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The Dresden Files => DF Books => Topic started by: Linck on June 13, 2018, 11:38:37 PM

Title: Harry making money
Post by: Linck on June 13, 2018, 11:38:37 PM: So now that harry now has 2 kids to raise and protect, he is going to need capital. He might prefer to live a more spartan kind of lifestyle, but he needs a new place with a real threshold, and a decent nest-egg, could really be useful to him...

In that regard I've long been wondering why he does use Bob.
Bob is basically the equivalent of a super computer with an AI, we know from when he is living with Butters that he can operate a computer and surf the internet.

So why not have him use the stock market ??
feed him book on how it works, let him observe the market for a while, and then use him to daytrade or even long term invest if he wants to limit the access bob has to a computer.

I know Harry can't have a pc at his house, but that's not keeping him from letting Bob operate one at ie. at Butters place.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Ananda on June 14, 2018, 01:25:55 AM: Given you mention his kid, you must be up to date on the books. Still, this is spoiler free zone, so I’ll tag my reply. Don’t look at it if you’re not current on the story.

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Dresden hasn’t had Bob since Changes. Also, he has a bag of diamonds to help him arrange finance. And, I’d think winter must have some employee housing to go along with the company car, not to mention pay.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Linck on June 14, 2018, 01:48:44 AM: sure I'm almost up to date on the books, I've just begun on Brief cases.
I'll assume u are up to date on changes as well :)

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As butters committed a huge no, no by bringing bob out in to the field, and Harry now will need a spiritual spirit to help raise his youngest daughter. I would greatly assume he would reclaim Bob, especially as Butters is only holding it temporary.
Butters also have a new teacher (Michael & Charity) + god on his side. So he doesn't necessarily need him anymore.

The diamonds are a finite resource that he will not be able to life off forever on top of that they will take a long time to fence.
If he buys a house and needs to rebuild his tools and laboratory, it will not be cheap.
a few millions doesn't go very far, especially if he needs to hire Kincade or mercenaries again.

So far there hasn't been any talk of support from winter besides from the car, not even a single mention of pay for his services.
I think he would be a fool to set up shop in something that is not his. I would not be surprised if the winter faeries would be able to bypass any securities on the house if they owned it.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Griffyn612 on June 14, 2018, 02:46:18 AM: (click to show/hide)
I think someone once calculated how much he would get for half a shoe box of standard diamonds, and it came out in the tens of millions. Given that they were discussing investment opportunities with the Carpenters, and the White Council probably has their own investment group to help wizards over the centuries, earning interest should be considerable.

As for Bob, I think he'll borrow him some, but I think the separation is permanent. But maybe I'm wrong.

I wouldn't count on much from Winter. I think JB said as much.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: WereElephant on June 14, 2018, 03:43:53 PM: Griffyn,
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Quote from: Griffyn612 on June 14, 2018, 02:46:18 AM
As for Bob, I think he'll borrow him some, but I think the separation is permanent. But maybe I'm wrong.

I really hope that separation isn't permanent. Bob is one of the best characters in the series. Diminishing his screen time and presence will make me sad.

Also, it make sense Winter would be stingy. Mab likes giving Dresden what she considers the bare minimum in usable resources relative to the task at hand, and half the time, her "gifts" are barely recognizable as such, like making him forget that fire was a thing in Small Favor.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Griffyn612 on June 14, 2018, 11:08:46 PM: Quote from: WereElephant on June 14, 2018, 03:43:53 PM
Griffyn,
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I really hope that separation isn't permanent. Bob is one of the best characters in the series. Diminishing his screen time and presence will make me sad.

Also, it make sense Winter would be stingy. Mab likes giving Dresden what she considers the bare minimum in usable resources relative to the task at hand, and half the time, her "gifts" are barely recognizable as such, like making him forget that fire was a thing in Small Favor.
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Bob can still be in every book, even if Butters has him. Butters has had him for three books, and we saw a lot of Bob in each. With him regularly going into the field now, he's no longer needed at the house for exposition, especially now that he's got Maggie and Bonnie to use for that.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: jonas on June 17, 2018, 02:09:38 PM: Quote from: WereElephant on June 14, 2018, 03:43:53 PM
Griffyn,
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I really hope that separation isn't permanent. Bob is one of the best characters in the series. Diminishing his screen time and presence will make me sad.

Also, it make sense Winter would be stingy. Mab likes giving Dresden what she considers the bare minimum in usable resources relative to the task at hand, and half the time, her "gifts" are barely recognizable as such, like making him forget that fire was a thing in Small Favor.
Don't worry we still have
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the evil Bob arc to solve. So he'll be getting his... plus since Butter's has been using his as an instrument of goodness I've started to wonder if he won't get to see on the 'faithlength' at some point, as his overall nature changes with that pesky name Harry gave him. Point being Bob will be back.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Ananda on June 18, 2018, 01:01:33 AM: Quote from: Linck on June 14, 2018, 01:48:44 AM
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the winter faeries would be able to bypass any securities on the house if they owned it.

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They can already come in whenever they want if they mean no harm according to and evinced by the good kitty, Cat Sith and the old house’s cleaning service thingies (I don’t recall what those little thingies were called, but, now that I evoke them, I wonder why, if they could bring Dresden frozen pizzas, they couldn’t have done the same for Toot and his ilk, thus creating a power dynamic to their benefit).
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: zetadog on August 29, 2018, 09:46:56 PM: before the Winter Knight job he coulda made money all kinds of ways.
Use the kinetomancy to cheat at Roulette. Use that or a variety of magic to influence sporting events, and gamble on them.
But mostly, just use thaumaturgy (sp?) to track down random veins of silver or gold or precious stones in the ground.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: morriswalters on August 30, 2018, 02:00:31 PM: (click to show/hide)
Consider this from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle), given the context of Harry after Skin Games.
Quote
Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: zetadog on August 31, 2018, 07:42:49 AM: I hope he uses that money to upgrade to a Volkswagon Camper Van.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: wardenferry419 on September 11, 2018, 10:25:24 PM: Upgrade to an A-Team van.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: BobbyWac on May 13, 2019, 07:10:17 PM: (click to show/hide)
I believe there's a WOJ somewhere that Harry and Maggie will be living with Molly during the summer that PT takes place, so that could potentially be seen as housing provided by the winter lady to the winter knight.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: g33k on May 24, 2019, 10:49:01 PM: I don't think Harry will bother "making money" via magic.

As noted, he has the diamonds; that will suffice for all "normal" Maggie-expenses.

I doubt Bonea has many mundane, cash-solvable expenses.

Similarly, the Warden and the Winter Knight can probable finesse specific needs through their respective agencies (the White Council, and Winter/Mab)... again, likely little need for "cash" per se.

Finally... as noted, getting mundane cash when you're a wizard is EASY. So easy that the ONLY reason I can believe that Harry HASN'T done it, is that Harry WON'T do it... he thinks there is something "wrong" with doing that. And since it looks (per the above) like there isn't any outside need/responsibility to come up with a buttload of cash, I don't think Harry will compromise on this.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Stiletto on May 25, 2019, 02:01:17 PM: I think Molly mentions getting a salary at some point, and Harry says, “What?!?” I’m sure Mab wouldn't stiff Harry, due to her obligations as Queen, so his money is likely piling up in a bank account - or vault - somewhere. And Mab would act all innocent and say, “You never asked.” Maybe his account is with Hades? ;)
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: g33k on May 26, 2019, 08:43:33 PM: Quote from: Stiletto on May 25, 2019, 02:01:17 PM
I think Molly mentions getting a salary at some point, and Harry says, “What?!?” I’m sure Mab wouldn't stiff Harry, due to her obligations as Queen, so his money is likely piling up in a bank account - or vault - somewhere. And Mab would act all innocent and say, “You never asked.” Maybe his account is with Hades? ;)
OK, I could see that.
Harry turning out to have million$ (that really, he doesn't need) in some account Mab set up for the WK... Just after he works through some (painful) Harry-esque solution to not having a bit of cash when convenient.
That's a VERY Harry thing.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Stiletto on May 26, 2019, 08:51:15 PM: And Mab probably pays in gold bullion or something else not easily liquid or transportable. A vaultful of Roman pennies?
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: narphoenix on May 30, 2019, 01:35:30 PM: There’s a WOJ that says Harry doesn’t make money as a Winter Knight because his salary is power, basically. According to Jim, if Harry made a salary salary, it would also require him to be taking shifts on the Winter Court’s schedule as opposed to doing things more his way.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: g33k on June 01, 2019, 12:38:30 AM: Quote from: narphoenix on May 30, 2019, 01:35:30 PM
There’s a WOJ that says Harry doesn’t make money as a Winter Knight because his salary is power, basically. According to Jim, if Harry made a salary salary, it would also require him to be taking shifts on the Winter Court’s schedule as opposed to doing things more his way.

Ah.

TYVM!
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: g33k on June 17, 2019, 04:19:32 AM: Quote from: narphoenix on May 30, 2019, 01:35:30 PM
There’s a WOJ that says Harry doesn’t make money as a Winter Knight because his salary is power, basically...

That makes excellent sense, actually.

Think about Harry's negotiation with Mab: what he bargained for was a healed back, and POWER. If he had included "oh, and enough money for a comfortable living," I doubt she'd have quibbled, nor made the cash hard to collect. But it ... Really wasn't on Harry's agenda when he negotiated. It really, REALLY wasn't.

So it's not part of the deal.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Independent George on June 18, 2019, 05:18:16 PM: Harry:

1. Lives on a remote island with his own private dock.
2. Has a time share on a yacht.
3. Is a premiere member of the most exclusive health club in Chicago.
4. Cruises Chicago in a vintage Rolls Royce Silver Wraith.
5. Has been spotted at the ultra-chic club Zero.
6. Vacations in Mexico and Scotland at the drop of a hat.

Clearly, Harry is a bazillionaire. He isn't a slob; he's eccentric.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Fcrate on June 19, 2019, 12:08:51 AM: Well.... When you put it like that. lol
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Braincandy on August 15, 2019, 07:48:11 AM: Quote from: Linck on June 14, 2018, 01:48:44 AM
sure I'm almost up to date on the books, I've just begun on Brief cases.
I'll assume u are up to date on changes as well :)

(click to show/hide)
As butters committed a huge no, no by bringing bob out in to the field, and Harry now will need a spiritual spirit to help raise his youngest daughter. I would greatly assume he would reclaim Bob, especially as Butters is only holding it temporary.
Butters also have a new teacher (Michael & Charity) + god on his side. So he doesn't necessarily need him anymore.

The diamonds are a finite resource that he will not be able to life off forever on top of that they will take a long time to fence.
If he buys a house and needs to rebuild his tools and laboratory, it will not be cheap.
a few millions doesn't go very far, especially if he needs to hire Kincade or mercenaries again.

So far there hasn't been any talk of support from winter besides from the car, not even a single mention of pay for his services.
I think he would be a fool to set up shop in something that is not his. I would not be surprised if the winter faeries would be able to bypass any securities on the house if they owned it.

(click to show/hide)
The diamonds may be a finite resource but Harry has always lived a very spartan life. Between the diamonds and his salary, I am sure he has more than enough to raise a kid or two. In fact, I'd wager that he is taking this diamond money and taking the first steps to making himself financially solvent in the long term, like the other wizards are described as doing. If nothing else, Harry is smart enough to set aside a fund to make sure Maggie will be cared for if something happens to him.

Plus. I think you may be underselling how much money he has in diamonds. I suspect those boxes were worth far more than just a million or two. Remember, even Marcone had a visible reaction to them when he opened one of those boxes and saw how much was in it...and Marcone is the definition of "poker face" and he's filthy rich.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: g33k on August 20, 2019, 11:56:57 PM: (click to show/hide)
I think Harry has HUNDREDS of millions worth of diamonds. Remember that top-tier professional criminals considered it a permanent-retirement plan.

My math goes as follows (facts via Google; blame estimates on me): I'm going to liken diamonds to sand, by bulk dry weight. Diamonds are denser, but there's more airspace. I think I'm UNDER-estimating the weight of a shoebox-full of diamonds, here, but "about like dry sand" seems like a reasonable approximation.

Sand weighs about 100 lbs per cubic foot. I'm going to rough-guess a shoe-box as 6inches x 6inches x 1foot, so we are looking at 1/4 cubic foot, or 25 lbs.

Diamonds are worth about $12.5million per pound.

12.5 x 25 (all rough numbers, so rounding down) is 300million.

I believe this is the LOW end.
Title: Re: Harry making money
Post by: Steelblaidd on February 09, 2020, 04:19:12 AM: Yeah but not all at once.

You dump 25 LBs of Stones on the market all at once and its going to affect the price AND catch the attention of people whose attention you don't want.

Also all this was in the bag carried out by an average sized woman, I suspect its closer to 5 pounds.

Edit: Some one els has done the math. Once its all sold think 7 Figures not 6. https://www.paranetonline.com/index.php/topic,53065.msg2318329.html#msg2318329