How Malfoys earned money?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 186839

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "randmath23" <randmath23 at ...> wrote:
>
> I was wondering how the Malfoy family earned their money.  I cannot find in any of the Harry Potter books that gives any indication of what type of job the Malfoys engaged in.
> 
> randmath23 at ...
>

bboyminn:

We've has several long detailed discussion on the Malfoys and 
the wizard economy in general, though those would be buried 
very deep in the past. 

As others have pointed out, the Malfoys started out rich, and 
from then on, it is up to each generation to a least preserve,
if not expand upon, the family wealth. 

To do this, I think Mr. Malfoy's job title would be something
like 'investor'. He uses his wealth, as an example, to 
facilitate other businesses in exchange for a commission. In
this case, he acts like a bank lending money that in turn 
allows the various business transactions, import/export, 
manufacturing, etc... to occur. 

It seems Malfor has a network of friends, let's call them
patrons, who, as friends, would direct their business toward
Malfoy, and in exchange, Malfoy would give preference to 
their businesses.

Also, Malfoy's seem to have a large estate, certainly they
have a large manor house, which implies also large ground.
Which in turn implies a certain amount of agriculture or
agricutlure related business is going on; beef, pork, sheep,
grain, fruits, etc....

Keep in mind, back in earlier centuries, the core of wealth
was in property. Owning land and/or buildings was sure to 
make you rich. 

As to how wizards in general make money, I suspect like all
of us, the work for it. It is easy for us to overlook the
small details, but consider what is necessary to keep a 
wizard business in business. Take Fortescue, he need store 
fixtures, he need pots and pan, refrigeration, tables, chairs,
cutlery (fork, spoons, etc...), he need glass for his 
store fronts, and for his display cases. He need fruit, sugar,
other flavorings, chocolate, cream, milk, etc.... A lot of
other people could make money just keeping Mr, Fortescue 
afloat. 

Consider what it takes to keep Tom's pub and the many other
Pubs afloat. Maker of wine, spirits, beer, ale, soft drinks,
source of food, store fixtures, tables, chairs, drinking
glasses, and the list goes on and on.

Consider publishing, Zonko products, fireworks, houses have
to be built and furnished, in the wizard world there is the
full range of tradesmen and craftsmen you would find in any
culture. All making money. Some are better at it than others.

I do have a theory that a certain amount of trade goes on
between the wizard world and the muggle world. Many muggle-
borns still have connections in the muggle world. If Fortescue
needs strawberries for his ice cream, it wouldn't be that hard
to find a muggle-born who could buy them and transfer them into
the wizard world. I suspect that is one large form of business
that could exist.

I suspect there is a small but limited interchange in the other
direction, from wizards to muggles. Though certainly not anything
enchanted. A fine furniture maker might sell to a muggle-born,
a friend of the muggle-born might admire the piece and wonder
where it came from. The muggle-born might offer to get him/her
and identical piece. So, it could happen with in limits.

So, the central point is, there are plenty of ways for Malfoys
to maintain and expand their wealth. 

So, again, in general, we would just consider Malfoy and 
investor; someone who has enough money to make that money work
for him.

Steve/bluewizard