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One of my favorite things about Monopoly is the feeling I get when I’m with all the beautiful banknotes in the game.
It makes me feel like the real Mr. Money. If, like me, you wonder how rich you really are from owning a Monopoly game, then this article serves you.
On the other hand, you could be curious about the total amount that comes with your edition of the game to ensure its completeness.
Whatever the case, let’s find out the answer to our collective question “How much money comes in a Monopoly game?
Quick Facts About Monopoly Money
- The total amount in Monopoly is $118,660 in modern Monopoly.
- Older Monopoly editions have a total of $20,580.
- Versions before 2008 have $15,140.
- There are 45 of each banknote in the most recent edition of Monopoly.
How Much Money Comes With Monopoly?
Hasbro has stated that Monopoly versions released before 2008 all have about $15,140.
But Hasbro reviewed this amount in 2008 and increased the amount to $20,580. So every Monopoly version released since 2008 should have over $20k in the box.
The banknotes do not include a $1,000. Its denominations are from $500 down to $5 bills.
Players worldwide complained of occasionally running out of cash in the bank, and Hasbro reviewed and increased the total amount to $118,660 in January 2022.
Like many Monopoly lovers, I was grateful and excited for this change by Hasbro.
Before the change, Hasbro had instructed players to make their extra money out of paper. This suggestion wasn’t well received.
Which Bank Notes Come With A Monopoly Set?
According to the Classic Monopoly Edition, banknotes differ in color; colors depend on the denomination.
| Denomination | Color |
|---|---|
| $500 bills | Orange (45 copies) |
| $100 bills | Beige (45 copies) |
| $50 bills | Blue (45 copies) |
| $20 bills | Green (45 copies) |
| $10 bills | Yellow (45 copies) |
| $5 bills | Pink (45 copies) |
| $1 bills | White (45 copies) |
How Much Money Came With Monopoly Sets Released Before 2008?
After examining a few of my Monopoly boards from before 2008, I’ve realized that Monopoly sets released before that year came with only $15,140.
In the newer versions, we have $20,580. Inflation has likely affected Monopoly money!
How Much Does Each Player Start With in a Game of Monopoly?
In most versions of the Monopoly game, each player starts with $1500. No matter what year your version of Monopoly was released, this start amount applies to all.
However, the only significant difference is how many of each denomination you may receive. There are specific distribution instructions for giving out Monopoly money to players.
To see the different instructions and how they apply to various versions of Monopoly, like Monopoly Junior, Electronic Banking Monopoly, and more; I have compiled a complete guide to help you with that. Read: How Much Money Do You Start With in Monopoly? (Complete Guide)
What To Do if Your Monopoly Set Doesn’t Have Enough Money
I have good news for you. If your bank ever runs out of money or you lose some Monopoly money, Hasbro permits you to print more money. Hasbro officially allows players to print Money if more is needed.
Printing counterfeit money in real life is a federal crime, but this is Monopoly. Hasbro says you can print more, so print more!
What if you don’t have a printer? Well, you can design handmade money or buy them online. Assuming you don’t know exactly where to buy from, Amazon is an ideal place to get them. I will leave a link below.
Can You Play With Real Money?
Interestingly in 2015, Hasbro launched a limited edition of Monopoly in France. This edition came with real euro instead of the traditional fake Monopoly bills.
In one of the released sets the bank has $20,580 in original euros. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those who were able to get their hands on this edition.
However, if you can’t buy fun, make your own fun! What do I mean? Well, you can decide to use your money to play the Monopoly game regardless of the version you own.
For example, if you play with four friends, each player could contribute $5,145 to the bank in real cash. And still stick to the standard rule of starting the game with $1500.
At the end of the game, anyone who goes bankrupt loses just his $1500. But thinking about this now, that’s quite not the case.
If a player goes bankrupt, he doesn’t only lose his $1500. Because at the end of the game, the total amount left in the bank splits among all players. Players who go bankrupt could lose more than $1500.
How? Think of it this way. Sometimes players get cash rewards from Chance or Community Chest cards. Imagine a player getting rewarded five times from the bank. His reward means he has taken more than $1500 from the bank.
Another factor that might contribute to this is if a player passes GO faster than others. Imagine one player gets sent to GO multiple times and collects salaries at every instance.
He has taken more money from the bank than others. However you play, the best man gets more money. At the end of the day, you might go home with $1000 or less.
Although some people see this form of playing as gambling, I think quite the opposite. It’s a game with rewards. Only this time, the reward has real value. So, yes, you can play the game with a clean conscience.
Conclusion
The direct answer to the question, “How much money is in a Monopoly game?” is $118,660.
And if you’re trying to find out how many bills in total are in the Monopoly game, simply multiply the number of denominations you have by 45.
Another takehome from this article is that Hasbro allows players to print their money. This is to stress the fact that the bank never, ever runs out of money.
So whether you are playing Monopoly versions before 2008, after 2008, or versions from 2022, you know exactly how much your Monopoly game comes with.
