According to Forbes, Mr. Burns, the wealthiest man in Springfield from “The Simpsons,” has an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion.
Created by Matt Groening, “The Simpsons” debuted in 1989 and has since then become one of the longest-running shows in television history. The animated series satirizes American life through the lens of the Simpson family – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Originally introduced as a series of shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show (1987),” it quickly evolved into a primetime phenomenon.
Throughout the years, “The Simpsons” earned numerous prestigious accolades, including more than thirty Primetime Emmy Awards and Annie Awards. Beyond its entertainment value, the show has also developed a reputation for uncanny predictions. From Donald Trump’s presidency and Disney’s acquisition of Fox to breakthroughs in space tourism and Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show, the series predicted events years before they occurred. A beloved cartoon and an unexpected oracle of modern times, “The Simpsons” recently aired its 36th season.
Who is Mr. Burns in The Simpsons?
Charles Montgomery Burns is a symbol of unrestrained affluence and power. As Springfield’s richest and most influential citizen, his history is shrouded in mysteries. He has been shown as a child named “Happy” with a beloved teddy bear named Bobo, a Yale graduate, a member of the Skull and Bones society, a Nazi defector, a bioterrorist, a war veteran, and the founder of the Springfield Nuclear Plant.
These inconsistencies regarding his background align with the show's refusal to conform to linear storytelling. Groening reportedly based Burns’ body language on a praying mantis and his personality on oil baron John D. Rockefeller and the banker from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Henry Potter. While his first name is a nod to “Citizen Kane (1941),” his middle and last names were inspired by a literal burning cabin near a Montgomery Ward store from Groening’s childhood.
How rich is Mr. Burns in The Simpsons?
Mr. Burns’ fortune, estimated at $1.3 billion, originates from a combination of inheritance and business ventures. As a child, he was the second youngest of twelve siblings. However, his life changed drastically once he moved to live with his grandfather, Colonel Wainwright Montgomery Burns, a former slaveholder and wealthy billionaire. Upon his grandfather’s death, Burns inherited the vast fortune, laying the initial foundation for his wealth.
His net worth has also periodically varied, with it being evaluated at $16.8 billion in 2006, then dropping to $8.4 billion in 2007, and then eventually exiting the Billionaire Camp with $996 million in 2008. Beyond his inheritance, Burns expanded his empire through the ownership of numerous businesses, including the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, the Springfield Concert Hall, and even a Germ Warfare Laboratory. Additionally, he also gained profits by owning the rights to the popular song “White Christmas.”
FAQs about The Simpsons
A. American actor, comedian, musician, and writer Harry Shearer voices Mr. Burns in “The Simpsons.”
A. American actor Don Castellaneta voices Homer Simpson in “The Simpsons.”
A. The characters were reportedly colored bright yellow to catch viewers’ attention while surfing through channels.
