Auric Goldfinger

A greedy industrialist whose only loyalty is to gold bullion.

Auric Goldfinger is the primary antagonist in Ian Fleming's 1959 novel Goldfinger and its 1964 film adaptation, the third in the James Bond series. His first name, meaning "of gold," was chosen by Fleming to mock his neighbor, architect Ernő Goldfinger, whom he disliked. According to a 1965 Forbes article and The New York Times, the character's persona was also based on gold-mining magnate Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. Portrayed by German actor Gert Fröbe (dubbed in English by Michael Collins), Goldfinger is remembered as the 49th-greatest villain in film history by the American Film Institute and the most sinister Bond villain in an IMDb poll.

Quick Facts

Series

James Bond

First

Goldfinger (1959 novel)

Last

007 Legends (2012 video game)

Creator

Ian Fleming

Gender

Male

Occupation

Jeweller
Metallurgist
Smuggler

Affiliation

SMERSH (novel)
Auric Enterprises Inc. (film)
S.C.U.M. (James Bond Jr.)
SPECTRE (GoldenEye: Rogue Agent)

Portrayed by

Gert Fröbe

Lore & Background

In the novel, Goldfinger is a 42-year-old Latvian émigré who naturalized as a British citizen. Standing five feet tall with red hair and blue eyes, he possesses boundless greed and an obsession with gold that drives his criminal empire. He serves as the treasurer of SMERSH and owns "Enterprises Auric A.G." in Switzerland, where he manufactures metal furniture to launder gold through airline seats. His wealth is spread across countries as bullion rather than held in banks or taxed. Goldfinger fancies himself an expert marksman who never misses a shot, claiming to have killed four Mafia heads by shooting them through the right eye. He is also a smooth cheater at golf and Canasta, once attempting to defraud Junius Du Pont until exposed by Bond.

Reader's Guide

While the novel's plan involved stealing $15 billion in bullion, critics noted logistical flaws regarding the time required and the bomb's effect. The film version altered this: Goldfinger instead plans to detonate a dirty bomb within Fort Knox to irradiate the gold, rendering it unusable for decades and skyrocketing the value of his personal holdings. Bond famously confronts him with the line, "Do you expect me to talk?" to which Goldfinger replies, "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die." This moment was voted the number-one best in the franchise by Sky Movies in 2013. Goldfinger's obsession extends to his lovers; he has them painted head-to-toe in gold, a method that kills Jill Masterton in the film when an area near her spine is left unpainted.

Did You Know?

Goldfinger was banned in Israel because Fröbe had been a member of the Nazi Party until before World War II, though he later saved two Jews.
The American Film Institute ranked Auric Goldfinger as the 49th-greatest villain in the past 100 years of film.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Auric Goldfinger?

Auric Goldfinger is a wealthy industrialist and criminal mastermind who first appeared in Ian Fleming's 1959 novel before becoming one of cinema's most iconic villains. He is defined by his obsessive devotion to gold, which drives his every action and defines his identity as an untouchable adversary.

What is Goldfinger's ultimate plan?

His singular goal is Operation Grand Slam, a scheme designed to contaminate the United States' gold reserves at Fort Knox with radioactive isotopes. By rendering American gold useless, he intends to cause his own massive hoard to skyrocket in value, securing him unparalleled wealth.