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MONOPOLY – A Woman’s Invention

Posted by Guillaumette Duplaix on

MONOPOLY – A Woman’s Invention – The origins of Invention – Women’s logic of Landlord Game. Story by Guillaumette Duplaix, Executive Editor of RUNWAY MAGAZINE.

MONOPOLY: THE ORIGINS OF A LEGEND

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Monopoly is one of the most famous board games in history, a symbol of capitalism where players buy, sell, and trade properties to drive their opponents into bankruptcy. But beyond its financial battles and strategic land grabs, Monopoly has an origin story that remains largely overlooked: it was invented by a woman.

Elizabeth Magie, an American game designer born in 1866, was the original creator of what we now know as Monopoly. In 1902, she developed The Landlord’s Game, a board game meant to illustrate the economic consequences of land ownership and taxation. Magie designed it to expose the injustice of monopolies and the financial struggles imposed on renters by wealthy landlords.

Her inspiration came from Henry George, an economist who advocated for land tax reforms to prevent property owners from exploiting tenants. Introduced to his work by her father, James Magie, she sought to create an interactive way to explain these ideas to both adults and children.

THE LANDLORD’S GAME: THE TRUE BEGINNING OF MONOPOLY

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In 1903, Elizabeth Magie filed a patent for The Landlord’s Game, making it one of the earliest board games with a focus on economic principles. The game’s layout was remarkably similar to Monopoly—a square board with properties around the edges, spaces for taxation, railroads, and a path leading to “Jail”.

A key aspect of the game was its two rule sets:

  • A “Prosperity” version, where wealth was shared, and fair taxation benefited all players.
  • A “Monopoly” version, where players could accumulate wealth at the expense of others.

While the game was designed to educate players about the dangers of monopolistic wealth, it gained popularity among left-wing intellectuals, Quakers, and reformers, particularly in Atlantic City, where many played local variations.

Magie’s game was eventually published in 1910 by the Economic Game Company in New York. Later, in 1924, she patented a revised version under her married name, Elizabeth Magie Phillips, which included street names and further refinements.

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THE GAME MATERIALS

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A classic Monopoly set includes:

  • A square board with 40 spaces, most of them representing real estate properties.
  • Player tokens, which originally were colored wooden pieces but were replaced in 1935 by miniature metal objects like a top hat, car, ship, and boot. The brouette (wheelbarrow) token was added in 1937, while later editions introduced a horse, purse, lantern, and even a cat in 2013.
  • Money in different denominations, used for purchasing properties and paying taxes.
  • 32 houses and 12 hotels, used for increasing rent values.
  • Chance and Community Chest cards, which introduce unexpected financial gains or losses.
  • Two dice, which determine player movement.

Monopoly can be played by two to eight players, though a full game with many participants can last over ten hours.

OFFICIAL RULES

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The game proceeds in turns, with players rolling dice and moving their tokens across the board. The space they land on determines their next action:

  • Unowned Property → The player can buy it or let the bank auction it to others.
  • Owned Property → The player must pay rent to the owner (unless it is mortgaged).
  • Chance & Community Chest Cards → The player draws a card, which could result in rewards or penalties.
  • Luxury Tax & Income Tax → The player pays fees to the bank.
  • “Go” → Passing this space awards 200 Monopoly dollars, or 400 dollars in special house rules editions.
  • “Go to Jail” → The player moves directly to jail without collecting their salary.
  • “Jail” → The player can attempt to leave by rolling doubles, using a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, or paying a fine.
  • “Free Parking” → A neutral space with no financial impact.

Players who lose all their money and assets go bankrupt and are eliminated. The last remaining player with financial control wins the game.

THE GAME BOARD

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By convention, the board consists of 40 spaces, including:

  • “Go” (space 0), where players collect their salary.
  • “Jail” (space 30) and “Just Visiting” (space 10).
  • “Free Parking”, a neutral area.
  • “Go to Jail”, which forces a player to enter prison.
  • High-value properties, such as Rue de la Paix (space 39), representing the most expensive streets.

The original version of Monopoly (1936) was inspired by Atlantic City, with street names directly taken from its urban layout. Today, different editions exist, featuring global cities, brands, and special themes.

LEGACY OF MONOPOLY

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Elizabeth Magie’s role in the creation of Monopoly resurfaced in the 1970s, when researchers uncovered her 1904 patent and contributions. While the game has evolved into a mass-market phenomenon, its origins in economic critique and education remain a crucial part of its history.

Beyond its board and pieces, Monopoly is more than just a game—it is a social reflection of wealth, power, and strategy, making it as relevant today as it was over a century ago.

Elizabeth Magie, through her vision and creativity, left behind a game that continues to educate, entertain, and spark debates—a true testament to the power of ideas.



Posted from Paris, Quartier des Invalides, France.