| Who is it? | King of Ancient Sparta |
| Birth Place | Sparta, Greece, Greek |
| Died On | 11 August 480 BC (aged around 60)\nThermopylae |
| Reign | 489–480 BC |
| Predecessor | Cleomenes I |
| Successor | Pleistarchus |
| Consort | Gorgo |
| Issue | Pleistarchus |
| Greek | Λεωνίδᾱς |
| House | Agiad |
| Father | Anaxandridas II |
| Religion | Greek Polytheism |
Leonidas I, the renowned King of Ancient Sparta in Greek history, is estimated to have a net worth ranging from $100,000 to $1 million in 2024. Leonidas I, often remembered for his leadership and bravery in the Battle of Thermopylae, was a revered figure during his time. While specific details regarding Leonidas I's wealth are scarce, it is believed that his position as king granted him access to significant resources and treasures of the ancient Spartan kingdom. Despite the constraints of estimating net worth for historical figures, Leonidas I undoubtedly held substantial wealth, befitting a ruler of his stature.
For you, inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta,
Either your great and glorious city must be wasted by Persian men,
Or if not that, then the bound of Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king, from Heracles' line.
The might of bulls or lions will not restrain him with opposing strength; for he has the might of Zeus.
I declare that he will not be restrained until he utterly tears apart one of these.
Leonidas was the name of an Epic poem written by Richard Glover, which originally appeared in 1737. It went on to appear in four other editions, being expanded from 9 books to 12.
A monument to Leonidas was erected at Thermopylae in 1955. It features a bronze statue of Leonidas. A sign, under the statue, reads simply: "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ" ("Come and take them"), which was Leonidas' reply when Xerxes offered to spare the lives of the Spartans if they gave up their arms.
Another statue, also with the inscription ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ, was erected at Sparta in 1968.
He appears as the protagonist of Frank Miller's 1998 comic book series 300. It presents a fictionalized version of Leonidas and the Battle of Thermopylae, as does the 2006 feature film adapted from it.
