Being a superhero (or villain) doesn't come cheap. Maintaining their endeavors requires quite a bit of funds. They need to pay for their custom costumes with built-in bulletproof capabilities, state-of-the-art hi-tech gadgetry, armored vehicles, and a headquarters to keep it all housed in.

It's not like superheroes can work a standard 9-to-5 job when they need that time to save as many people as possible. That's why so many heroes happen to be multi-billion dollar business owners before taking up the hero life. DC Comics is filled with billionaires turned heroes (or villains), each using their resources to shape the world as they see fit.

Updated by Sage Ashford on January 31st 2023: This list has been updated to contain more information on the DC Universe's richest individuals.

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15 Star Sapphire Spends Her Time In The Stars But Still Manages A Successful Business

First Appearance:

Showcase #22

Creative Team:

John Broome, Gil Kane, Joe Giella, Gaspar Saladino

Net Worth:

~$1 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Ferris Air

People often forget about Ferris Aircraft, the experimental aircraft manufacturer that once employed Hal Jordan, aka the first Green Lantern Corps member of Earth. Ferris Air is one of the leading aircraft manufacturers on Earth and has had several government contracts.

Carol Ferris inherited the company from her father, and Ferris Air could be compared to an aircraft firm like Boeing in the real world. The current CEO of Boeing is worth about 20 million, but he isn't the sole inheritor of his company like Carol is. Boeing itself is worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Hard numbers are difficult to come by, but it can be safely assumed that if Ferris Air is the Boeing of the DC Universe, Carol Ferris is worth at least a billion — despite her adventures as the head of one of the Star Sapphire Lantern Corps.

14 Power Girl Was A Major Business Rival For Other Well-Known DC Heroes

Power Girl tearing open a wall in DC Comics

First Appearance:

All-Star Comics Vol. 1 #58

Creative Team:

Gerry Conway, Ric Estrada, Wally Wood

Net Worth:

$1 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Starrware Industries

Power Girl of the Justice Society started her own technology firm in the pre-Flashpoint DC Universe, and this was more-or-less continued in the New 52 when she and the Huntress came over to Prime Earth from Earth-2. In some of Power Girl's comics, readers learned she had dealings with Holt Industries. DC Comics never stated how much she's worth, but comic readers could assume she was on the same level as Holt.

Some of Power Girl's wealth came from some of the various alien and advanced tech caches that she and Huntress raided after their journey from Earth-2. Karen Starr returned to Earth-2 with the Huntress, abandoning her company. These days, Power Girl employs another identity by the name of Paige Stetler, but it's unclear if she has connections with her old company or if she has access to the same resources.

13 Mr. Terrific Remains One Of The Biggest Inventors In The DC Universe

Mr. Terrific making a somber expression while standing in the dark in DC Comics

First Appearance:

Spectre Vol. 3 #54

Creative Team:

John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake, Carla Feeny, Todd Klein

Net Worth:

$1 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Holt Industries, Terrifitech

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Michael Holt is an Olympic gold medal winner, has 14 Ph.Ds, and is a brilliant inventor. He accomplished all these milestones before he became Mr. Terrific. The third-smartest man in the world made his fortune with Holt Industries (or HoltCorp), a high-tech company he founded.

Mr. Terrific eventually sold his company to Waynetech, earning himself even more money. Mr. Terrific is a hero known for his gadgets, most notably his T-Spheres and T-Mask. If he focused on his tech more than being a hero, he'd produce an even greater profit. Still, he continues to work with several major companies, and expanding Terrifictech because he can't stop creating.

12 Ra's Al Ghul Spends Most Of His Time Trying To Take Over The World

Ra's al Ghul standing proud against a pale sky in DC Comics

First Appearance:

Batman Vol. 1 #232

Creative Team:

Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, John Costanza

Net Worth:

$1 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Immortality, Running an international assassin ring

Basically immortal, Ra's al Ghul has had several lifetimes to build his vast wealth. Doing so has allowed him to fund the League of Assassins, a group of the most talented killers and best Batman villain alliances in the world. When he's not forming secret assassin organizations, he's spent his many lifetimes collecting jewels, treasures, priceless art, and antiques.

Perhaps Ra's al Ghul's greatest treasure is the Lazarus Pit, the means by which he gains his immortality. Thanks to his access to that, Ra's has had hundreds of years to increase the size of his personal fortune. Still, Ra's cares less about his fortune and more about achieving his aims of world domination.

11 Vandal Savage Has Built Fortunes Several Times Throughout Human History

Vandal Savage makes an arrogant grin while holding up a chalice to drink from

First Appearance:

Green Lantern Vol. 1 #10

Creative Team:

Alfred Bester, Martin Nodell

Net Worth:

$2 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Immortality

Vandal Savage, like Ra's al Ghul, is an immortal who has had countless lifetime's worth of time to amass a huge amount of wealth. Vandal Savage was born Vandar Adg, a Cro-Magnon who gained immortality from a mysterious meteor. He's had several millennia to find his fortune.

While many sources state that his wealth is immeasurable, the closest number puts Vandal Savage's wealth at approximately $2 billion. With that much money, he's been able to do whatever he wants in the world. In recent comics, Savage's taken up residence in Gotham City, and even acquired Bruce Wayne's Wayne Manor from him.

10 Maxwell Lord Would Rather Have Behind The Scenes Power

Maxwell Lord smirking while declaring that he's about to save the world.

First Appearance:

Justice League Vol. 1 #1

Creative Team:

Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, Terry Austin, Gene D'Angelo, Bob Lappan

Net Worth:

$3.8 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Inherited From His Father

Maxwell Lord is one of the most dangerous supervillains in the DC Universe. He comes up with over-the-top schemes like turning the Justice League into a team that has power across multiple nations and throws money at his problems until they go away.

Though Maxwell Lord was born into money, thanks to having a wealthy businessman as a father, he successfully ran the international organization known as Checkmate. Along with his wealth, Lord also uses his psychic powers of persuasion to commit nefarious acts. Whatever wealth he couldn't attain on his own, he can obtain with his powers.

9 Sapphire Stagg Took Over From Her Father

Sapphire Stagg telling the Terrifics to investigate a meteor in DC Comics

First Appearance:

The Brave and the Bold Vol. 1 #57

Creative Team:

Bob Haney, Ramona Fradon, Charles Paris

Net Worth:

$4 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Stagg Enterprises

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Stagg Enterprises was once a major business run by businessman Simon Stagg. Stagg Enterprises had its hands into every kind of business, but specialized in Research and Development. Simon lost his life in an issue of The Terrifics, passing the company to his son Sebastian. After Sebastian revealed himself as a supervillain, though, the business reverted to Sapphire Stagg.

Sapphire gained fame for being Justice Leaguer Metamorpho's girlfriend. However, their relationship has experienced a drastic change these days, since Sapphire is now one of the richest people on the planet. Still, considering Sapphire stayed by Rex's side even after his transformation, the two are likely to remain just as close even now that she's a billionaire.

8 Blue Beetle Used His Genius To Make Himself A Billionaire

Ted Kord aka Blue Beetle emerging from a portal in DC Comics

First Appearance:

Captain Atom Vol. 1 #83

Creative Team:

David Kaler, Steve Ditko, Rocke Mastroserio, Herb Field

Net Worth:

$5 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Kord Industries

Brilliant scientists using their genius to build corporations and make billions is a pretty common occurrence in DC Comics. Ted Kord reluctantly took control of Kord Industries following the death of his father and uses the business to invent and experiment on new tech that he uses as Blue Beetle.

In the Infinite Frontier era, Ted Kord is once again the head of Kord Industries. The company develops a lot of technology, and it relies on Ted's genius to do so. Of course, the problem is Ted frequently spends far too much time being a superhero and not enough time running his business.

7 Green Arrow Tried To Give Away His Fortune To Help People

First Appearance:

More Fun Comics Vol. 1 #73

Creative Team:

Mort Weisinger, George Papp

Net Worth:

$7 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Queen Industries

Oliver Queen was already fortunate enough to be born into the billion-dollar corporate dynasty, Queen Industries, but he also spends his days saving people as the Green Arrow. In a world filled with God-like beings, Green Arrow faces danger with nothing but a bow and arrow, and his own skills.

Sure, Oliver has lost and recovered his fortune multiple times. But when he has his wealth, he's using it, and his position as CEO of Queen Industries, to help the less fortunate without any ulterior motives. He's also been the face of his company's tech division, Q-Corp, in order to lend them more credibility.

6 Ozymandias Is The Epitome Of A Self-Made Man

Ozymandias ponders something with a look of surprise on his face in DC Comics

First Appearance:

Watchmen Vol. 1 #1

Creative Team:

Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, John Higgins

Net Worth:

$7 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Veidt Enterprises

Like some of the other entries on this list, Adrian Veidt was born into a wealthy family, but what makes him interesting is the fact that he gave away his entire inheritance to charity. Starting with nothing, Adrian then used his extraordinary levels of IQ and intelligence to become even wealthier than he was before.

Veidt is the smartest man on the planet, runs a multi-billion-dollar corporation, and uses his money for the greater good. If it wasn't for his murder of over three million people in New York City, Adrian Veidt's story would have been one of inspiration.

5 Bruce's Children Benefit From Bruce's Planning

Batman and the Bat-Family pose for a photo

Net Worth:

$10 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Bruce's Will

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Being Batman is a dangerous job. Bruce Wayne could die at any point, and that wealth has to go somewhere. When exploring his children's wealth, the concept doesn't take into account someone like Catwoman, Batwoman, Huntress, Azrael, Batwing, or Lucius Fox, or if Alfred Pennyworth may come back from the dead at some point. This only concerns the wards or semi-wards that Batman has taken on over the years. Bruce Wayne's net worth is no longer the same. However, it's not unlike him to have already planned ahead. If he were to pass, it's likely the Bat-Family would receive his fortune, without the same attention that would be on it if Bruce were to take it back himself.

Presuming the entire Bat-Family were to receive money equally, then each one would likely receive something in the $10 billion range if Batman fell in battle. Again, this is theoretical and would probably be a little less after certain legal factors are accounted for. Regardless, that still makes Nightwing, Batgirl, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, and the others some of the richest teens/twenty-somethings in the world.

4 Black Adam Is The Ruler Of An Entire Nation

Black Adam With Lightning Coming Out Of His Eyes And Fingers

First Appearance:

The Marvel Family Vol. 1 #1

Creative Team:

Otto Binder, C.C. Beck, Pete Costanza

Net Worth:

$12 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

Kahndaq's resources and oil reserves

People often forget that Black Adam is the ruler of a fairly powerful nation in the Middle East. Kahndaq is a nation with oil and a rich and deep ancient history, both of which it's largely been able to preserve thanks to its relentless defender, Black Adam.

On top of that, Black Adam is the totalitarian ruler of Kahndaq and has personal access to all of its resources. While it may not be as wealthy as America or a European nation, it still sits on a decent amount of wealth, all of which technically belongs to Black Adam.

3 Lex Luthor Has Been Forced To Transform His Company Into Something New

Lex Luthor smiling as he holds a Superman action figure in DC Comics

First Appearance:

Action Comics Vol. 1 #23

Creative Team:

Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Paul Cassidy

Net Worth:

$75 Billion

Source Of Wealth:

LexCorp (now SuperCorp)

Lex is worth quite a bit more than some of the other billionaires in the DC Universe, but with good reason. Lex Luthor is a self-made billionaire businessman, inventor, philanthropist, and arch-nemesis of Superman. Scheming to take down Superman, Lex Luthor often builds powerful armors to deal help fight the Man of Steel.

Luthor has a stake in just about everything, using his fortune to fund foundations, charities, aerospace engineering, oil, real estate ventures, and even his successful presidential campaign. More recently, he's transformed his business into something different now that he's in prison. LexCorp has transformed into SuperCorp, and is completely devoted to Superman's goals of making Metropolis better. Despite being in prison, Lex Luthor serves in an advisory capacity.

2 Nightwing Has Vowed To Spend His Money To Help People

First Appearance:

Detective Comics Vol. 1 #38

Creative Team:

Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson

Net Worth:

~$100 Million

Source Of Wealth:

Inheritance From Alfred

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Nightwing has always been a child of privilege since he was adopted by Bruce Wayne. Recently, though, he fell into his own fortune, separate from Bruce Wayne's. During his time in Bludhaven, Dick received a letter informing him he'd received an inheritance directly from Alfred. As it turns out, Alfred had been saving up money for years on top of making smart investments, making him a billionaire. He only continued to work for Bruce out of love and a belief that he was needed.

With Nightwing having this money, he's officially got as much financial power as Bruce once did. Unlike Bruce, though, Dick Grayson has chosen to give it all away. He's pouring his billions into making the city of Bludhaven better, starting with building a new Titans Tower there to protect people.

1 Aquaman Rules Over Most Of The Planet

Aquaman holding his trident as the waves crash behind him in DC Comics

First Appearance:

More Fun Comics Vol. 1 #73

Creative Team:

Mort Weisenger, Paul Norris

Net Worth:

$150 Trillion

Source Of Wealth:

Rules Over The Seven Seas

It might be surprising to learn Aquaman is the richest of them all, but it makes sense on several levels. As the king of Atlantis, Aquaman rules over 70% of the Earth's surface and technically owns everything within the seven seas. That means all the gold, oil, diamonds, rubies, etc. yet to be found in the ocean belongs to him.

In shipwreck treasure alone, Aquaman estimates he has $60 billion. Meanwhile, there's an amount of gold in the oceans that approaches $150 trillion in value based on the value of gold per ounce. In other words, Aquaman is easily the wealthiest hero in the DC Universe. However, he's so modest he never tries to flaunt it.