20 Films Where the Gay Character Is the Richest Person in the Room

Wealth dynamics often play a crucial role in storytelling by creating power imbalances between characters. Films featuring wealthy LGBTQ+ protagonists frequently explore themes of privilege and class alongside identity. These characters command attention through their financial status and influence within their respective narratives. The following list highlights movies where a gay character holds the most economic power in the story.

‘The Favourite’ (2018)

Queen Anne sits at the top of the social and economic hierarchy as the monarch of Great Britain. She suffers from poor health and relies on her close friend Lady Sarah to manage the country’s affairs. A new servant named Abigail arrives and attempts to charm the Queen to improve her own social standing. The film depicts a power struggle where the affections of the wealthy monarch become the ultimate prize for the two women.

‘The Power of the Dog’ (2021)

Phil Burbank is a wealthy and intimidating rancher who runs a successful cattle business with his brother George. He uses his financial power and masculine bravado to torment his brother’s new wife and her son. Phil hides his true nature behind a rough exterior while maintaining control over the vast estate. His wealth allows him to dominate the people around him until unexpected connections form.

‘Carol’ (2015)

Carol Aird is a glamorous and wealthy woman navigating a difficult divorce in 1950s New York. She meets a young photographer named Therese Belivet who works as a clerk in a department store. The financial disparity between the two women frames their budding romance as Carol introduces Therese to a life of luxury. Her resources provide them with the means to escape their daily lives for a brief road trip together.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (2018)

Freddie Mercury rises from working at Heathrow Airport to becoming one of the most famous rock stars in the world. His immense talent generates massive fortune and global fame for himself and the band Queen. The film shows his lavish lifestyle and the isolation that sometimes accompanies extreme wealth. He eventually uses his platform and resources to deliver a legendary performance at Live Aid.

‘Rocketman’ (2019)

Reginald Dwight transforms into the international superstar Elton John through his musical genius. He accumulates vast wealth that allows him to indulge in extravagant shopping sprees and a hedonistic lifestyle. The narrative follows his journey from a modest background to becoming a music industry titan with unlimited resources. His financial success contrasts with his personal struggles for love and acceptance.

‘Behind the Candelabra’ (2013)

Liberace lives in an opulent world filled with gold costumes and extravagant furniture. He begins a relationship with a young animal trainer named Scott Thorson who moves into his lavish mansion. The pianist uses his immense wealth to mold Scott into his ideal companion through surgery and diet pills. Money defines their relationship as Scott becomes entirely dependent on the generous but controlling entertainer.

‘Foxcatcher’ (2014)

John du Pont is an eccentric multi-millionaire heir who funds an amateur wrestling team at his private estate. He recruits Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz with promises of state-of-the-art facilities and financial support. The vast wealth of du Pont creates an uneasy dynamic where he demands total loyalty and admiration from the athletes. His money shields him from consequences until his behavior spirals into tragedy.

‘Brideshead Revisited’ (2008)

Sebastian Flyte belongs to a wealthy aristocratic family that owns the magnificent Brideshead estate. He invites his middle-class friend Charles Ryder to spend the summer at his ancestral home. The grandeur of the estate and the privileged lifestyle of the Flyte family captivate Charles. Sebastian struggles with alcoholism and the pressure of his inheritance while his wealth isolates him from reality.

‘Maurice’ (1987)

Clive Durham inherits a large estate and a position in the aristocracy that dictates his social obligations. He engages in a romantic friendship with Maurice Hall at Cambridge but ultimately chooses to marry a woman to protect his status. Maurice must navigate his own path while Clive settles into a life of safe and wealthy conformity. The film highlights how class and money influenced the choices of gay men in Edwardian England.

‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ (1997)

Jim Williams is a self-made millionaire and antiques dealer who hosts the most exclusive Christmas party in Savannah. He employs a young and volatile man named Billy Hanson with whom he has a tumultuous romantic relationship. The local community respects Williams for his money and restoration efforts despite the rumors about his private life. His wealth becomes a central factor in the legal battle that ensues after a fatal incident.

‘Rope’ (1948)

Brandon Shaw and his friend Phillip Morgan are wealthy intellectuals who consider themselves superior to ordinary people. They strangle a former classmate and hide his body in a wooden chest in their penthouse apartment. Brandon flaunts his arrogance by hosting a dinner party with the victim’s family and friends served off that very chest. His privilege leads him to believe he is above morality and the law.

‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ (2023)

Prince Henry is a member of the British Royal Family and possesses immense inherited wealth and global status. He falls in love with Alex Claremont-Diaz who is the son of the United States President. Their relationship bridges the gap between old world aristocracy and modern political power. Henry must balance his royal duties and the expectations of the crown with his personal desire for happiness.

‘Tár’ (2022)

Lydia Tár is a world-renowned conductor at the height of her career with a luxurious lifestyle to match. She lives in a brutalist Berlin apartment and travels via private jet while commanding the Berlin Philharmonic. Her position of power allows her to manipulate the careers of younger women in the classical music industry. The film explores how her professional success and financial security insulate her from scrutiny for a time.

‘Yves Saint Laurent’ (2014)

Yves Saint Laurent becomes the head of a major fashion house at a very young age. His creative genius leads to a global empire that generates immense revenue and defines cultural trends. He lives a life of decadence and luxury alongside his partner and business manager Pierre Bergé. The film depicts how his commercial success fueled both his artistic output and his personal demons.

‘Colette’ (2018)

Mathilde de Morny is a wealthy aristocrat who defies gender norms and goes by the name Missy. She begins a relationship with the writer Colette and supports her pursuit of independence. Missy uses her social standing and funds to patronize the arts and live authentically despite public scandal. Her financial independence allows her to exist outside the strictures of conventional society.

‘Vita & Virginia’ (2018)

Vita Sackville-West is a popular author and aristocrat who inherits a legacy of wealth and land. She pursues a romance with the brilliant but financially struggling modernist writer Virginia Woolf. Vita uses her resources to support Virginia and influences her literary work through their intense connection. The class difference between the two women plays a significant role in their dynamic.

‘Lizzie’ (2018)

Lizzie Borden lives in a comfortable home but remains under the strict financial control of her father. She forms a secret romantic bond with the family’s housemaid Bridget Sullivan. The tension in the household rises as her father’s penny-pinching and controlling nature threatens their future. Lizzie seeks to claim her inheritance and freedom through drastic measures that shock the community.

‘My Own Private Idaho’ (1991)

Scott Favor is the son of the mayor of Portland and stands to inherit a substantial fortune. He rebels against his privileged background by hustling on the streets with his best friend Mike Waters. Scott views his time on the street as a temporary phase before he claims his rightful place in society. His eventual return to wealth creates a painful separation between him and Mike.

‘Swoon’ (1992)

Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb are two wealthy law students from Chicago who believe they are intellectually superior. They plan and execute a kidnapping and murder to prove they can commit the perfect crime. Their affluent backgrounds provide them with resources but also fuel their arrogance and detachment from reality. The film stylizes their relationship and the sensational trial that followed their arrest.

‘I Care a Lot’ (2020)

Marla Grayson operates a legal guardianship firm that systematically drains the assets of wealthy elderly wards. She amasses a fortune by selling their homes and belongings while keeping them medicated in care facilities. Her ruthlessness allows her to outmaneuver a dangerous crime lord and build a massive business empire. She ends the film as a wealthy CEO who leveraged exploitation for success.

Share your favorite films that feature wealthy LGBTQ+ characters in the comments.