Where does Eggman get his funds from?

[Agent York]

...and it wasn't actually Eggman behind that; rather Neo Metal Sonic.

Paradox time! Metal Sonic even when free still follows his programing and goes out to conquer the world for the Eggman Empire and destroy Sonic. The most evident reason why he probably poses as the doctor, releases his fleet, and continues all of his operations, because though he was betraying Eggman he wasn't betraying his programing and still supporting the Eggman Empire, so Eggman probably still had operations to steal the fluid and Metal sonic was most likely only continuing it. Same with the Casino, Egg Fleet, and more. Metal Sonic was only carrying out the Eggman Empire's business, as his programming instructed. The only thing was that he locked his master away (further evidence he was only doing this to help the Empire, he didn't kill Eggman or anything, he just kinda' locked him away in the flagship) and lured Sonic and friends to destroy them, as his programing instructed. Of course, there may have been some more thought and hatred for defeating him, but in essence all he was doing was what he was made to do, but to an extreme.

Edited November 30, 2009 by Dusk the Christmas Keeper

[eXtaticus]

Yet another storyline loophole caused by Sonic Heroes...

How depressing.

[Icecoldfrieza]

The aristocrats are the source of Robotnik's money.

Anyone who gets that gets a cookie...Anyway, Tails mentioned in ShtH that Eggman steals rings (which are used as currency) from around the world. Perhaps that's how he gets his funds, by stealing.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Icecoldfrieza

[SchemingMinor]

Tsssh. I guess I will have to fill in for Dr. Mechano today with a long-winded Robotnik post (YOU DON'T HOLD UP YOUR END OF THE BARGAIN!)

There are a couple of known sources that Robotnik gets his finances from, namely from the game Sonic Battle.

While I haven't completely played Sonic Battle through yet, I know from various information locales that Robotnik does indeed sell his old models for cash ( but to whom is something I have never found out. I am currently guessing it might be either scrap hounds who use it for nothing more than innocent part collecting for their own projects or undercover G.U.N. agents who purchase them to take apart and study for retaliation against Eggman or to enhance their own robotic militia.) We also know that Robotnik is well....into the seedier aspects of business in Night Babylon as seen here.

Sometimes Night Show is usually a Borax scoured way of just saying "burlesque show" or "adult theater." Notice the hotel within the proximity of the place (We always wondered what Robotnik's night job was. PINGAS galore.)

But joking aside there are other endeavors within the fiscal world of Eggman. In Sonic Riders, we find out that Robotnik owns a company called fitting enough in his glorious ego (and imaginative title we must add) Robotnik Inc. which produces Extreme Gear for all forms; small builds for children, tempered sleek models attuned for the feminine rider, and other models for speed, power, and flight. It is unknown what their line compromises of and their outreach is; Robotnik Inc. could produce much more than entertainment gear. Also to boot, it could be a family owned factory passed down and consists of nepotistic leadership. Later in Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity we find out that a new business is taking the helm of Extreme Gear: Accivice Corp. Here is the thing however, Accivice is probably an offshoot or satellite company of Robotnik Inc. due to the similar gear produced with similar names; if it wasn't, Accivice would be sued in legal action from Robotnik Inc. for trademark infringement. Accivice could be also Robotnik Inc. just listed under another name due to Robotnik himself not having a squeaky clean reputation. Robotnik mentions during his codec for the Mission mode that he wants to study the gear mechanics of Wave for his own company.

Also in this game we have a very unusual company for Robotnik, one that doesn't bear a trademark or hallmark of his overinflated proud ego known as MeteorTech. While we are aware that this was merely a plot to infringe the security barriers of the people and the world in order to take it over, Robotnik did provide for a short time security robots to the world's population.

There is also the case of what his Grandfather Gerald has done. Robotnik does indeed come from what is apparently a very wealthy family gathering from the many inventions that his grandfather created and distributed to the masses; after all scientists don't work for cheap. From Gerald, Ivo Robotnik could also have a hand dipped into the medical profession, supplying Heal Units to various posts and hospitals worldwide. There is also the energy market to be considered since Gerald was the inventor of the Chaos Drives, an apparent green form of energy, probably a sole source what all of the floating cars run on ( but the reason why if this is true, is the question of Robotnik himself not using them to power his own robots.)

Robotnik also has the entertainment markets cornered, providing you take into account the casinos he has. Casino Park in Sonic Heroes is one of Robotnik's bases, but probably also a public park as well. Oil Ocean Zone is another place that is either Robotnik owned or controlled, providing primitive energy sources, which dull in the face of his Grandfather's energy invention. Another mysterious energy source is whether or not Robotnik owns HexEco, an energy fuel plant located within Grand Metropolis ( Metal Sonic probably dictated the planned energy block disguised as Eggman.)

If you think about it, Robotnik might actually have the world by the balls more than he is aware of it.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Kintobor

[Rally the Cheetah]

If you think about it, Robotnik might actually have the world by the balls more than he is aware of it.

I don't know about that, he may have some idea of how much control he has, he just doesn't care. As many mentioned in the Eggman/Robotnik topic a while back Eggman is very childish. It could be he might own billions of dollars but it's just extra fluff to him. Sure maybe he could buy his own country to make Eggmanland but that would take time and would be boring. It'd be much more fun to use the money to buy more awesome casinos or gold statues made in his image, then try to take over the country by invading it with hundreds of robots .

My personal opinion is that Eggman is rather self-sufficient and probably doesn't need much money at all. Why bother with the money making businesses then? Well again it seems all about the "fun".

Reasons for

Casinos: Gambling? Slots? This just reeks of fun times and entertainment. So why not?

Stealing fuel, rings, etc.: Hehe a nice little game of cops and robbers, lets see how much he can take before he's caught.

All the extreme gear: Again, entertainment. They're some nice toys to play with.

The MeteorTech robots: Well I think Eggman himself said he was going to use them to try and take over the world; indeed one of his more sneaky plans that doesnt' seem too fun at first but then again if you think how he's FOOLED EVERYONE then it makes a bit more sense. After all, not even the Babylon Rogues or Tails knew he was the owner of that company. And indeed, it's one of the few times he didn't use his own name in the title. So imagine all the surprise it would have caused if the plan had succeed. The look on all those peoples faces when the robots turned on them. Sonic trying to save the day against an army of robots that the world LET Eggman create in plan sight. It would've been priceless. And indeed Eggman even laughed after he was caught by the heroes because just like he suspected they were shocked.

The Security robots: I think it was mentioned these were all second hand. So I think it's sorta Eggman's way of disposing of his old out of date toys. Also it may give him the opportunity to watch those pesky G.U.N. agents. And heck, even if he is allowing his own technology to be taken by the government, well it's out-of-date and so even if they were used against him he'd just use his better machines to take them out. It's also sorta a way of saying "Ha ha! Look at what I made! GO ahead, study it all you want, you'll never make better."

[Extryn]

I always thought Eggman was a large shareholder of some major companies (with an IQ of 300 I'm sure the stock market would be easy for him to model and predict), which was what allowed him to take them over (for instance MeteoTech, and perhaps even HexaEco.) I'm sure he uses a pseudonym to make sure nobody realises who the person who owns most of their company REALLY is...

On top of that I also support the theory that he owns many businesses in the electronics area as well, on top of having his own mines, refineries and factories.

I never really thought that he could have inherited anything from Gerald but that seems pretty plausible to me as well. My favourite theory that's been mentioned though is that he uses the insurance claim from his destroyed fortresses XD

It would be kind of cool if SEGA made a mention to this in-game, I love sorting out and speculating about all the little technicalities in the canon.

[gato]

HOLAS:

If you think about it, Robotnik might actually have the world by the balls more than he is aware of it.

That's all part of the master plan, what fun would there be in conquer the world without any challenge?

Dr.Eggman - Sonic Unleashed (I Think D:)

BTW; the point is, maybe Eggman knows about his position, but taking the world by making business are boring, he is a men of action!

[Ebby]

I think he owns Starbucks.

*shot*

[SchemingMinor]

I think he owns Starbucks.

*shot*

Nope. He obviously owns Wal-Mart as seen here:

Where else can you get your giant rodent extermination tools?

[BaronSFel001]

There is nothing to indicate that Eggman has ever done anything except gather his own resources. He digs up the raw materials, and his mechs are made on factory productions lines. The more mechs built the more those mechs can build more, exponentially continuing until production is vast (after all, it did not seem to take that long to construct the Death Eggs, the Egg Carriers, and other massive machines of doom). The Sonic Battle situation can be explained by the fact that, while he still had plenty of mechs to spare, between having just finished another Death Egg and Emerl research causing a breakdown of his systems, he exploited his resources as best he could in the short term, which meant going into business (as amusing as it is to consider that there are some out there willing to trust Eggman enough to purchase some of his guard units). Rings make a nice currency for gameplay purposes, but the problem with using something so great in number is that, the more there are, the less valuable an individual one is.

[Dr. Mechano]

4) Stealing the cash (which doesn't seem likely for the post-Adventure iteration of Eggman; he would probably enjoy creating more intellectually involving solution to his money problems. However, "old" Eggman - and by that I mean SATAM, AoSth, Underground ect. - would take the first chance he could get to nab some quick dough... and probably spread noxious gases just for the sake of "polluting").

That's not "old" Eggman so much as "totally separate continuity" Eggman.

Either way, game Eggman steals. In Shadow the Hedgehog, Tails comments that Eggman's Circus Park was built using the rings he stole from around the world.

So yes, in typical supervillain fashion, Eggman launches grand heists of plethoras of cash to fund his world conquest business. But he's also a "legitimate" businessman too, using several companies to earn money.

Honestly, Eggman is probably the wealthiest character in the entire franchise. He already has enough cash to live a life of luxury and glamor several times over, but is so amazingly greedy that he has to have everything! He's like a mad scientist supervillain version of Wario; A filthy rich man with more than he could possibly ever want who still insists on having it all.

It makes for a lousy moral stance, but an incredibly amusing character, all the same.

[5had0w5talk3r]

Hmm.... Magic.

Enough said.

[Teh Naz]

Interesting logic in how Eggman's bases are "public places"... I always assumed that Robotnik was smart enough to use his resources. Perhaps he gains some funds from his technological marvels and inheritance, but invests in useful departments of resource, like mining for metals. Given that he is a public enemy, I'm surprised officials have yet to shut them down. Course, they rely on a certain blue hedgehog to deliver his free service.

Think about it.

Eggman = Bad Guy + Clever Businessman = Capitalism =D

It's a fun topic to go into, but we might as well ask where Robotnik affords all the time to build multiple machines, like 2 Egg Carriers. If Sonic hasn't aged (or if time goes slower in their world) technically he's been building these gadgets over 1-2 years maybe, when battleships aren't just made in weeks given the design, structure, material, programming, etc.

[Sonic Knower]

I mean, doesn't he get them from rings? Thats what Sonic uses and he can just go outside and get 100 rings no problem. Plus, the rings do respond after a few minutes you pick them up.

[batson]

"Money exists but most characters aren't allowed to act like it does". Eggman is probably one of the characters who doesn't get to act like money exists.

 

[MetalSkulkBane]

Kickstarter, like all villains.

[HywelAtTheMoon]

Stock market manipulation. Some of his attacks target major cities. As the stocks for companies in those cities go down, Eggman has already bet on that outcome, and made a tidy profit in the meantime. 

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

I think Sonic X best capitalized on how Eggman’s supergenius means he doesn’t require money—as long as as he has a tool in his hand, the guy can make anything dangerous.

For example, once he was finally arrested and forced to repair things as part of his sentence, the motherfucker turned a goddamned refrigerator into a deadly robot with a fucking microchip to break him out.

So fuck money, Eggman just needs a screwdriver and he can make death fleets in a matter of time. That’s certainly something he should be proud of being a genius.

[___]

Bitcoin mining, obviously.

 

And an 11-year thread necro. Impressive.

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

Not even Bitcoin could pay for something like the Death Egg, let alone a fleet of ships and space stations.

[Dr. Mechano]

While it's from an English manual and thus only ambiguously canon, I rather liked Sonic 2's explanation for how Eggman procured the resources for the Death Egg:

"This time, Robotnik's planning a global disaster. He needs workers to create a doomsday machine that can take over the world. So he's trapping all the animals, turning them into robots, and forcing them to build his ultimate weapon, the Death Egg! Robotnik now rules the factories, refineries and cities!"

So places like Chemical Plant Zone, Oil Ocean Zone, and Metropolis Zone - at least according to this take on the story - aren't necessarily Eggman bases, but are ordinary industrial plants that Eggman has taken over to create the Death Egg. Using an all-Badnik workforce, turning Metropolis Zone into a gigantic forge to smelt the metal, siphoning oil from Oil Ocean Zone to fuel the thing, and so on.

In this scenario, Eggman's actually making the Death Egg on a budget - because it's all on someone else's dime, using stolen materials and stolen workers to build his gigantic space station.

[Kuzu]

Ya know, the comics kind of imply Eggman sells his tech to the black-market to fund his schemes. 

[Dr. Mechano]

Just now, Kuzu said:

Ya know, the comics kind of imply Eggman sells his tech to the black-market to fund his schemes. 

The games outright confirm it.

In Sonic Battle, Eggman sells stripped-down versions of his E-Series robots - the Guard Robos - as security drones for the general public.

We also know that he secretly runs MeteoTech, a corporation that also specializes in security robots.

Less secretly, there's also Robotnik Corp, his extreme gear company.

So yeah, Eggman's definitely got his hands in several business ventures around the world.

[The Tenth Doctor]

I seem to remember in the promotional stuff for Sonic 4 it said some robots were nerfed due to Eggman's budget cuts. I found the Bubbles one and it confirms.

"Bubbles is a balloon fish type robot who returns back from the ruins of Angel Island. Due to Eggman's budget cuts, not all versions of Bubbles are spiked. However, watch out for the red ones!"

So he certainly lost money after Sonic 3 and Knuckles, probably invested too heavily in the Death Egg.

[CrownSlayers Shadow]

5 hours ago, Dr. Mechano said:

The games outright confirm it.

In Sonic Battle, Eggman sells stripped-down versions of his E-Series robots - the Guard Robos - as security drones for the general public.

We also know that he secretly runs MeteoTech, a corporation that also specializes in security robots.

Less secretly, there's also Robotnik Corp, his extreme gear company.

So yeah, Eggman's definitely got his hands in several business ventures around the world.

It’s stuff like this that really make you question why Sega doesn’t capitalize on building these things more.