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Billionaire hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Damien Lewis) is the latest in a long tradition of ridiculously rich television characters. If you like watching rich folks, remember these TV shows and films that came before.
DALLAS (1978-1991) J.R. Ewing
Oil, cattle, Texas, big hats, big hair, white smiles, white lies and lots of stinking rich, white folks. “A conscience is like a boat or a car. If you feel you need one, rent it,” said J.R. Ewing to his lawyer and lover, Anita Smithfield. JR: Got shot. Survived. RIP Larry Hagman.
DYNASTY (1981-1989)
Blake Carrington
If you said “Colby” to most people now, they’d think you were talking about cheese. And you couldn’t get more cheesy than the Colbys — and the Carringtons — on Dynasty. Just as Dynasty was the Pepsi to Dallas’ Coca-Cola, Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) stood forever in the shadow of his fellow oil titan J.R. Although not quite as evil, Carrington certainly had his moments of villainy. Played by Grant Show (Melrose Place) in the current Dynasty reboot.
THE SIMPSONS (1989-)
Mr Burns
Nuclear energy magnate Mr Burns, voiced by Harry Shearer on iconic animated hit The Simpsons, has relentlessly evil intentions that often go unfulfilled. Gets his ice shipped in from the Arctic. Once blocked out the sun.
EAT THE RICH (1987)
Miranda Richardson, Bill Wyman, Robbie Coltrane and Dawn French are among the stellar cast. Also includes Jools Holland and Koo Stark — remember her? She once went out with Prince Andrew. A chef falls on hard times and decides to cook . . . you guessed it.
WALL STREET (1987)
Gordon Gekko
Corporate raiders, unscrupulous stock brokers and the mantra “greed is good”. Gordon Gekko is so 80s and so now also. Oliver Stone’s critically acclaimed movie is a classic and it won Best Actor Oscar for Michael Douglas. It starred a young James Spader. It earned $43.8 million at the box office. Ca-ching.
THE O.C (2003-2007)
First world teen problems in Orange County. Outsiders struggle to cope in ritzy Newport Beach. A cultural phenom. Also memorably featured New Zealand. Sort of: Summer Roberts: “Remember when the boys made us watch that movie about the gay guys on the mountain?” Marissa Cooper: “Lord of the Rings?”
DOWNTON ABBEY (2010-2015)
Writer Julian Fellowes created a gem, featuring toffs in gorgeous costumes, grappling with politics and war (and that’s just the help!) Chronicled the demise of the aristocracy, old bean. Won a stack of awards.
EMPIRE (2015-)
A family fights for their right to party with the empire’s fortune. Hip-hop, Taraji P. Henson and . . . the bling!
BATMAN (1966-68)
A billionaire industrialist played by Adam West in the original Batman series, Bruce Wayne was the toast of the Gotham City social scene, despite rarely ever being seen in the clubs. Lived with a younger man named Dick.
THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (1962-1971)
A humble backwoodsman who hit the big time when after striking oil in his Tennessee swamp, Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen) subsequently moved to California, where his new life was chronicled in The Beverly Hillbillies. A constant source of stress for his bank manager, who lived next door.
Sarah Daniell and Dominic Corry