Auric Goldfinger

Treasurer of SMERSH, richest man in England, passionate about gold

The rotund, 5’0″ Auric Goldfinger appears to be a highly successful and respectable entrepreneur, heading up his metal furniture business, Enterprises Auric A.G. However, all is not what it seems.

Born in Riga, Latvia, Goldfinger is 20 when he flees his country, recognising the likelihood of a Russian takeover – which would be fatal to his family trade in gold and fine jewels. Arriving in England, he acquires pawnbrokers throughout the country, personally collecting gold from his shops on a monthly basis. His real commercial operation is smuggling this melted-down gold to Switzerland, and eventually India, using his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. As treasurer of SMERSH, he has even bigger plans: an ambitious scheme using chemical weapons to carry out ‘Operation Grand Slam’, a heist that could change the fate of the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

Goldfinger‘s flamboyant lead character is named after Modernist architect Ernő Goldfinger, whose London buildings Ian Fleming was strongly opposed to. On publication of the book in 1959, Ernő threatened to sue but the two men reached an agreement out of court.