In Brewster's Millions, a man must spend a $1 million inheritance in a year with nothing to show for it in order to inherit $7 million

Brewster's Millions is a comic novel by George Barr McCutcheon, published in 1902 under the pen name Richard Greaves. Montgomery Brewster's grandfather leaves him one million dollars "without a restriction." His uncle, James T. Sedgwick, then dies and leaves him an estate worth about $6.3 million on one condition. On his twenty-sixth birthday, 23 September, Brewster must be "absolutely penniless." He may not keep any asset, lend or give money away, or tell anyone why. If he fails, the uncle's money goes to charity. The executor, a Montana man named Swearengen Jones, is "sole referee" and tells him to spend "freely, but not foolishly." Brewster spends nearly $100,000 in the first two weeks, and his investments keep earning money he must then spend. On 22 September he has exactly $79.08. The lawyers report that Jones has vanished. Then a letter arrives: Jones is in town, and about seven million dollars is waiting. Brewster marries Peggy, who agreed to marry him believing he was broke. The book became a Broadway play in 1906 and films from 1914 to 2024; in the 1985 film Richard Pryor must spend $30 million in 30 days to inherit $300 million.