BACKGROUND STORY
Rich Enough to be Batman? This is the question that inspired ‘Rich Enough to be Batman’, a print that has become an international best seller which first launched in 2014. The print depicting the Queen wearing a Batman mask, provokes a pressing question about wealth and social contribution. If you had enough money would you become Batman and use your money to do good? Or would you splash out on expensive things for your own pleasure?
The idea for this print came about when reading the Sunday Times Rich list, which celebrates the success of the richest 100 people worldwide. However, this list also highlights the growing inequality in wealth distribution, where the world’s billionaires have collectively become £2.6 trillion richer since 2020, growing their wealth at a rate three times faster than inflation. In fact, it is predicted that within the next decade, the world’s richest individual could accumulate a trillionaire dollars. While not all billionaires are self-serving, some like Bill and Melinda Gates are well-known for their philanthropy and good deeds, and Mark Zuckerberg and his wife recently announced they would give the majority of their wealth over the course of their lives to “advancing human potential and promoting equality”. In a world where wealth continues to be concentrated into the hands of an ultra-rich elite, the question remains: how rich do you need to be before you become Batman?