How Did Squidward Become So Rich in SpongeBob SquarePants?
By Alex Ramirez | How Did Squidward Become So Rich in SpongeBob SquarePants?
Have you ever wondered how Squidward, the perpetually grumpy cashier at the Krusty Krab, became a surprisingly affluent octopus? It’s a mystery as deep and complex as the oceans themselves. Was it a secret inheritance from a long-lost octopus uncle who happened to be friends with a billionaire crab? Did he strike oil with his clarinet? Did he secretly invent sliced bread and become the world’s richest cephalopod?
The answer, my friends, is slightly more mundane. And yet, strangely compelling.
Squidward’s wealth is built on two pillars: his meticulous penny-pinching and his surprisingly successful (yet criminally illegal) clarinet business. While he spends most of his time lamenting his poverty, when he’s not working at the Krusty Krab, Squidward moonlights as a musician. His gigs, however, aren’t your typical jazz or blues affairs. Oh no, Squidward’s specialty is a high-energy, tuba-infused rendition of classic rock and roll that, according to him, “shakes the very foundation of the pineapple palace.”
Except, nobody wants to hear that. So, Squidward sells his music online, where, surprisingly, it becomes a massive hit. Downloads, merch, and paid gigs start rolling in, making Squidward the wealthiest sponge-hater in Bikini Bottom.
Of course, this wouldn’t be SpongeBob SquarePants without some bureaucratic chaos. The Krusty Krab rightfully claims that Squidward owes them a gazillion clams in unpaid taxes for his musical endeavors. This necessitates Squidward’s frequent escapes to offshore islands, where he lives on his meager earnings, only to be forced back to the Krusty Krab by SpongeBob’s relentless positivity.
So, is Squidward truly rich? Not in the sense of having yachts and private islands. But he’s comfortably wealthy enough to afford a slightly better life than his pineapple-dwelling peers. He just has to constantly outrun the law and his disgruntled employer.
But here’s the real question: if Squidward could achieve wealth through sheer, ridiculous passion, what could you achieve with your own unique talents and eccentricities?
