December 13th marks the release of The Hobbit sequel, The Desolation of Smaug. As much as it seems like the dragon Smaug will be the focus of this Lord of the Rings film, when J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the books, he hardly included any details about the dragon. To give you some background on the fearsome Smaug, FinancesOnline.com put together this fantastic infographic.
The dragon hoards an impressive collection of gold and valuables like "The Arkenstone," a Dwarven heirloom that is especially precious to Thorin. With items like this in his collection, it’s no surprise that Smaug was among this year’s list of '15 Richest Fictional Characters' by Forbes.
If Smaug was to be compared to someone in the real world, his net worth is just behind that of Bill Gates — which makes Smaug a very rich and powerful dragon.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Dragon-themed Merchandise
- Opportunity for businesses to capitalize on the popularity of dragons by creating and selling dragon-themed merchandise.
- Movie Tie-in Products
- Opportunity for companies to create and market products related to popular movies, such as The Hobbit franchise.
- Celebrity Wealth Infographics
- Opportunity for websites and publications to create infographics showcasing the wealth of fictional characters, celebrities, and public figures.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Retail
- Disruptive innovation opportunity for retail businesses to tap into the dragon-themed merchandise market.
- Entertainment
- Disruptive innovation opportunity for entertainment companies to develop and promote movie tie-in products.
- Media
- Disruptive innovation opportunity for media outlets to create and publish infographics that highlight the wealth of various individuals and fictional characters.
