Real Estate Fact: Game of Monopoly was More Fun

Recently we came across an article online on Inman News, about “Eleven Amazing Real Estate Facts” that really caught our attention, so we took a look at each one, and decided to share them with you one at a time! Some are simply tidbits about foreign real estate customs, some are facts about the rich and famous, and some are just interesting twists on stuff we probably already knew, but didn’t think about. Enjoy these eleven expanded real estate facts, and click on Inman News to see the original list!

Fact: That family game night favorite, Monopoly, was originally supposed to teach players how broken capitalism really was.

Expanded Fact: On the Henry George Institute website, Edward Dodson has a great article about how the game Monopoly was originally a game called “The Landlord’s Game” that was supposed to teach principals of social and economic justice. It was created by a young woman named Elizabeth Magie, an ardent fan of the single tax proposal by philosopher Henry George. Ms. Magie patented her game in 1904. She went on to sell the rights to her game to Hasbro, so they could turn it into “Monopoly”, on the condition that they continue to sell “The Landlord’s Game” as well. It didn’t sell, but Hasbro did make the alternate rules available if you wrote in for them.

Fun Fact: The original game and rules for “The Landlord’s Game” are now available online.

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