Captain America is the Most Frugal Superhero of Them All

Have you ever noticed that superheros have a tendency to be worth billions of dollars? It seems like having a huge net worth can give the financial freedom necessary to fight crime. They use their billions to create cover stories and build fancy gadgets. It is no wonder that superheros usually need a lot of money, given that they do not have the time to dedicate to a stable job. There is one notable exception to the big spending type. Indeed, Captain America is the most frugal superhero perhaps in the whole world.

He Cares About Fuel Economy

Have you ever noticed that while other superheros fly into battle on a SR-71 Blackbird that Captain America zooms in on a motorcycle. Usually it is some budget model and not a high end Ducati. I cannot think of any reason why he would want to use such a small and vulnerable vehicle other than he just really cares about the environment and fuel economy. After all, the Hulk always seems to fall from the sky and Iron Man uses his suit. Non-flying heroes like Hawkeye and Black Widow seem to use high end planes or at least commandeer an alien one. It must be pretty hard to save the day on a 50mph Harley. Somehow Captain America makes it look so easy.

He Reps Cheap Thread

Apparently his suit is made of ballistic nylon, which is what they make horse blankets out of. While other prima donnas seem to require uniforms that look like they came full price from Nordstrom’s, Captain America is the most frugal superhero imaginable. He uses the same basic material in ropes to cover his body. He does not use silk or fancy bulletproof armor that weighs almost nothing (Batman) or have a stretchy mystery material that stands up to all kinds of external shocks (Superman). He is an average guy with extraordinary abilities and courage. He does not need a fancy suit to announce that he has made it in life. He does not need wardrobe variety so he can show off to his friends. His suit is utilitarian and shows his pride in America. What’s more is he only has a few pairs of clothes since he usually wears the same thing everyday. Because of his suit’s material it probably does not even need to be washed that often, thus lowering his electric bill and water use footprint. Truly, Captain America checks all the boxes.

He Looks For Affordable Housing

If you search for Captain America’s living quarters online, you will discover that he lives in an apartment. Meanwhile, Tony Stark is busy blowing up his multi-million mansion full of hot cars while getting drunk at a party. In one of the recent Avengers movies, Captain America is asked if he has found a place in Brooklyn yet, to which he replies that it might be too expensive for him. Captain America is off fighting crime all the time. When he’s not, he might be staying at a super secret government location or bumming a spot on Iron Man’s couch. It totally makes sense for him to maintain a modest residence. What does he need with 3000 square feet and a three car garage when he is gone all the time? If he ever finds love and starts a family he might need more, but until then he is building his savings and financial independence so he can use more of his time to serve others.

His One Big Expense is His Shield

Captain America’s main accessory is a round shield made of the rare metal vibranium. It costs $10,000 per gram and would run about $54 million. So if he lives on $30,000 a year and drives an old Harley but carries around an asset that could be disposed of and invested in the stock market to produce passive income, how is he frugal? Well just because a fighter pilot flies a $100 million F-35 plane does not mean he cannot be frugal in his private life. In fact, you could argue that the shield should be considered property of the US government just like the heavy machinery soldiers operate on the battlefield. Hence, his frugality bona fides stand the test of his carrying around the equivalent of 10,000 engagement rings.

Captain America is the Most Frugal Superhero, Just Too Bad There Are Not More Like Him

We associate rich and glamorous with important and powerful. That is why writers probably make most of our superheros out to be larger than life in their personalities and checkbooks. That is why Captain America is so refreshing. He supports good old fashioned American values, has a problem with cursing, and is an all around gentleman. He fights for what’s right. We should look to his frugal ways and ask ourselves, how can we be more like Captain America? Because most people no matter how hard they try will never be as rich, smart, or arrogant as Tony Stark.

Am I missing a foible that hurts Captain America’s frugal credibility? Is there another hero more worthy of the title? Comment below!