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A miserly duck, a vampire and pair of precocious① kids are among the richest fictional characters, according to a ranking by Forbes.
Scrooge McDuck, the “pennypinching② poultry” with a fortune in gold coins whose estimated worth is $ 441 billion, headed the list of Forbes “Fictional 15” wealthiest imaginary characters.
But despite his riches, McDuck still trails Microsoft founder Bill Gates $ 53 billion.
Vampirethemed franchises have become big business, so its no surprise that Carlisle Cullen, the 370yearold vampire from the “Twilight” books and films who has been accruing③ interest on a small savings account since 1670, came in second with $ 362 billion.
A pair of overachieving youngsters came in third. Artemis Fowl II, the prepubescent④ scion of an Irish crime family from Eoin Colfers Artemis Fowl novels, was pegged at $ 135 billion, while the altruistically inclined comic book character Richie Rich totaled $ 97 billion.
To qualify for the list the characters must be known in their fictional stories and by their audiences for being rich.
“Net worth estimates are based on an analysis of the fictional characters source material, and where possible, valued against known realworld commodity and share price movements,” Forbes said.
While the list, which Forbes editors have compiled since 2005, is all in fun, the process and resultant numbers are serious business, said special projects executive editor Michael Noer.
“We go to great lengths⑤ to calculate their net worth,” Noer said in an interview. “Its similar to how we calculate real billionaires.”
Market forces, especially commodities, also provided some guidance.
“McDuck was up over 30 percent, which is what gold has done this year, and his wealth is mostly in gold,” Noer explained.
Similarly Jed Clampett, the countrybumpkin⑥ who found black gold⑦ in the television series“The Beverly Hillbillies” benefited from rising oil prices for a $95 billion net worth.
Mr. Monopoly, the tophatted, mustachioed⑧ character from the popular board game, placed ninth with $26 billion. The editors based his worth on the current value of Atlantic City real estate and a presumed percentage of property ownership.
Q&A
1. Which Fictional Character is the richest? _________
A. Carlisle Cullen
B. McDuck
C. Artemis Fowl II
D. Mr. Monopoly
2. The richest one__________.
A. with a fortune in gold coins whose estimated worth is $ 50 billion.
B. hasnt wealth that is mostly in gold.
C. still trails Microsoft founder Bill Gates $ 53 billion.
D. isnt pennypinching.
Keys:BC
注释：①precocious：早熟的；
②pennypinching：小气的、吝啬的；
③accrue：增加、增长；
④prepubescent：青春期前的；
⑤go to great lengths：竭尽全力；
⑥bumpkin：乡巴佬；
⑦black gold：石油；
⑧mustachioed：大胡须的、长卷须的。
资料来源 中国日报
注释编辑 桑 实
责任编辑 张丹凤
Fortune Cookie（幸运饼干）是西式中餐里赠送的一种常见饭后甜品，内藏有预测运气的小纸条。
Scrooge McDuck, the “pennypinching② poultry” with a fortune in gold coins whose estimated worth is $ 441 billion, headed the list of Forbes “Fictional 15” wealthiest imaginary characters.
But despite his riches, McDuck still trails Microsoft founder Bill Gates $ 53 billion.
Vampirethemed franchises have become big business, so its no surprise that Carlisle Cullen, the 370yearold vampire from the “Twilight” books and films who has been accruing③ interest on a small savings account since 1670, came in second with $ 362 billion.
A pair of overachieving youngsters came in third. Artemis Fowl II, the prepubescent④ scion of an Irish crime family from Eoin Colfers Artemis Fowl novels, was pegged at $ 135 billion, while the altruistically inclined comic book character Richie Rich totaled $ 97 billion.
To qualify for the list the characters must be known in their fictional stories and by their audiences for being rich.
“Net worth estimates are based on an analysis of the fictional characters source material, and where possible, valued against known realworld commodity and share price movements,” Forbes said.
While the list, which Forbes editors have compiled since 2005, is all in fun, the process and resultant numbers are serious business, said special projects executive editor Michael Noer.
“We go to great lengths⑤ to calculate their net worth,” Noer said in an interview. “Its similar to how we calculate real billionaires.”
Market forces, especially commodities, also provided some guidance.
“McDuck was up over 30 percent, which is what gold has done this year, and his wealth is mostly in gold,” Noer explained.
Similarly Jed Clampett, the countrybumpkin⑥ who found black gold⑦ in the television series“The Beverly Hillbillies” benefited from rising oil prices for a $95 billion net worth.
Mr. Monopoly, the tophatted, mustachioed⑧ character from the popular board game, placed ninth with $26 billion. The editors based his worth on the current value of Atlantic City real estate and a presumed percentage of property ownership.
Q&A
1. Which Fictional Character is the richest? _________
A. Carlisle Cullen
B. McDuck
C. Artemis Fowl II
D. Mr. Monopoly
2. The richest one__________.
A. with a fortune in gold coins whose estimated worth is $ 50 billion.
B. hasnt wealth that is mostly in gold.
C. still trails Microsoft founder Bill Gates $ 53 billion.
D. isnt pennypinching.
Keys:BC
注释：①precocious：早熟的；
②pennypinching：小气的、吝啬的；
③accrue：增加、增长；
④prepubescent：青春期前的；
⑤go to great lengths：竭尽全力；
⑥bumpkin：乡巴佬；
⑦black gold：石油；
⑧mustachioed：大胡须的、长卷须的。
资料来源 中国日报
注释编辑 桑 实
责任编辑 张丹凤
Fortune Cookie（幸运饼干）是西式中餐里赠送的一种常见饭后甜品，内藏有预测运气的小纸条。