At a time when the collective cultural consciousness has been focused on wealth inequality, the now-familiar refrains about how fictional billionaires spend their money have come back into the limelight. And naturally, Batman’s other half, billionaire Bruce Wayne, has been the subject of much scrutiny.
No matter how naturally gifted or how dedicated to training Batman is, his seemingly infinite wealth will always be one of his defining characteristics as a superhero. Compared to the billionaires who take joyrides to the edge of space today, Bruce Wayne is practically a saint for all of the good that he does in Gotham City. However, that’s left many unsatisfied, both in the DC Universe and the real world. Regardless of the dozens of charitable causes he funds in public and private support he lends to DC’s other heroes, some still question whether the resources he puts into playing the role of Batman could be put to use bettering the lives of those around him.
First, it should be assumed that everything regarding Bruce Wayne’s businesses, charities, and various other enterprises is being done legally and with no loopholes being exploited. If this is true, then Batman is already well on his way towards doing some good work in paying taxes to the federal and local governments. Beyond that, the number of ways in which Bruce Wayne gives back to his community are seemingly endless, and Waybe often gives away life-changing sums of moeny freely.
Several Batman stories highlight the little ways that Wayne makes his world a better place as he goes through his day-to-day life. “24/7” by Devin Grayson and Roger Robinson from 2002’s Batman: Gotham Knights #32, follows Bruce Wayne throughout a typical day and showcases the ways in which small gestures on his part change lives in big ways. Bruce’s day begins with the radio on as he prepares to head into the office, the Wayne Foundation being credited with providing funding for the weather and traffic updates on-air. Once at work, he navigates a deal to reduce cost and consumption for the company, buying it great P.R. while doing something better for the environment as well.
This sort of “do the right thing” attitude extends beyond just Bruce Wayne’s reach, though, as the accounting department is shown giving a relatively easy second chance to a man was stopped by Batman during an armed robbery. The fact that Bruce’s own genuinely compassionate way of operating permeates the businesses and charities he runs is a testament to the fact that his appreciation for his employees is genuine. It would seem that Bruce Wayne has made it his mission to spare no expense by offering every Gotham resident an opportunity to live well above the poverty line in exchange for honest work. Scholarships, health care, and fair pay permeate his enterprises as a standard course. In fact, this attitude is one that is so deeply embedded in everything with the Wayne logo on it that Batman has even turned it into a weapon.
The Batman Strikes! #39, by Jai Nitz and Christopher Jones might exist within the world of a kids-oriented animated series, but that doesn’t stop the 2008 tale from offering a poignant look at how Batman puts his money to good use. The recently opened Wayne Adult Education Center had drawn the attention of both the press and Black Mask. The villain took it upon himself to pay Wayne a visit, expressing his dissatisfaction with the billionaire’s efforts to eliminate crime through community outreach. When they were unable to reach an otherwise amicable agreement on the matter, Black Mask turned to violence.
After that, Batman was able to turn the villain’s own army against him by giving them a message from Bruce Wayne himself. Specifically, an offer of guaranteed jobs, insurance, and education for anyone willing to go down to the Wayne Adult Education Center and fill out the paperwork. Seeing as how their current employer was in no way going to provide them anything beyond some cash and the occasional beating, Black Mask’s henchmen walked away from the fight without lifting a fist.
Undoubtedly these immense acts of generosity point towards Bruce Wayne being as much of an ethical billionaire as one conceivably could be, though there are still some downsides to his business.
Black Mask was quick to point out that Wayne Enterprises regularly puts other companies both large and small out of business, sometimes forcing those who worked for them into lives of crime and continuing the brutal cycle that Gotham has become so accustomed to over the years. On top of that, the amount that Bruce Wayne ultimately puts back into the community is surely not as great as the amount he spends funding his own crime-fighting career as well as much of the Justice League’s expenses. Then, there are his other teams, his clandestine operations, the constant research and development that goes into always staying at the top of his game.
Funneling all of that money back into Gotham City would have unquestionably transformed it and its residents. And the current amount of charity work that he does would have an enormous impact anywhere else in the world, too. However, it’s not like Wayne’s resources have gone to waste. Batman and his arsenal have saved Gotham City, the world and even the universe at large from countless existential threats.
While Batman’s hyper-focus on protecting and building up his hometown is somewhat hypocritical, Wayne’s dedication to using his wealth to protect Gotham necessitates many of his expenses. Bruce Wayne might be a billionaire, but he’s also the sole reason that Gotham hasn’t been overrun by aliens or other villains a hundred times over. Wayne could’ve dedicated his fortune to addressing myriad societal issues, but all of those problems can only be dealt with if civilization continues to exist. While there are certainly some difficult questions that could asked about Bruce Wayne and his forutne, Batman has put his money to good use by becoming one of the most effective and influential heroes of the DC Universe.
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