The Hidden History of Monopoly

Lizzie Magie created a game called the Landlord's Game back in 1903 to teach people about wealth and property control. She was tired of how a few landlords held all the power. Later, a guy named Charles Darrow took her game, sold it to Parker Brothers, and claimed he invented it. You might know it as Monopoly, a game that’s been sold over 275 million times worldwide. It’s been translated into more than 40 languages and played in over 100 countries. Despite her huge impact, Lizzie made almost nothing from her invention.

Takeaways:

• Lizzie Magie created a board game in 1903 to show how unfair landlords can be.
• Her game, called the Landlord's Game, aimed to teach people about wealth inequality.
• Charles Darrow learned about her game and sold it to Parker Brothers as his own.
• Monopoly has been sold over 275 million times worldwide, becoming a classic in board games.
• Magie's original concept was meant to educate, yet she received little recognition for it.
• The game has been translated into over 40 languages and licensed in more than 100 countries.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Parker Brothers
• Monopoly

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