Summary
- Harry Potter’s sudden wealth came from a family inheritance dating back to the 12th-Century, when his ancestor invented magical potions.
- Despite his newfound riches, Harry remained humble and focused on his needs rather than extravagant desires.
- Harry used his wealth for good and appreciated what was passed down to him, even splurging on treats for himself and his friends on the Hogwarts Express.
In 1997, when J.K. Rowling’s first novel introduced the Wizarding World, readers, much like Harry Potter, were completely captivated by the magic and possibilities that had long been kept secret from Muggles. From terrifying mythical creatures and potions proving to be real to schools teaching young witches and wizards how to harness their magic, it felt like a dream come true for many. Four years later, Rowling would get an even larger fan base as a movie adaptation of her first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, would hit theaters, and children and adults alike would dive into the mystical world.
While Harry was still trying to understand his true identity as a wizard and getting shuffled around Diagon Alley by Hagrid, another piece of information was casually dropped into his lap that sent him into shock: he was rich. Hagrid took Harry to Vault 687 at Gringotts Wizarding Bank and revealed more galleons (wizard gold) than Harry had ever seen in his lifetime. After nearly 10 years of living in a broom closet underneath the staircase at his aunt and uncle’s house and practically being a servant to his family, Harry could not believe that he was worth so much more.
Upon seeing the pile of coins, fans were happy that Harry would not have to worry about finances while he adjusted to his new life, but many could not help but wonder exactly where his fortune came from. His parents were only 21 years old when they died, and while both were praised for their magical abilities, it did not seem right for them to simply create money to be stored away for their only child. Here is the real reason why Harry Potter had so much money stashed away at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
The Potter Family’s Financial History
To understand how an orphaned boy actually had quite a bit of money saved up that even he did not know about, we are going to have to take a look back a few hundred years to see exactly how Harry’s family members set him up for financial success. According to Rowling’s entry on Wizarding World, Harry’s small fortune dates back all the way to the 12th-Century, when a peculiar man, Linfred of Stinchcombe, lived in the Muggle world and provided non-magical folks with herbs and remedies to cure illnesses. Now, rather than his concoctions simply being made out of things found in a common garden, they were actually magical potions. This occupation led to Linfred having quite the savings on hand, and because people said “he enjoyed pottering about in his garden,” he was also granted the surname “Potter.”
Following his death, Linfred’s finances were dispersed to his seven children, and over the generations, they added to their family wealth. Harry’s paternal grandfather, Fleamont Potter, was the most successful when it came to turning mounds of gold into mountains. According to Rowling’s post, he “took the family gold and quadrupled it” by inventing Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion, a creation that supposedly tamed even the unruliest head of hair. Now, when Fleamont and his wife passed away, James, Harry’s father, was the only one to inherit the fortune as he did not have any brothers or sisters.
How Was Harry Potter so Rich?
Given that a war was going on when Lily and James left Hogwarts, not a lot has been said about their occupations after graduation other than they were a part of the Order of the Phoenix. They could have lived off James’ inheritance, even with a baby in the mix, for quite some time, but unfortunately, they never got that chance. After Harry’s parents were murdered by Lord Voldemort, he inherited everything. However, since he was just a year old at the time, and sent to live in the Muggle world, he didn’t have much need for gold coins.
After 10 rough years of living with his cruel family in Little Whinging, Harry found himself standing in the doorway to his vault with Hagrid and a goblin, staring at hundreds of gold coins. Rather than going crazy at the realization that he could buy anything he wanted, Harry maturely stuck to his list of school supplies as he and Hagrid made their way around Diagon Alley. It’s humbling to see how a boy who grew up within nearly nothing still only focused on the things he needed rather than what he may have wanted. Then again, all Harry ever wanted was to feel loved by family and friends, and certain individuals made sure that would seldom happen.
Harry’s fortunes sadly increased just a few years later when his godfather, Sirius Black, was murdered. It was stated in Sirius’ will that all of his money, possessions, and the Black estate went to his one and only godson. Harry would have much rather had Sirius in his life than any of his worldly possessions, but alas, it seemed to be a sad routine for the young wizard.
How Harry’s Wealth Affected Him
When Harry discovered he had quite a bit of money to his name, he did not go crazy like one would expect of the average child. Instead, he knew he needed to appreciate what was passed down to him by his parents and use it for good. His first splurge did not happen until he was on the train to Hogwarts when the snack trolley came around. Harry saw Ron’s disappointed look when he said he did not need anything because he already had a homemade snack, so Harry took a handful of coins out of his pocket and declared, “We’ll take the lot.” Harry and his new friend then enjoyed the rest of the journey with plenty of sweet and salty treats to keep them occupied.
During his time at Hogwarts, Harry never flaunted his wealth. In fact, he seemed to find very little use for his money aside from buying school supplies. When Harry was with the Weasleys, who were not as well off, he seemed the happiest because they were rich in love (largely thanks to Molly Weasley’s warmth). At the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, which is set 19 years after the final battle with Lord Voldemort, it is revealed that Harry and Ginny have three children. Fans can imagine that Harry, who became an Auror, and Ginny, who spent several years as a professional Quidditch player, have enough saved to ensure their children will be well off in the future if they so need the help. Stream all Harry Potter movies on Max
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
