Is Ash lowkey wealthy?

[Dark_King25]

After defeating Leon for the world championship, Ash has basically become the Max Verstappen of Pokemon, with all his offcial wins and connections with very influential people it makes you wonder if he has any financial benefits from those two aspects?

 

[SunGodNika1997]

I've always wondered how Ash or any other trainer got money in the anime universe. Like he has definitely never been rich, but he couldn't have been traveling around flat broke. But I'm sure the writers don't want us to think too hard about that.

As for after the world championship, I should hope there was some major financial compensation that came with the title and trophy and all the hoopla. If not, I would be pretty pissed if I were in his shoes, not gonna lie.

 

[masdog]

They don’t mention money too often, so I think they either live in a post-scarcity society (like the Federation from Star Trek) and you only need money for luxuries, it’s a socialist utopia, or Ash has more money than we realize.

The truth is that the show has mostly hand-waved away money.

I’d think he would have earned quite a bit of money after winning both the Alola League and the PWC.

 

[Spyro39]

In a world where TRio can afford giant Pokemon capturing mechas (even if they were funded by the organization), money is practically non-existent.

Let's also consider how Ash and Goh are able to travel through the 8 regions on planes and boats without any mention of paying for travels.

 

[SunGodNika1997]

So if the anime is anything to go off of, here's the breakdown of what a socialist utopia would look like:

Pros - Nobody has to worry about the cost of food, shelter, healthcare (even for animals), or transportation.

Cons - Not only is cockfighting legal, but it's the most popular sport in the world, and children are indoctrinated to participate at a young age.

 

[Pokegirl Fan~]

Ash is in a coma dream, he doesn't need money in his dream world.

 

[Ignition]

I like to think he has a system similar to the one in the Johto games where the PC can have the mom hold some of their money.

 

[SunGodNika1997]

I like to think he has a system similar to the one in the Johto games where the PC can have the mom hold some of their money.

Ash’s dad is like Ness’s dad in Earthbound, just loads up his son’s bank account every now and then. Only difference is at least Ness gets to talk on the phone with his absentee father every now and then.

 

[AuraChannelerChris]

Naaah. The world is just cheap.

 

[Ignition]

Ash’s dad is like Ness’s dad in Earthbound, just loads up his son’s bank account every now and then. Only difference is at least Ness gets to talk on the phone with his absentee father every now and then.

Damn you had to roast Ash one more time before he leaves tomorrow

 

[Dark_King25]

Ash has basically become the Max Verstappen of Pokemon

Come to think of it they do have a lot of similarities like winning a championship due to last minute rule changes lmao

 

[SunGodNika1997]

Damn you had to roast Ash one more time before he leaves tomorrow

Wouldn’t feel comfortable making the joke if I couldn’t low key relate to his daddy issues, but that’s neither here nor there.

 

[Rocky89]

After defeating Leon for the world championship, Ash has basically become the Max Verstappen of Pokemon, with all his offcial wins and connections with very influential people it makes you wonder if he has any financial benefits from those two aspects?

Damn, good question.

 

[Ragnarok4]

there seems to be a great inequality, more like an Ancap world or something

The only difference is that nobody starves because pokemon are relatively free and heck with a tropius, berries and a water pokemon you would never die.. there are many lands that seem to be free ??

 

[Bortgreen]

So if the anime is anything to go off of, here's the breakdown of what a socialist utopia would look like:

Pros - Nobody has to worry about the cost of food, shelter, healthcare (even for animals), or transportation.

Cons - Not only is cockfighting legal, but it's the most popular sport in the world, and children are indoctrinated to participate at a young age.

The cockfighting issue(or even gambling in general) is actually a possible reason why money isn't mentioned much in the anime
In the games there is still the excuse of the need for a RPG currency

 

[AJ97]

I disagree with many of the commenters regarding the concept of "Relative Wealth" not existing in the anime.
The show has directly implied Jame's family is exceptionally wealthy. We also have Giovanni, Steven & even Chairman Rose who have also been shown to be very wealthy through their attire, mannerism and general personality. The anime often takes the more traditional/Old money concept while displaying wealth; in other words, you don't see your T-shirt and Jeans Mark Zuckerberg type billionaire in the Pokemon Universe.

As for the case of Ash, in theory, yes you could argue he is currently in the perfect position to become very wealthy if he wants to. However, the wealth would more or less be generated through advertisements, partnerships, endorsement deals etc (Which all exist within the Pokemon Universe). However, Ash is unlikely to be someone who cares about any of this.

 

[Kameinu]

He most likely got compensation for winning the Alola Conference and the PWC. He could have amassed a small fortune by now, and has the potential to generate more money if he’d want to. I don’t think he cares honestly. Whatever money he may have earned he probably told Oak and his mom to use it for his Oaked mons welfare.

 

[lara lynx]

Way back in OS, during the Indigo Plateau, there was a scene where Ash and co. went to some kind of restaurant and Ash started crying about having no money to pay for food. Then someone tells him food is free for league participants.

So he at least started off with no wealth. And it seems like being a trainer probably comes with a lot of freebies - we've never seen them pay for rooms or food at pokemon centers, and they often make friends with people who probably feed them, for example.
And he probably now has some money from his winnings, but is so used to being frugal that he doesn't spend any of it.

 

[iraqmaster]

If you are an official trainer registered and earn badges towards the Pokemon League, I assume you are awarded money if you win. Pokemon Center usage is free, etc...

 

[Trey pokes]

Must be now that he's the champion.