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Well, he states that part of the treasure is 1000 ingots of pure gold weighing 1 to 2 pounds each. With gold being $1000 an ounce as of March 2008 that would be anywhere from 16 million to 32 million dollars worth of just gold ingots. Of course, that does not include the diamonds or the gold coins. But if you assume the gold coins and diamonds were each worth as much as the ingots that is a minimum of 48 to 96 million or more. Not a paultry sum by any stretch of the imagination but also not considered "super rich" by today's standards (Bill Gates, Warren Buffett).
My guess is that the Count's fortune was about 100 Million dollars in today's money.
New Answer: I believe the above is underestimated by quite a bit. I am reading the Count of Monte Cristo currently, and started wondering exactly how much money the count had. After quite a bit of Surfing and math, I came up with a much larger answer.
I calculated everything out in francs where possible (because that is the main currency they used in the book) and then converted that to US dollars, and back to francs when necessary (all done with the values of the money in the 1800s). With the gold ingots I converted first to dollars, then to francs.
The gold ingots are 2-3 pounds a piece (not the 1-2 originally mentioned), and I went with 3 for the sake of these calculations.
An ounce of gold in the mid to early 1800s was worth around $20. And in the 1800s 5 francs = $1 USD. So the gold ended up being 4.8 million francs.
The gold ecus, as stated in the book, were worth about 24 francs per piece. He counted out 25,000 of them, but said that was only half of them. So 50,000 ecus @ 24 francs a piece = 1.25 million francs.
The jewels...this is tricky. The only way I could think to do this was to go off of the value of the one jewel he gave someone early in the story- it was worth 50,000 + francs. He said he measured 10 handfuls of jewels. I assumed his hands measured an approximate 4" cube, and assumed a jewel was about 1/4" cubed. This would bring the jewel total to 2,560 at 50,000 francs a piece. Total for jewels: 128,000,000 francs. Even if I overestimated the jewels, it was still a crrrapload of money. Jewels would definitely be where the bulk of the money was at. Think of how much money some of those teeny diamonds are worth today!
Final totals
Total in francs (for purpose of reading the book- to get a grasp on how much money he was working with) :134,050,000
This makes sense considering that the count wanted to spend at least 6 million francs in a single summer season and thought nothing of it. He is shown to be EXTREMELY frivolous with millions of dollars. You get the impression that he is a very very smart man, and I am certain that he wouldn't be spending this way unless he had an insanely huge amount. This is the best guesstimate I could come up with, and if you estimate the weight of the gold at 2 pounds instead of 3 it would be somewhat less.
Total in US dollars TODAY: $670,000,000
(Because $1 in 1850 was worth approximately $25 today)
So, he would very much have been considered ridiculously wealthy today! I hope that helps someone out, it was driving me CRAZY trying to guess how much money he had in the book.
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I've been thinking about doing my own analysis, but it's not easy. I do want to mention that the emerald from which he constructed his case of pills was identical to the emerald with which he purchased Haydee, which was worth 800,000 francs, according to the letter of sale admitted as evidence against the Comte de Morcerf. I'm sure the value of his gems varied greatly (they also mention earlier in the book that his horses were adorned with diamonds worth 5k francs a piece, I think), but it is possible that his wealth was even greater than the estimate derived by the original poster of this answer.
This is actually very simple as he gives his net worth in/around chapter 91 while writing his will. He gives two numbers, 20 million in cash/jewels and 60 million in various properties, furnishings, artwork, etc. The count's total net worth is then approximately 80 million in 1850 dollars, or 2.04 billion in 2009 dollars. Certainly one of the richest men in the world at that time.
The Count's total net worth was 80,000,000 francs. A French franc in 1838 was 290.32 mg of gold which is approximately .01025 ounces of gold. Gold in 1838 was $20.67 an ounce on the New York exchange. In 2009 dollars that's $411.24. So a French franc in 1838 was worth about $4.22 in today's dollars. Times that by 80 million gives us $337,600,000. Not a bad hunk of change. Remember too that back then a dollar went a long, long way. Monte Cristo bought a slightly used Greek Princess for less than 20k.
What else can I help you with?
How many times does the name Fernand appear in the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo"?
The name Fernand appears multiple times in the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo."
What story has a greedy person?
there are many such stories, David Copperfield, treasure island, the Count of Monte Cristo, and of course A Christmas Carol.
Who were the best friend of The Count of Monte Cristo?
Franz d'Epinay and Maximilien Morrel were the best friends of the Count of Monte Cristo in the novel. They played important roles in the Count's life and helped him in different ways throughout the story.
What is the tone of The Count of Monte Cristo movie?
The tone of the movie "The Count of Monte Cristo" can be described as dramatic, suspenseful, and revenge-driven. It explores themes of betrayal, love, and justice while following the protagonist's journey for retribution against those who wronged him.
How long is The Count of Monte Cristo I have heard many different numbers. I have the book in my hands and it says 501 pages but I have heard many different numbers?
That would defiantly be abridged, my copy is 989 pages long and the print is so small you almost need a microscope to see it. Another copy I've heard of is 1200 pages. I think it all has to do with print size.
How many persona's did Edmond Dantes take on in The Count of Monte Cristo?
In "The Count of Monte Cristo," Edmond Dantes adopts four different personas: the innocent sailor Edmond Dantes, the avenging Count of Monte Cristo, the wealthy and mysterious Lord Wilmore, and the eccentric priest Abbé Busoni. Each persona serves a specific purpose in his quest for vengeance and justice.
What is the effect of Haydee's love for Monte Cristo?
since haydee fall in love with the count, he in turn learned to love again after pursueing revenge for many years.
How many pages does A Ghost in Monte Carlo have?
A Ghost in Monte Carlo has 256 pages.
In the count of Monte cristo How does Villefort's son get what he wants from this mother?
In "The Count of Monte Cristo," Villefort's son, Edward, manipulates his mother by pretending to be ill and implying that the only way he can recover is by having a certain item. Mrs. Villefort, like many mothers, is deeply concerned for her son's well-being and falls for Edward's ploy, giving him what he wants. This deception reflects the complex dynamics of their relationship and the lengths to which Edward is willing to go to get what he desires.
How many pages does Count Zero have?
Count Zero has 256 pages.
How many pages does The Only Three Questions That Count have?
The Only Three Questions That Count has 448 pages.
Example of a reaction paper on count of Monte cristo?
A reaction paper on "The Count of Monte Cristo" could discuss the themes of revenge, justice, and redemption portrayed in the novel. The paper could explore how the main character, Edmond Dantes, transforms from a man seeking vengeance to one seeking forgiveness and understanding. Additionally, it could analyze the impact of betrayal and deceit on individuals and how it shapes their choices and actions. Finally, the paper could reflect on the lessons learned from the story and how they can be applied to real-life situations.
