankSystem their hunter level]].
44	* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': Robert Speedwagon becomes this after striking it rich as an oil baron in America. Even after his death, the Speedwagon Foundation is constantly supplying the descendants of Jonathan Joestar with money, vehicles, medical aid, or anything else they require on their bizarre adventures.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Comic Books]]
48	* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'':
49	** [[Characters/MarvelComicsTonyStark Tony Stark]] originally funded the team, setting them up in his mansion and giving them the use of his butler Jarvis. This later was replaced by a foundation named after Stark's mother.
50	** Other equipment, most notably the Quinjets, was produced in Wakanda and provided to the team by the Characters/{{Black Panther\|TitleCharacter}}.
51	** [[Characters/MarvelComicsDeadpool Deadpool]] ends up being this to [[Comicbook/UncannyAvengers the second incarnation of the Uncanny Avengers.]] His being an In-universe CashCowFranchise provides the team with funds to carry out their missions. Following the events of ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'', this fell to the Human Torch.
52	** While [[ComicBook/TheWasp Janet Van Dyne]] could be called upon for financial aid during times Tony was in the lurch, as of more recent comics, she's expressly funding younger hero teams, as well as owning several labs they (and civilian teenage scientists under the G.I.R.L. initiative) can use as needed.
53	* ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'': Nighthawk (the Creator/MarvelComics version of Batman) provided funds for the Defenders while he was on the non-team, and they met at his ranch estate.
54	* ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'': This is how Steve Dayton a.k.a. Mento got involved with the Doom Patrol, going so far as to [[CrimefightingWithCash buy himself a psychic-power-enhancing helmet]] and join the team all so [[StalkerWithACrush he could be close to Rita Farr]].
55	* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': Reed Richards is this to the Fantastic Four, not only providing them with their technical equipment, but also with a big part of the funding through patent fees etc.
56	* ''ComicBook/HeroesForHire'': Characters/IronFist would sometimes fund the group if Characters/LukeCage was hardup for cash.
57	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'':
58	** [[Characters/GreenArrowOliverQueen Oliver Queen]] funded the team (anonymously) in ''JLA: Year One'', and [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter Bruce Wayne]] has also given them money to ensure they [[SupermanStaysOutOfGotham keep their massive supervillain battles away from Gotham.]]
59	** Maxwell Lord was this to the original incarnation of ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational, before his FaceHeelTurn and the ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint\|DCComics}}'' reboot.
60	** Ollie is funding the team again as of ''Comicbook/DCInfiniteFrontier''.
61	* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'':
62	** In most continuities, R. J. Brande funded the team. In the ''ComicBook/New52'' version (based mostly on the original one) he gained his fortune by making suns.
63	** In the Threeboot version, they're reliant on Princess Projectra's fortune, which is implied to be the main reason Princess Projectra is even on the team.
64	* ''ComicBook/{{Planetary}}'': The mysterious "Fourth Man" of Planetary.
65	* ''ComicBook/XMen'': [[Characters/MarvelComicsAngel Angel]] acted in this capacity when he was with the ''ComicBook/{{Champions\|1975}}'', funding the group as well as being on the team. He also funded and led ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'', turning them into an actual team instead of a non-team. On the ComicBook/XMen he also sometimes provided funds, although at least at the beginning they mostly came from Charles Xavier, whose "old money" family fortune also included the Xavier Mansion and its spacious grounds and enough money to have his X-Men ride into action in Rolls-Royces from the first issue.
66	* ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'': [[Characters/MarvelComicsKateBishop Kate Bishop]] provides funding for the team using her father's wealth, and converts one of his old buildings into a base for their operations. Unlike most examples, not only is she a fully fledged member of the group, she sometimes also acts as their unofficial leader.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Film]]
70	* In ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', Ripley is this from the perspective of the soldiers (since she's just a civilian who happened to have seen what they've been sent in to investigate).
71	* ''Film/FightClub'': The narrator is an example of this, since he blackmails his boss at a large automobile company into funding Fight Club, and presumably later Project Mayhem. [[spoiler: Of course, also being Tyler, the same person provides all the leadership and creative force behind those operations too, but he is not aware of that at the time.]]
72	* ''Film/GlassOnion'': Miles is the financial benefactor of his friend group. Most obviously, he bankrolls Claire's political aspirations and employs Lionel. Halfway through the film it's revealed that he met them at a bar and helped propel them to individual success with his money and connections. This does have the side effect of them having twisted loyalty to him since they all owe him in one form or another.
73	* ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseApexCybernetics Apex Cybernetics executive Maia Simmons]] and her father Walter are to Team Kong as [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 Miranda and the Illusive Man]] respectively are to the ''Normandy'' crew. Walter is providing the expedition with the [=HEAVs=] necessary to access and even stand a chance at braving the Hollow Earth, but Maia represents Walter's company on the team whilst Walter doesn't physically join them in any capacity.
74	* ''{{Film/Inception}}'': Saito, a [[FictionFiveHundred ludicrously wealthy]] CEO, hires the team to perform the inception, and insists on going with them to protect his investment. He buys an entire airline to make it easier for them to get to their target, but isn't much use after that.
75	* Batman, unsurprisingly, takes on this role in ''Film/JusticeLeague2017''. Besides providing the team with their tech and a personnel carrier, the movie ends with him planning to turn Wayne Manor into this universe's Hall of Justice. He also helps his teammates in their civilian lives, getting Barry Allen a job in a crime lab and taking care of Martha Kent's financial problems.
76	-->'''Clark:''' How did you get the house back from the bank?\
77	'''Bruce:''' I bought the bank.\
78	'''Clark:'''...The ''whole'' bank?\
79	'''Bruce:''' It's like a reflex with me, I dunno...
80	* ''Film/TheLifeAquaticWithSteveZissou'' has the "bond company stooge" who is an accountant who joins the crew to report back to their benefactors and make sure they stay within budget.
81	* Tony Stark/Iron Man in the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse''. Just like in the comics, he becomes this for the Avengers; Steve is the leader, while he provides the expensive tech and a skyscraper headquarters. Tony pretty much summed it up in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'':
82	-->'''Maria Hill:''' All set up, boss.\
83	'''Tony Stark:''' Actually, [Steve]'s the boss. I just pay for everything and design everything and... make everyone look cooler.
84	** This actually becomes a plot point in ''Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier'', as it turns out Tony's benefactor status also extends to paying for the housing of those rooming at the Avengers Compound (Wanda Maximoff, Vision and Sam Wilson). And between [[spoiler:Tony's death in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', and Sam getting blipped for five years at the end of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'']], he's forced to work as a military contractor with an inconsistent paycheck and has to unsuccessfully attempt to take out a bank loan to shore up his family's struggling fishing business, and eventually has to take up Cap's mantle himself with a Wakandan supplied vibranium suit.
85	* Reuben in ''Film/OceansEleven''. All he does is provide the initial investment and snark. In ''Ocean's Twelve'' he's the only one of the crew that can afford to repay Terry Benedict with interest, and he offers to cover Saul's repayment too. He tags along for the main plot anyway to keep an eye on his friends.
86	* Eduardo Saverin in ''Film/TheSocialNetwork''. He's the team member who repeatedly steps in with the cheque book before the money starts rolling in.
87	* Villainous example: the Neimoidian race from ''Franchise/StarWars'' is cowardly and lacks military expertise, but their participation in the Separatist Confederacy provides it with resources, since they control [[MegaCorp the Trade Federation]]. In [[Literature/RevengeOfTheSith the novelization]] of ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', the Neimoidian viceroy Nute Gunray tries to call [[GeneralRipper General Grievous]] out, pointing that all of Grievous's success is funded by Neimoidian money. Grievous is not impressed.
88	** During ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', Darth Sidious himself serves as this to the Trade Federation. Providing Gunray and his associates with resources and giving orders behind the scenes. Even masterminding the invasion of Naboo which drives the plot of the film.
89	* In ''Film/TheLostWorld1998'', Oscar Perreault, a spectator at the lecture, proposes to pay for the expedition's expenses if the scientists capture a living dinosaur and sends his associate, John Roxton, to represent his interests.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Literature]]
93	* Squire Trelawny finances the entire expedition in ''Literature/TreasureIsland''.
94	* Gandalf has shades of this in both ''Literature/TheHobbit'' and ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', but his sheer power and habit of disappearing to deal with his own business pushes him closer to BigGood status.
95	* Toad from Kenneth Grahame's ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows'' starts out as this. He provides the caravan for their trip but doesn't really give much else to the team apart from that and his dangerous, endless desire for adventure. He becomes pretty resourceful past the halfway mark of the novel, though.
96	* The protagonist (a journalist) of ''Literature/{{The Lost World\|1912}}'' is essentially on the trip to authenticate everything they find (since the professor has been ridiculed for years for his theories).
97	* In ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' Lord Arthur Godalming aids in funding the hunt for Dracula by providing transportation, lodging, and the like. While Abraham van Helsing helps with his knowledge of vampire lore.
98	* In the ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' novel "Caves of Ice", Cain has to put up with an [[MotorMouth annoying]] tech priest. Initially because he has some knowledge of what might be down there (thanks to his interest in [[TheSmartGuy xenobiology]]) and after that because he has an auspex which is needed to see where the ambulls and orks they're hunting are.
99	* In ''Literature/OutlanderLeander'', Ellora uses her connections in black market circles to find information for Leander, even though they barely get along. She gets money and he gets adventure (along with "his half" of the money, though he doubts she truly gives him half).
100	* Maggie plays this role in the ''Literature/{{Newsflesh}}'' series, providing safe places to stay, money, vehicles, and other resources.
101	* Mrs. Harnforth funds the ''Literature/TheStrangerTimes'' since goodness knows the paper could never turn a profit on its own.
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
105	* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Frank Reynolds, a wealthy retiree [[AffluentAscetic who lives in squalor]] and [[TheScrooge refuses to spend his money]] on anything ''but'' the Paddy's gang's zany schemes they involve themselves with week after week.
106	* In ''Series/PrisonBreak'' one character invokes this trope to keep himself useful by memorising and destroying a map the rest of the cast are following.
107	* In season two of ''Series/{{Nikita}}'', Birkhoff provides the money, the home base, and is the team's invaluable TechnoWizard.
108	* A BBC adaptation of ''Series/{{The Lost World\|2001}}'' had the protagonist secure his place on the trip by having his employers help fund it.
109	* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'': [[ComicBook/GreenArrow Oliver]] provides the money that keeps his team stocked with whatever they need, and rebuild the Watchtower when it, its windows, or the various technology in it is inevitably damaged every other week. In Season Ten with [[spoiler: Tess Mercer]]'s HeelFaceTurn, the team gains the financial backing of [=LuthorCorp=] as well.
110	* ''Series/Transatlantic2023'': In the first episode, Mary Jayne's wealth bankrolls the Emergency Rescue Committee, covering lodging, transport, and bail for any would-be refugees. Then her dad cuts her off...
111	-->'''Mary Jayne:''' Okay! All right, well, that is settled, then. Varian, you remain the face of the operation. Lisa, you are the muscle. Albert's definitely the criminal. \
112	'''Albert:''' Okay, then what are you?\
113	'''Mary Jayne:''' Oh, I'm just the bank.
114	[[/folder]]
115
116	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
117	* The Spider playbook from ''TabletopGame/BladesInTheDark'' is TheChessmaster whose strong suits are more focused on the downtime activities than on immediate tactical challenges during Scores. The "[[KnowsAGuyWhoKnowsAGuy Connections]]" special ability in particular lets them procure any asset the crew needs more quickly and for less coin than anyone else, while "Weaving the Web" grants them access to additional intel for planning future scores.
118	* The [[GameBreaker most broken class]] there is in ''TabletopGame/BleakWorld''; a human with 10 points in Funding will be able to buy the most expensive weapon in the game 10 times over. [[ScrappyMechanic Too bad there isn't much else to buy]].
119	[[/folder]]
120
121	[[folder:Video Games]]
122	* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', Miranda sort of fits this, being your liaison with The Illusive Man, who technically owns the Normandy SR-2 and supplies you with funds, equipment, and intelligence. The Illusive Man would be this directly but he never joins the squad.
123	* In the metagame of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', healers were like this (they were hard to level up so there weren't many about, but they were needed to survive in most of the endgame instances). This lead to the stereotype of a {{Jerkass}} who played a priest so other players would have no choice but to put up with them.
124	* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Varric uses his wide network of connections to find jobs for Hawke, keep the Coterie off Anders' back, forge papers proving Fenris owns his ex-master's manor, and keep Merrill out of trouble with the City Guard.
125	* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', King Edgar of Figaro provides much of the resources for the PlayerParty. He is also the resident GadgeteerGenius. Also, Setzer is the owner of the only non-Imperial airship(s) in the world.
126	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'': Alphinaud Leveillieur comes from a wealthy family in Sharlayan, and is not afraid to use his family's money and influence to achieve otherwise-difficult ends. ''Endwalker'' takes it a step further and reveals that Alphinaud and Alisaie's mother, Ameliance, has been funding the Scions "ere [they] even had coffers to fill".
127	* In the ''VideoGame/BrokenSword'' series, George serves as this at least once (being a patent lawyer, while his fellow investigator Nico is a pennyless journalist) in order to explain how they manage to travel to the various places around the world.
128	* In ''VisualNovel/DramaticalMurder'', this is Mink's role -- he is the main reason why Aoba and the rest of the main cast can even begin to look for Tae and Morphine near the end of the Common Route. He can be "upgraded" into one of Aoba's {{love interest}}s if the player pursues his... [[FetishizedAbuser very polemic]] route.
129	* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
130	** King Hayden from Frelia in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'' is this to Princess Eirika when the game starts, giving her war funds and allowing some of his vassals to join her after Renais is invaded and this kicks off war across Magvel. Later in the game, [[spoiler: Pontifex Mansel of Rausten]] fulfills the same role by giving them more funds and [[spoiler: the Sacred Relics from Rausten, the Saint Staff Latona and the Ivaldi Light tome.]]
131	** Lilith from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' is definitely this no matter what route is taken, as she allows the Avatar and his/her group to use the PocketDimension in her CrystalBall as their headquarters.
132	* In ''VideoGame/CaptainMorganeAndTheGoldenTurtle'', Thomas Briscoe, the wealthiest merchant on Bounty Island, funds the expedition Morgane leads after the Golden Turtle. He accompanies the ship, and sometimes tries to accompany Morgane himself (although tends to get a very short way before saying he'll "just stay here for a while" - which Morgane generally thinks would be best anyway).
133	* While it's most likely GameplayAndStorySegregation, in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'', all of the party members' equipment comes out of Rook's pocket.
134	* In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'', [[Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine Might Senpuuji]] has his ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsV V]]'' perks intact, continuing his President skill usage of earning free Tac points just by deploying him. Along with his ''[[MassTeleportation entire district]]'' surrounding his Senpuuji Railroad Aoidou Division plant transported to the world of Al-Warth, his plant serves as the oasis for unit repairs and upgrades, along with some sanity for pilots who were homesick for some contemporary stuff. Might lampshades his gratitude with this outcome, otherwise it’ll be hard for his employees to survive in the primitive world such as Al-Warth.
135	* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has a villainous example with Maximilien, a wealthy [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Omnic]] in charge of [[NebulousEvilOrganization Talon's]] finances with connections across the world, who in spite of [[NonActionBigBad his total lack of combat ability]] is powerful enough to be [[BigBadDuumvirate among the organization's leaders]].
136	* ''VideoGame/ShovelKnight'': The gold-obsessed pirate Treasure Knight serves as the Order of No Quarter's financier, using his vast wealth to support the Order and pay their minions.
137	* ''VideoGame/IdolManager'':
138	** In story mode, Fujimoto provides the initial investment and zero-interest loans. He also makes use of his connections to offer the group some opportunities and publicity once in a while.
139	** One of the possible temporary solutions to running in the red in story mode is to accept a large infusion of cash from a friend of Fujimoto's whose daughter wants to be an idol. If the offer is accepted, the player will need to have the daughter be the lead singer in three singles and a concert before the year is up. On top of this, the offer is void if the daughter quits under any conditions other than her own accord. The daughter has the looks, but dismal singing and dancing talent. She also has a trait that is literally called "[[SpoiledBrat Spoiled]]" that both makes her stamina (needed both to train her and actually put her to work) drain faster and makes her recover it more slowly, with overworking her being one of the possible means of losing her father's money.
140	* In ''VideoGame/{{Starfield}}'', Walter Stroud is this to the Constellation explorer organization. He is also one half of the power couple that runs the Stroud-Eklund Corporation, a major brand in the starship building industry (the other half being his wife, Issa Eklund). Before his joining, Constellation was in dire financial straits. Members of the group were skeptical that Walter was just buying his way in, but he convinced him he was a fan of the group ever since its glory days decades earlier. He jovially calls himself "The Wallet" of the group.
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Web Original]]
144	* In early installments of ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'', members of the titular guild consider themselves stuck with their incompetent healer due to the alternative being having no healer at all; there is a shortage of low-level healers and they are the last people anyone both available and competent would want to join. They eventually get a second one, but she's not that much more competent and the idea of getting rid of either healer gets dropped at some point.
145	* ''Webcomic/StarHammer'': Kate, aka Multiply, uses her duplication ability to replicate money. As such, she is the main financial backer of the Trust Fund Babies.
146	-->'''Kate''': "They need me to keep the lights on."
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Western Animation]]
150	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'': During Season 12, Lana's billionaire husband Robert single-handedly bankrolls the entirety of the Agency's activities.
151	* [[Characters/DCAUBatman Batman]] in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' built the Watchtower in Earth's orbit and funds them with his money. He combines this trope with the roles of TheLancer and TheSmartGuy.
152	* While by no means useless in other regards, [[Characters/TheLegendOfKorraAsamiSato Asami Sato]] provides Team Avatar with airships, cars, boats or whatever else they may need throughout ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra''.
153	* Starting with ''WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo'', which set up the idea of her being born to wealth, several incarnations of ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' have set up Daphne Blake as the team financier. She usually isn't the source of the Mystery Machine though, which tends to be a vehicle owned by either Fred or Shaggy if ownership is discussed.
154	* In ''[[WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010 Young Justice: Outsiders]]'', Beast Boy plays double duty as both TheLeader ''and'' benefactor of the Outsiders, with his salary as the lead of ''Space Trek 3016'' paying for their headquarters, The Hub. It's also a case of poetic justice, as Garfield's boss is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity Gretchen Goode]], known by the heroes to be involved in Metahuman Trafficking. This means the money she pays Garfield is being used to undermine her and her allies in the Light.
155	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheTeamBenefactor