5 Deadly James Bond Villains (Based on Real Life People)

One of the hallmarks of the James Bond franchise is the series’ eccentric villains. From a guy who bites people to death with metal teeth to a man with three nipples and a golden gun, James Bond villains are as bizarre as they are dangerous. However, it turns out that some of Bond’s deadliest enemies have been based on real life people.

1
Elliot Carver (Rupert Murdoch and Bill Gates)
Tomorrow Never Dies, Jonathan Pryce, United Artists
United Artists via Everett

In Tomorrow Never Dies, Pierce Brosnan faces off against Elliot Carver, a media mogul trying to incite World War III for personal gain. Carver is said to be an amalgamation of real life media leaders like News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

The film even includes a jab at Microsoft products. When Carver inquires about his company's new computer software, an employee tells him, "As requested, it's full of bugs, meaning people will be forced to upgrade for years."

2
Auric Goldfinger (Erno Goldfinger)
Goldfinger, Gert Frobe, United Artists
United Artists via Everett
While Goldfinger's personality was based on the gold magnate Charles W. Engelhard, Jr., the villain's name comes from architect Ernő Goldfinger. Apparently Goldfinger had built a house near Ian Fleming's home and Fleming hated his style of architecture so much that he decided to name a Bond villain after him.
3
Le Chiffre (Aleister Crowley)
Casino Royale, Mads Mikkelsen, Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures via Everett
Daniel Craig's first antagonist, Le Chiffre, was played by Mads Mikkelsen in Casino Royale, but the character was actually based on the famous British occultist Aleister Crowley. Crowley was once called "the wickedest man in the world."
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4
Francisco Scaramanga (George Scaramanga)
Man With The Golden Gun, Christopher Lee, Roger Moore, United Artists
United Artists via Everett

The main villain in The Man With the Golden Gun is Francisco Scaramanga (played by badass Christopher Lee in the movies) and Scramanga's name comes from one of Fleming's school mates at Eton College, George Scaramanga.

Fleming and Scaramanga were said to have fought frequently so while writing The Man With the Golden Gun, Fleming decided to name the villain after his old rival. While the real Scaramanga probably didn't own a golden gun, there's no word on how many nipples had.

5
Ernst Blofeld (Tom Blofeld)
You Only Live Twice, Donald Pleasence, Sean Connery, United Artists
United Artists via Everett
Ernst Blofeld is perhaps the most recognizable Bond villain of all-time, having been parodied in everything from Austin Powers to Inspector Gadget. Like Scaramanga, Blofeld was also named after one of Ian Flemin's Eton College schoolmates, Thomas Blofeld.

For more 007 trivia, check out 5 James Bond Gadgets (You Can Buy Right Now)

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