Rich Pirates of One Piece: Born with Silver Hooks

Summary

Wealth disparity drives some pirates to pursue a life of piracy as a means of survival, reflecting their humble beginnings.
Not all pirates come from deprived backgrounds – some are born into privilege but reject their noble roots to pursue piracy.
Privileged pirates like Shanks and Cavendish face unique motivations, ranging from personal freedom to maintaining popularity.

In the captivating tale of One Piece, wealth inequality and its repercussions serve as a recurring subtext. At times, piracy can be seen as a response to the overwhelming challenges faced in earning a legitimate living. Characters like Nami, Eustass Kid, and others have been explicitly shown to hail from less privileged backgrounds, their paths steered by the pirate’s life due to circumstances rather than choice.

For Nami, her greed might stem from a childhood lacking in financial resources. However, it’s important to note that not all pirates share this background; some were born into affluent families. The reasons behind piracy can vary greatly, but often, their past circumstances, including financial hardship or privilege, play a significant role in their decision to become a pirate, even though wealth is seldom a driving factor for the already wealthy.

1. Shanks

A Celestial Dragon Grounded

Motive(s): None, initially, having been kidnapped. Seemingly dislikes his past upon growing up.

Born into the esteemed Figarland family, Shanks had the advantage of being related to influential figures such as Garling and Shamrock, both prominent members of God’s Knights, the elite law enforcement unit among the World Nobles, a highly privileged group in the series. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he was abducted as a baby by the Roger Pirates, leading him to be brought up as a pirate instead.

Ever since I’ve embarked on my own sea-faring adventure, leading the Red Hair Pirates, there have been whispers about my past connections. My brother, Shamrock, has hinted that Shanks, my esteemed comrade, has ventured into Mary Geoise – the stronghold of the World Nobles. From his words, it’s clear that Shanks holds no affection for them, choosing to relinquish any potential privileges born from nobility to persist in the pirate life. As of now, the details of these potential advantages eluding Shanks remain a mystery to us all.

2. Sanji

The Black Sheep

Motive(s): Wanted to escape his abusive family, find the All Blue.

Sanji is the child of King Vinsmoke Judge of the Germa Kingdom, a land known for its extreme militarization. Despite being born into wealth due to his royal status, Sanji found the refined lifestyle of Germa oppressive. His father, King Judge, views his children as potential weapons of mass destruction and has even modified some of them into inhuman cyborgs from birth. Fortunately for Sanji, his mother, Sora, used a prenatal drug to try to prevent this modification, making him the only one in the family not born with these enhancements. Unfortunately, this made Judge see Sanji as a failure and he often mistreats him, belittling Sanji’s passion for cooking because he believes that royalty should not serve others.

Sanji managed to flee with assistance from his older sister, Reiju, and spent the rest of his young years mastering his cooking skills. He harbored a wish to find the All Blue, a legendary sea that chefs long to visit because it’s where all kinds of fish converge. His mentor, Zeff, inspired him to chase this dream, leading him to join the Straw Hat Pirates as their cook in pursuit of his goal. Sanji appears indifferent towards his childhood wealth, perhaps due to the painful memories associated with it and the expectations he was unable or uninterested in meeting.

3. Nefertari D. Vivi

A Princess Scorned

Motive(s): Protect Alabasta and her father

Princess Nefertari D. Vivi hails from the Kingdom of Alabasta. Upon learning about a plot to dethrone her father, she collaborated with Igaram, chief of Alabasta Security, to secretly infiltrate Baroque Works. However, their undercover operation was eventually exposed. In an attempt to thwart Baroque Works and unmask their leader, Crocodile, Vivi joined forces with the Straw Hat Pirates on a journey that ultimately led to their victory.

Vivi found herself drawn to piracy, not as a rejection of it, but because maintaining her position within the pirate life might have been what initially led her there. Contrary to common assumptions about pirates being driven by wealth and power, Vivi’s motivations are different; she wants to help her nation in any way she can. After the campaign, she was offered a permanent spot on the crew, but she declined, preferring to assist her father instead. However, with the government seeking to apprehend her, it seems she might not be ready to hang up her pirate hat just yet.

4. Bellamy

Noticeably Wealthy

Motive(s): Boredom, Admiration of Doflamingo

Bellamy and his band of the Bellamy Pirates are suggested to hail from affluent upbringings, specifically from the prosperous town of Notice, located in the North Blue region. Unlike being born into nobility, they are simply rich. Interestingly, this wealth was the driving factor behind Bellamy’s choice to turn pirate, as he grew restless in his wealthy hometown. Similarly, it is presumed that his crew members joined him for similar reasons – a lack of excitement or challenge in their privileged lives.

Suitably, Bellamy admires Donquixote Doflamingo, another wealthy young man who turned into a pirate. The Bellamy Pirates were given permission to display Doflamingo’s flag, symbolizing their alliance with the Donquixote Pirates. Unfortunately, this alliance deteriorated when they humiliated Doflamingo. To regain his good graces, the crew ventured to Skypeia in search of a golden pillar. Sadly, this journey is said to have resulted in the deaths of several Bellamy Pirates. Later, Bellamy abandoned his crew to serve under Doflamingo directly. However, he was often disrespected due to being perceived as too weak to truly belong to the crew. Now, Bellamy has retired from piracy and taken up dyeing, but he gave his Vivre Card to Luffy in case any urgent matter arises where his presence is required.

5. Donquixote Doflamingo

A Celestial Dragon Defanged

Motive(s): Revenge on World Nobles

Unlike Shanks, Doflamingo grew up amidst the nobility, unlike most of his contemporaries who squandered their government-collected riches on owning slaves and lavish lifestyles. However, his father, Homing, disapproved of this behavior, as well as the general norms of nobility, such as considering oneself a deity. Contrary to expectations, he chose to remove his family from their wealth, only to find themselves slipping into poverty instead.

Character named Doflamingo aspires not only to reclaim what was once lost by ruling over the weak, but also desires the downfall of all nobles, viewing them as undeserving of their positions. He’s willing to kill his own family members and is supported by faithful followers in a strange alliance. Previously, he seized the throne of Dressrosa through force, a kingdom that his ancestors had given up to join the higher nobility. Currently, he appears to be no better off than other prisoners in Impel Down, yet it’s widely anticipated that he will manage an escape.

6. Cavendish

Bad & Bourgeois

Motive(s): Maintaining Popularity, Serving Luffy

At present, Cavendish is recognized among seven pirates holding the position of subordinate captain within the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Their group goes by the name of the Beautiful Pirates. From childhood, he drew attention as the prince of the Bourgeois Kingdom and was later exiled due to his overwhelming popularity. It’s believed that he was banished for being too popular. He is indeed a pirate from affluent background, receiving 500 million “belly” (a currency unit) as part of his exile to sustain himself. Additionally, 74 individuals joined him during his exile, eventually becoming his initial crew members.

From an early age, Cavendish has been revered, and he cherishes his stardom. He gained both recognition and notoriety, with his alternate persona, Hakuba, being a wild swordsman boasting tremendous physical might. The affection Cavendish feels for admiration is so profound that he often refrains from attacking rival pirate crews if they display sufficient awe towards him, as demonstrated in various episodes of his backstory.

Cavendish was well-known for his intense dislike of the Worst Generation, feeling that their surge in fame took away from the advantage he had as a Super Rookie. However, this viewpoint shifted somewhat when he was rescued by the Straw Hat Pirates, who included two members of the Worst Generation among their crew. Later, Cavendish and his team joined forces with the Straw Hats and other Corrida Colosseum participants in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, an alliance that pledged allegiance to Luffy.

7. At Least Some of the Charlotte Children

Pirate Nepo Babies

Motive(s): Obey Big Mom

Charlotte “Big Mom” Linlin, once a Yonko, constructively established an empire that fittingly bore her title. Originally an orphan, she nurtured a persistent aspiration to create a vast family. To achieve this, she married and subsequently divorced numerous partners in order to sire powerful offspring. The precise chronology of her financial gain is unknown, along with the extent of her wealth at the time of the birth of her older children.

In essence, this powerful woman built a vast pirate empire, relying on taxes from her subjects and forcefully taking resources from others. Despite this privileged lifestyle, she seems to focus on training her children to be skilled pirates instead of allowing them free rein. Many of her children hold significant authority over her territories, often being referred to as “ministers” for the regions she controls. Ultimately, their wealth and power are tied to their mother’s name, suggesting that they do not fully own their own success.

2025-04-07 02:07