Scamfluencers Take the Monopoly Money and Run | 143
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Jan 27, 2025 Uncover the surprising origin of Monopoly amid the Great Depression, spotlighting Charles Darrow's rise and the overshadowed contributions of original creator Lizzie Maggie. Explore an individual’s bold legal fight against corporate giants, marked by a quirky pre-deposition sandwich. Delve into the cultural impact of the game, the struggles for recognition, and Ralph's creation of Anti-Monopoly, advocating for fairness. The podcast weaves personal stories with a critique of capitalism through the lens of this iconic board game.
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The Landlord's Game
- Lizzie Maggie invented the Landlord's Game to teach about economic inequality.
- The game was popular, but players often made their own boards, obscuring Lizzie's connection.
Finance, the Evil Monopoly
- Daniel Lehman played Monopoly at college and created his own version called Finance.
- He later sold his interest for $200, but his game wasn't the final iteration.
Darrow's Deception
- Charles Darrow, unemployed during the Depression, copied a friend's Monopoly board.
- He kept the Atlantic City property names and even a misspelling, then sold the game.
