Behind the World’s Biggest Board Game: The Story of Elizabeth Magie and Monopoly

Behind the World’s Biggest Board Game: The Story of Elizabeth Magie and Monopoly

Did you know that the original version of Monopoly was invented not by The Parker Brothers, but by Elizabeth Magie? In 1904, Magie patented a game called The Landlord’s Game, which aimed to educate players about the dangers of monopolies and wealth inequality. Unlike the cutthroat capitalist version we know today, The Landlord’s Game had two sets of rules—one that encouraged the now-familiar monopolistic competition and another that promoted wea…