By Robert Miller | Portfolio Manager at NAOS Asset Management

This podcast gives the listeners the unexpected history behind the most popular board game of all time.

Monopoly was originally known as The Landlord’s Game and was created by a lady called Lizzie Magie in the early 1900s. She created the game founded on an idea to spread awareness of economist Henry George’s highly progressive single-tax theories. That idea didn’t work particularly well and it remained underground for many years. Throughout the ensuing years, The Landlord’s Game was primarily used as a teaching application by a socialist professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.

After many fascinating twists and turns, including trademark issues and arguably regretful decisions, it was eventually purchased by Parker Brothers Corporation in 1935 whom made a fortune from the game. Fast forward to today and Monopoly has sold over 250 million copies and is owned by the $10bn US listed corporation Hasbro Inc (whom purchased Parker Brothers Corporation in 1991 for $500m).

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