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Charles Darrow

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description Charles Darrow Overview

Charles Darrow (1889–1967) was an American from Germantown, Pennsylvania, credited with popularizing the board game Monopoly during the Great Depression. Darrow encountered a handmade property-trading game and produced his own illustrated version, which he began selling locally in 1933 before licensing it to Parker Brothers in 1935. While Parker Brothers promoted Darrow as the sole inventor, historical research later demonstrated that Monopoly derived from earlier games, particularly The Landlord's Game designed and patented by Lizzie Magie in 1904.

help Charles Darrow FAQ

Did Charles Darrow actually invent the game of Monopoly?

While Charles Darrow is officially credited with inventing Monopoly, the game was actually based on earlier real estate trading games like Elizabeth Magie's The Landlord's Game. Darrow was the first to successfully commercialize the concept and sell it to Parker Brothers in 1935.

How much money did Charles Darrow make from Monopoly?

After licensing Monopoly to Parker Brothers in 1935, Darrow became the first board game designer to become a millionaire from his creation. The game went on to become one of the best-selling board games in world history.

Why did Parker Brothers buy Monopoly from Charles Darrow?

Parker Brothers bought the rights to Monopoly in 1935 after it saw immense local success in Philadelphia. Darrow had been hand-producing the game sets on circular oilcloth boards before the company stepped in for mass production.

What year did Charles Darrow copyright Monopoly?

Charles Darrow copyrighted his specific version of Monopoly in 1933 before officially licensing it to Parker Brothers. This commercialization helped turn the property-trading game into a global phenomenon during the Great Depression.