What to do if you are rich in Skyrim

So, you've been delving into the dungeons, clearing out bandit camps, and perhaps even stumbling upon a dragon's hoard. You've amassed a considerable fortune in Septims, more than you know what to do with. The mundane tasks of just buying more iron daggers are no longer satisfying. Fear not, Dragonborn! Being rich in Skyrim opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Let's explore what a truly wealthy adventurer can do with their overflowing coin purse.

1. Invest in Property: Build Your Empire

Money can buy you a house in Skyrim, but being *rich* means you can buy the best houses, or even build your own. Owning property isn't just about having a place to stash your loot; it's about establishing your presence and power across the land.

a. Hearthfire Homes: The Ultimate DIY Estate

If you have the Hearthfire DLC (downloadable content), this is where your wealth truly shines. You can purchase plots of land in Hjaalmarch, Falkreath Hold, and The Pale. With enough gold, you can build magnificent homesteads from the ground up.

Start with the Basics: Purchase the land (around 5,000 Septims per plot) and the initial building materials (wood, quarried stone, glass, and straw).
Expand Your Vision: As you gather more resources and gold, you can add various wings and rooms to your homes. Think about adding a library for your enchanting and alchemy needs, a trophy room to display your spoils, a kitchen for cooking, or even an alchemy tower.
Furnish Extravagantly: The more elaborate the furnishings, the more impressive your estate will be. From fine beds to ornate display cases, make your homes a testament to your success.
Hire Staff: With larger estates, you can hire stewards who can manage your household, purchase furnishings, and even buy horses for your homes. This is a true mark of wealth.

b. Pre-built Mansions: Instant Luxury

Even without Hearthfire, Skyrim offers some impressive pre-built properties that can be purchased or acquired.

Proudspire Manor (Solitude): This is the most expensive pre-built house in vanilla Skyrim, costing a hefty 25,000 Septims. It's a spacious and well-appointed manor in the heart of the capital city, perfect for those who want to live in style and proximity to political power.
Honeyside (Riften): While not as grand as Proudspire Manor, Honeyside is a charming house in Riften that can be purchased for 8,000 Septims after completing certain quests. It offers a good balance of cost and comfort.
Breezehome (Whiterun): A more affordable option at 5,000 Septims, Breezehome is still a great starter home in a central location. With upgrades, it can become quite comfortable.

2. Invest in Your Skills: Become Truly Legendary

Why just *have* money when you can use it to become even more powerful? Wealth allows you to bypass the grind of skill improvement and accelerate your progression.

Trainers: High-level trainers in each skill will cost a significant amount of gold for each lesson, but they can quickly raise your skills. If you're rich, you can afford to train multiple times per level, maxing out skills much faster than usual.
Enchanting and Alchemy: These crafting skills are crucial for creating powerful gear. Buying high-quality ingredients for alchemy and soul gems for enchanting will significantly speed up your progress. Imagine brewing the most potent potions and crafting legendary enchanted weapons and armor without breaking a sweat.
Smithing: Similarly, if you want to master smithing, you'll need a lot of materials. Buying ingots, leather strips, and other components in bulk from merchants will allow you to craft and improve your equipment to its absolute best.

3. Support Your Allies: Build a Network

Even the richest individual can benefit from loyal friends and allies. Your gold can be used to strengthen your relationships and gain an advantage.

Bounty Hunting: While often lucrative, you can also choose to *pay* off bounties for your followers or even certain NPCs to gain favor or clear their names.
Donations: The various temples and shrines throughout Skyrim often accept donations. While not directly beneficial to you, it can contribute to your roleplaying as a benevolent (or perhaps manipulative) wealthy individual.
Marriage: While not directly tied to wealth, a spouse can provide valuable services like cooking and managing a household. If you have the means, you can afford to court and impress eligible bachelors and bachelorettes.

4. Indulge in Luxury: The Finer Things in Skyrim

When you've conquered dragons and saved the world, you deserve to treat yourself. Wealth means you can afford the most decadent experiences Skyrim has to offer.

Rare Ingredients and Unique Items: Seek out merchants who sell rare alchemy ingredients or unique weapons and armor. Your wealth will allow you to purchase these items without hesitation.
Travel in Style: While horses are the primary mode of transportation, imagine hiring extra guards or purchasing a carriage service (if available through mods) to travel with an entourage.
The Best Gear: Don't settle for anything less than legendary. Commission the best smiths, enchant your own weapons and armor with the most powerful effects, and adorn yourself with the most precious jewelry.

5. Expand Your Influence: Become a Patron

Your wealth can shape the world around you in more subtle, yet equally impactful ways.

Befriend Merchants: Invest heavily in local shops and businesses. This can not only improve your relationship with the merchants but also potentially increase their stock and prices, making them more profitable for you in the long run.
Fund Guilds: While most guilds in Skyrim don't have a direct "buy-in" option with gold, you can roleplay as a significant benefactor. Imagine making large "donations" to the Companions, the College of Winterhold, or even the Thieves Guild.

Being rich in Skyrim is about more than just having a lot of gold. It's about the freedom to pursue your goals, enhance your power, and shape your destiny in the harsh and beautiful world of Tamriel. So go forth, Dragonborn, and spend your riches wisely – or perhaps, extravagantly!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I quickly make a lot of money in Skyrim if I'm not already rich?

The most efficient early-game money-making strategies often involve exploiting game mechanics. This can include crafting and selling high-value items like enchanted jewelry or fortified potions, or undertaking lucrative questlines like the Dark Brotherhood or the Thieves Guild. Pickpocketing valuable items and selling them is also a viable option. If you're comfortable with it, some players also resort to specific item duplication glitches.

Why are houses in Skyrim so expensive?

The high cost of houses in Skyrim reflects their status as significant investments for the player. They represent stability, security, and a place to truly call home in a dangerous world. The more expensive homes, like Proudspire Manor, are situated in prime locations and offer more space and potential for upgrades, thus commanding a higher price tag. It also serves as a tangible reward for successful adventuring and wealth accumulation.

What is the most valuable single item I can sell in Skyrim?

Generally, the most valuable single items you can sell are Daedric artifacts, unique enchanted items obtained from powerful bosses, or exceptionally rare and potent crafted items like high-level enchanted weapons and armor or masterfully brewed potions. The value is often determined by the item's enchantments, rarity, and player level. Some unique items, like the Ebony Blade or Daedric artifacts from specific quests, can fetch thousands of Septims.

Is it worth buying all the houses in Skyrim?

For roleplaying purposes and to have various bases of operation, it can be very rewarding to buy all the houses. Each house has its own unique benefits, such as proximity to trainers, merchants, or crafting stations. From a purely practical standpoint, if you are consistently earning money, the cost of the houses is relatively low compared to the potential wealth you can accumulate. They also offer storage and display opportunities, making them a good investment for any serious Dragonborn.