Zillionaire
n.capable, hopefulplayful
What it means
An informally imagined person of enormous wealth.
Reach for it when using humorous exaggeration rather than making a literal financial claim
The fictional zillionaire quietly endowed three neighborhood libraries.
Choose between these
7- playful
mogul
when conspicuous business influence suits informal prose
not when Mogul can refer to media or entertainment reach without verified wealth.
- playful
moneybags
when teasing or critical slang is intentional
not when Moneybags is derisive and should not be applied neutrally to a person.
- everyday
tycoon
when business control and success are central
not when A tycoon may be less wealthy and is defined by enterprise.
- professional
billionaire
when wealth of at least one billion currency units is factual
not when Billionaire is measurable, whereas zillionaire is comic hyperbole.
- professional
ultra-rich person
when plain socioeconomic description is needed
not when The threshold for ultra-rich must be defined, but the phrase avoids imaginary numbers.
- formal
plutocrat
when wealth also produces political power
not when A plutocrat's influence, not merely fortune, is the defining concern.
- literary
magnate
when command of an industry deserves formal description
not when Magnate points to sector power rather than limitless riches.
Said against
3- pauper
- debtor
- indigent person
It naturally appears in
3- fictional zillionaire
The fictional zillionaire financed a garden on the moon.
- feel like a zillionaire
Three ripe tomatoes made him feel like a zillionaire.
- overnight zillionaire
The comedy follows an overnight zillionaire who cannot operate the mansion.
Usage notes
Zillionaire is hyperbole, not a wealth category. Praise for wealth should not imply moral worth or erase how it was acquired.