Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-comic-book-opened-to-a-page-of-comics-ToT8CZj9LRs
Neurosurgeon Hush (Dr. Thomas Elliot) ranks as the wealthiest supervillain based on an estimated salary of $348,890 per annum
Surgeon The Lizard (Dr Kurt Connors) ranks second, with pro athlete Bullseye ranking third, taking home estimated wages of $343,990 and $328,880 per annum, respectively
Deathstroke (Slade Wilson) places bottom with an estimated salary of $34,987 per annum in their “day job” as a soldier
With Comic-Con Manchester kicking off across the pond next week, hordes of superheroes, and villains, will descend upon Bowlers Exhibition Centre for an action-packed weekend of fandom and cosplay as the comic book community comes together to pay homage to their favourite stars.
In comic book lore, supervillains often stand as the antithesis of their heroic counterparts, wielding power, influence, and immense wealth. However, beyond their villainous escapades, these antagonists are also titans of industry, masters of the corporate world, or, in some cases, janitors.
A new study conducted by online gaming experts SolitaireBliss analyzed official salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the wealthiest comic book supervillains based on their current or former real-world professions.
Ranking first on the rich list is Hush (Dr. Thomas Elliot), with an estimated salary of $348,890 per annum as a Neurosurgeon.
A former childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, Elliot is one of Batman’s most formidable adversaries, with the ability to masquerade as other people due to his surgical prowess. As a highly skilled neurosurgeon, Elliot has a reputation as one of Gotham’s most brilliant minds, and his talents would see him amass considerable wealth regardless of his status as a supervillain.
The Lizard (Dr. Kurt Connors) places second on the list, with an estimated salary of $343,990 per annum as a Surgeon.
While not specializing specifically in neuroscience, Dr. Kurt Connors would likely earn slightly less than Dr. Thomas Elliot in the real world. The Lizard is one of the most complex and sympathetic figures in the Marvel Universe, navigating the harrowing balance between his identity as a dedicated surgeon and a formidable adversary to Spider-man as his monstrous alter-ego, The Lizard.
Placing third on the rich list is Bullseye, with an estimated salary of $328,830 per annum as a Professional Athlete in Baseball.
Known for being one of Daredevil’s most ruthless and enduring foes, Bullseye’s origin story saw him play in a Major League Baseball game after a run of three successful games playing in the Minor Leagues. Bullseye’s fortunes ended abruptly though, and after growing bored during the first game he killed the opposition batter by throwing the ball at his head, exclaiming “bullseye.”
Tied for fourth are Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Green Goblin (Norman Osborne), Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris) and Lex Luthor, with an estimated salary of $258,900 per annum as CEOs.
Fisk as the brutal controller over New York’s underworld, tech mogul Osborn as head of Oscorp, Ferris as the owner of the Ferris Aircraft Company, and Luthor as the CEO of LexCorp, places them third on the list. Whilst their influence and business empires in the comic book universe may well eclipse their real-world estimated annual salary as CEOs, it is still considerable.
Harley Quinn (Dr. Harleen Quinzel) ranks fifth, with an estimated salary of $256,930 per annum as a Psychiatrist.
Dr. Quinzel earned a respectable salary through her ability to understand and treat the minds of Gotham’s most notorious criminals. Her life took a dramatic turn though when she fell under the spell of her infamous patient, the Joker, transforming from a respected mental health professional into the anarchic, unpredictable Harley Quinn.
Placing sixth is General Zod, with an estimated salary of $221,900 per annum as a Military Leader.
As a high-ranking military commander, Zod once enjoyed immense power and prestige, earning a significant salary through his role in defending Krypton. However, his vision for the future extended beyond mere protection. Zod sought absolute control, convinced that his leadership was the key to Krypton’s survival, and ended up posing a serious threat, not only to Superman but to the entire planet.
The Thinker (Clifford DeVoe) ranks seventh, with an estimated salary of $176,470 per annum as a Lawyer.
Several individuals have donned the mantle of The Thinker, but perhaps the most notorious is Clifford DeVoe. Initially a struggling lawyer, DeVoe’s genius for planning and foresight led him to embrace a life of crime, transforming him into one of the most dangerous minds in the DC universe.
Eighth on the list is The Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot), with an estimated salary of $129,330 per annum as a Nightclub Owner.
The Penguin’s ability to blend the elegance of a businessperson with the menace of a supervillain makes him a formidable figure in the Batman universe. The Penguin’s influence in the Gotham underworld is plentiful, and he no doubt earns a lot more from his criminal activities than his ‘civilian’ job role. Cobblepot can often be found orchestrating nefarious criminal activities from his nightclub office.
Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius) places ninth on the list, with an estimated salary of $126,940 per annum as a Nuclear Physicist.
Dr. Octavius’s quest for accolades and acknowledgement, coupled with the physical and psychological impact of his accident, which resulted in a set of prosthetic arms fusing to his spine, propels him into a life of crime where he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most fearsome adversaries.
Rounding off the top ten is Two-Face (Harvey Dent), with an estimated salary of $126,270 per annum as a District Attorney.
During Dent’s early career as a District Attorney, he was dedicated to upholding the law and combating the city’s pervasive corruption alongside allies such as Batman and Commissioner Gordon. However, an accident left his face permanently scarred and his psyche permanently damaged, so Dent turned to a life of crime as Two-Face and ended up turning against those who he had once worked alongside.
