# The Untold Origins of Monopoly: A Game's Complex Journey
Written on
Chapter 1: The Myth of Charles Darrow
For a long time, Charles Darrow has been celebrated as the original millionaire game designer, credited with creating Monopoly—the game that has sparked countless family disputes. By May 2022, an estimated 250 million copies have been sold worldwide. The conventional narrative has long claimed that Darrow invented the game in 1933, coinciding with Parker Brothers' publication of it. However, this version of events is misleading.
In reality, Darrow played a minimal role in the game's actual invention. One evening, he participated in a dinner party with friends where he encountered a game that was already popular within their community. Recognizing its potential for profit, Darrow was motivated to pursue the game as a source of income, especially after losing his job during the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929.
Yet, his journey to bring his version of Monopoly to market was fraught with challenges. In 1934, Parker Brothers rejected his proposal, presenting him with a list of 52 critiques regarding the game.
This paragraph will result in an indented block of text, typically used for quoting other text.
Section 1.1: The Real Creator: Lizzie Magie
The true origins of Monopoly are more intricate than the simplified tale that has been perpetuated by Parker Brothers and subsequently Hasbro. Lizzie Magie, often referred to as the grandmother of Monopoly, has long been overlooked in the game’s history. In the early 20th century, Magie was known as a progressive feminist. As an unmarried stenographer, she often expressed her belief that she was just as capable of inventing games as any man. Despite societal expectations, she created a game in 1903 called The Landlord's Game, intending to illustrate the negative impacts of monopolies and advocate for a fairer economic system.
Magie's game featured two versions: one titled Monopoly, which aimed to bankrupt other players, and another called Prosperity, where the goal was to collaborate and generate wealth collectively. After a few iterations, she tried to get her game picked up by manufacturers but faced repeated rejections. In 1904, she successfully patented The Landlord's Game and began selling boards within her community in Brentwood, Massachusetts.
Shortly after her patent was granted, she moved to Chicago to be with her partner, Albert Philips. When her patent expired in 1921, she and Philips revised the game and sought a new patent, which they received in 1932, collaborating with a new distributor, Adgame Company.
Section 1.2: A New Board Emerges
One of the players in Adgame's version was Ruth Hoskins, a teacher from Indianapolis. After moving back to Atlantic City, she modified the board to include local street names and altered the auction rules, allowing players to purchase properties upon landing on them rather than through bidding. This adaptation likely stemmed from the increasing chaos during auctions.
It was this revised version that Charles and Olive Todd introduced to Darrow and his wife, Esther, during a game night in 1932. The couples enjoyed the game, but the rules had not been documented. Inspired, Darrow began to jot down the rules and concepts he had learned.
Chapter 2: The Road to Success
As Darrow and his family began to distribute their own version of the game, it quickly gained popularity. Eventually, he revisited Parker Brothers with his product, and this time, they recognized its potential as a lucrative opportunity. They purchased the rights from him, offering him upfront compensation along with a share of the profits.
Initially, the media adored Darrow, but they soon noticed his inability to answer specific questions about the game's inception. His vague responses suggested that his claims of invention were, at best, questionable.
Darrow ultimately became the first millionaire game designer, but Parker Brothers grew concerned about the proliferation of counterfeit games. They initiated legal actions against several competitors, including one in Texas selling a game called Inflation. This prompted executives to investigate the game's origins further, leading them to discover Lizzie Magie's earlier creation.
Robert Barton, the president of Parker Brothers, confronted Darrow about the game's backstory. Under pressure, Darrow admitted to borrowing elements from The Landlord's Game. Despite this admission, Parker Brothers had him sign an affidavit claiming he was the sole creator, as they wished to maintain control over the game's rights and profits.
Parker Brothers later unearthed Magie's patent from 1924 and, rather than contest her claims, opted to settle with her for $500, providing no royalties. After securing her signature, they attempted to minimize her contributions to the game’s development. It would take several decades before her pivotal role was acknowledged publicly.