The Big Lebowski's The Dude is an iconic film character, but his finances are a complete mystery. Here's how he's really able to afford his lifestyle.

The Dude constantly says he’s unemployed in The Big Lebowski, so how did he afford his apartment and living expenses? The cult classic neo-noir Coen brothers film follows Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), a laid-back, White Russian-drinking, stoner bowling enthusiast who becomes wrapped up in an elaborate kidnapping scheme after he is mistaken for millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski. The Dude is tasked with delivering ransom to Lebowski’s wife’s kidnappers, but his bowling friend Walter (John Goodman) devises a disastrous plan for the duo to keep the money instead.

The opening scene of The Big Lebowski shows The Dude buying milk for 69 cents with a check, so he was obviously strapped for cash. The Dude’s lack of finances is most obvious when his landlord has to nag him about rent early on. At the same time, he wasn’t as focused on stealing the money from the Big Lebowski as Walter was, he really just wanted him to replace his rug. Since he was able to recreationally do drugs, pay for bowling, and live in a Southern California apartment all without having a job, how was he able to pay for it all?

One of the first drafts of The Big Lebowski included a segment where The Dude explains he was an heir to the inventor of the Rubik’s cube, which also makes him Hungarian. It’s likely The Dude had survived on his inheritance money since its invention in the mid-70s, so he didn’t have to actively work on his career. Since Erno Rubik is still alive today and was active in 1991 when the movie was set, it’s unclear why The Dude would have been running out of money so quickly during the film’s timeline unless he was cut off.

Director Joel Coen decided to cut out the Rubik’s cube trivia from The Dude’s past, which was likely better for the film because it adds to The Dude’s sense of mystery. The Dude works best as a stoner type who doesn’t actively care about making money or contributing to capitalism, enhancing why he really didn’t care much about getting Jeffrey Lebowski’s millions anyways. Even though the Coen brothers smartly removed the tidbit, it would have been fun if they included a small Easter egg to his finances of a Rubik’s cube in The Dude’s apartment.

It’s suspected that The Dude was likely living on welfare or disability allowances considering he was able to dodge the draft, but this wouldn’t account for how he is able to afford all of his luxuries without even searching for a job. It also seems like it wouldn’t be in The Dude’s character to take the time to get disability and welfare and live on it for so long because he isn’t actively against working or having a career. When The Dude explains his past activities of being a roadie for Metallica, briefly working in the music business, and being a part of the Seattle Seven, he mentions his career has “slowed down” since then, not that he doesn’t want to work. Either way, being an heir to the Rubik’s cube fortune wasn’t necessary for The Big Lebowski to include in The Dude’s history.

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