What would the $6 Million Man cost today?

In George Barr McCutcheon's original 1902 novel, the titular character, Montgomery Brewster, had to spend the $1 million he inherited from his grandfather within one year to be eligible for a $7 million inheritance from his uncle, who hated his grandpa.

Over the following 83 years, a play and six film versions of the book were made, according to movie database, IMDB.com. In the first 1921 version, Brewster had to spend $2 million within a year to qualify for a $10 million inheritance. That translates to $24 million and $120 million respectively today.

By the time Richard Pryor took up the Brewster mantle in 1985, he had to spend $30 million within 30 days to inherit $300 million. If there was a 2008 version of this movie - not yet, as far as we know - Pryor's inflation-adjusted take would double to $600 million.

Conversely, his $300 million inheritance would have only half the buying power in 2008 that it had in 1985.

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