Whatever happened to Darth Vader's wealth?

I just got finished rereading the book "Shadows of the Empire", and the paragraph that mentions Vader's wealth caught my attention. In it Xizor is referring to Vader's endless supply of credits, which he seeming never really uses, he doesn't seem the type to treasure wealth.

I've also read other references to his wealth, art collection, etc.


So did his children use it to help fund the New Rebellion, or is it what they are partially living off of now?

 

I bet the Empire seized them. Greedy Warlords and Moffs hoarding what they could in the confusion after Endor. Or maybe they're hidden somewhere - Vader's lost treasure!

 

Well, I guess they were taken by the Empire, or the NR. I doubt Luke and Leia would want them.

I doubt that Vader didn't use any of his money. I mean, he gave up everything for this post, so why wouldn't he enjoy it? I bet he was an avid golfer, spent it in strip clubs, and on "girls", on toys, (like ships, speeders) rock'n'roll...

As well as his penchant for whipping up something in the kitchen, his Cruesette collection was second to none baby! You know how much that costs?



Vader's a multi-faceted individual. No one really know him that well.

 

His account on Aargau?

 

hey guys this may be a little off topic but could you pivture vader drunk? he could be like a violent drunk.

 

Wow... That was so off-topic...

 

I just got finished rereading the book "Shadows of the Empire", and the paragraph that mentions Vader's wealth caught my attention. In it Xizor is referring to Vader's endless supply of credits, which he seeming never really uses, he doesn't seem the type to treasure wealth.

Always figured Vader's wealth was the Empire's wealth. Or else he's accumulated a private fortune by being a Sith Lord by day and the head of software giant by night.

 

Is it possible that he was an art fan, and some of his collection wound up in Thrawn's hands? Anakin always struck me as an art-lover.

And I think the buttons on the front are the refrigerator controls for his vodka.

 

Where the heck would Anakin Skywalker get wealth??? He was a slave, then he went into a big collective called the Jedi where they give you what you need and no pay. Then he went to work for the Empire where I'll bet they again give you all you need and no pay. Don't make no sense!

 

That might be what's meant by his wealth. He probably has unlimited access to Imperial credits. It's not as though many people would notice, considering how many quadrillions of credits the Empire had.

Maybe he has a giant vault like Scrooge McDuck

 

Wow, that's what I get for starting a thread on Sunday. Everyone over 13 is out doing other things.



He had wealth. It says so in a few different books in the EU.

And why in the name of both Sith would he work for nothing? Did Thrawn? And why would it be the Empire's money? It said in SOTE he had amassed a personal fortune on the side.



And Luke sure took his castle in the BFC.

 

I doubt that he used his wealth much.

 

Who knows? Is it possible that Darth Vader had a salary? He sure was dedicated to his job, carrying out the Emperor's will, subjugating worlds, attending military conferences, managing slaves at the Death Star, training the Emperor's Dark Jedi, attending social conventions, etc...

Now that you look at it, Vader probably did get some sort of salary. He obviously had enough money to post personal bounties for Luke Skywalker and a whole bunch of wanted men. Or perhaps he invested what he had in the Imperial Stock Market and using insider tips (Jedi mind trick? Intimidation?) he got himself a fortune. He also would have confiscated the possessions of the Jedi, dignitaries, politicians he killed.

As for the fortune, I would bet that Vader's Palace on Coruscant (adjacent to the Imperial Palace) was simply renamed as another extension of the Imperial Palace following his death. His treasures would have been confiscated by the Empire and most likely divided among the moffs and other officials.

His bank account on the other hand, may have remained with the Bank of Aargau. Perhaps Luke or Leia inherited it. They sure seem to have a limitless supply of funds. Just where do you think Luke gets the money to maintain the Jedi Academy (food, basic materials, medical supplies, etc...) or to purchase 50 XJ3 X-Wing fighters for the Jedi force? Han and Leia live in the luxurious top levels of Coruscant, something which requires extreme amounts of wealth. Leia's Alderaan fortune was probably almost completely exhausted by giving donations to the Alderaan survivors and the Rebel Alliance.

 

Wow, that's what I get for starting a thread on Sunday. Everyone over 13 is out doing other things.

While a 34-yr-old is thinking up threads asking the important question about a quick SOTE reference? Ah, just kidding

And why in the name of both Sith would he work for nothing? Did Thrawn? And why would it be the Empire's money?

Because both Sith basically can do what they like with government funds, seeing as how they, y'know, lead the Empire.

 

Don't forget that Vader liked to research things. The experiments on Falleen, the Darktrooper project, elements of the TIE Advanced design, even the Kadril pacifog and kundi stones were all little side projects of Vader's. It wouldn't surprise me if the results of Vader's other, more sucessful projects, could have earned him some some serious credits. Vader also personally ruled over a number of worlds, including Skye and several worlds in the Bright Jewel Oversector. Much of his wealth could have come from tributes paid to him.

TC

 

Actually, I can't really imagine why Anakin wouldn't acquire wealth. Think about it: I'm sure his position in the Empire would lead to him having access to a lot of resources, but Anakin's upbringing (slave - > ascetic monk) probably lead to him having frugal tastes.

A few areas I can imagine him spending money:

a) Machinery, (like his tie fighter)
b) Artwork that would remind him of Naboo (can't see him wanting to be reminded of Tatooine however)

 

What do you mean, where did he get his wealth? He's a Sith Lord; he'll take what he wants.

The Jedi had bank accounts worth untold billions of ingots donated by interested groups across the galaxy to fund their activities . . .

 

Dosent Luke state something to the following effect, possibly in one of the later (chronologically) Bantam books.


Something on the lines how people expect him to be rich, but he leads a humble existence, and saving the galaxy dosen't exactly pay well!

 

Makes you wonder which other Imperials had their own private fortunes?

 

Don't forget that Vader liked to research things. The experiments on Falleen, the Darktrooper project, elements of the TIE Advanced design, even the Kadril pacifog and kundi stones were all little side projects of Vader's. It wouldn't surprise me if the results of Vader's other, more sucessful projects, could have earned him some some serious credits. Vader also personally ruled over a number of worlds, including Skye and several worlds in the Bright Jewel Oversector. Much of his wealth could have come from tributes paid to him.

Thanks, Quentin and Talon, for well the mature, well-thought out posts. That was my question too, why wouldn't he have wealth? Usually with power comes some kind of wealth, even if it is in the fringes. I know he had more power financially in the EU than was shown in the movies. He was certainly the most influencial and powerful next to the Emperor, even more so than Thrawn, Xizor and the like. And since its stated explicitly that he did have massive wealth, is there ever any mention of what is done with the money? Or is it just blown up on Coruscant in the YV invasion?


Wow, that's what I get for starting a thread on Sunday. Everyone over 13 is out doing other things.

While a 34-yr-old is thinking up threads asking the important question about a quick SOTE reference? Ah, just kidding

Ninety percent of the questions in here are questions about a quick reference, wouldn't you agree? Otherwise, where would you go to ask the question, to George? Ah, just kidding.

 

His bank account on the other hand, may have remained with the Bank of Aargau. Perhaps Luke or Leia inherited it. They sure seem to have a limitless supply of funds. Just where do you think Luke gets the money to maintain the Jedi Academy (food, basic materials, medical supplies, etc...) or to purchase 50 XJ3 X-Wing fighters for the Jedi force? Han and Leia live in the luxurious top levels of Coruscant, something which requires extreme amounts of wealth. Leia's Alderaan fortune was probably almost completely exhausted by giving donations to the Alderaan survivors and the Rebel Alliance.

This is what I think.

Luke gave Mara the ship she has. It had to be paid for sometime. (I'd rather they had their father's money than tax payers. I would my tax dollars to be spend on a present for a semi-official governmental person's wifey. That is corruption, in my eyes.)

Luke and Leia should have their own money.
I would imagine that Leia's tenure as COS has benefits, like the pensions our beaurocrats get. So she earned that. Han and Lando did some stuff. Mara was some kind of business owner. So they all have money from somewhere. I don't know where Luke gets money, but it must be from donations of people sympathetic to Jedi.

 

Vader's wealth was probably siezed by the New Republic if the revolution's results were anything like our own. Vader and other Imperials likely acquired their wealth by siezing it and thus the New Republic would no doubt use it to either defray the costs of their operations or to pay reparations to his victims (Falleen?)

Actually, most likely Vader's wealth dissapeared long before Luke and Leia ever got a chance to get at I'm afraid. Darth Vader's true identity as the former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker likely did not come out until Heir to the Empire with the Noghri.

In that five years time Darth Vader has been dead for quite some time, Luke is an outlaw for 4 years of it and DV is unlikely to have a 'last will and testament'

Thus like with most estates with no clear heir, the money was probably taken by the government. Unless Vader had false names (unlikely) for his fortune, the Empire no doubt siezed it. For specific items that Vader owned like the Crown Jewels of Alderaan, it is likely they could be (were L&L so inclined) returned to them with some legal work.

Vader's estates are Luke's property provided no one else contests them such as the Palace on Coruscant or Bast but I doubt anyone really wants them.

As for what sorts of businesses Darth Vader runs its entirely possible that DV has been rewarded with "fringe benefits" as part of his position as an advisor of the courts. Even if I doubt Vader is the type to be impressed with bribery its quite likely he presented with titanic numbers of gifts in attempts to persuade him to look favorable on the various individuals involved.

DV also nationalized many corporations and planetary governments as stated as well. While I doubt it was really a MAIN concern, Anakin would like OWNING things and the idea he simply declared himself the majority stock holder for anyone he siezed the wealth/operations of isn't that difficult to believe.

Certainly he loved his TIE fighters and might have been an unofficial board member of Sienner or even Kuat. Like the Emperor he also may have recieved personal tribute from the Corporate Sector.

 

I imagine that Vader's wealth was siezed by the Empire upon his death, especially after his role in the Emperor's death was made public by the Alliance. Whatever remained or was reclaimed by the NR was probably donated to the planets upon which he perpetrated his greatest attrocities (Falleen, Belderone, etc.)
As for where the OT heroes get their credits: Luke's Jedi Academy was subsidized by the New Republic Senate (see JAT:Jedi Search). This probably included starships, plus we know that certain wealthy private citizens donated credits and ships to the Jedi (such as the people that donated the ship Kyp Durron used in JAT:Leviathan; Luke said they did so in gratitude for Obi-Wan Kenobi saving them in the Clone Wars). Luke sold his late uncle's moisture farm but I don't think it would amount to that much. Leia probably drew a salary whenever she held an official post in the NR government and probably continued to draw one until the fall of the NR. Whatever property her family owned off Alderaan was probably given up to be used by the survivors. The fact is that most of the people probably make money the way that retired politicians and war heroes make money here on Earth. They give interviews, are paid to appear as public speakers at graduations and other events, and write their memoirs. We know that both Finis Valorum and Nute Gunray did this after TPM but before AOTC (HNN) and in early drafts of ANH Luke knew of Obi-Wan from his memoir of the Clone Wars. All the EGTC have qoutes from the Big 3 as if they were interviewed.

 

Luke also no doubt derives a pension as a former General in the New Republic.

Anyone have any idea what a General's pension is in the armed forces?

 

OK, can I just say congrats, rhonderoo! I wish I had something useful to add, but sadly I don't. However, I've asked this question a few places, including on these boards, and never gotten a useful reply. Glad to see someone is making progress on issues concerning Vader's fortune. OK, rant over- you may now return to your regularly scheduled topic lol!


JD.