Introduction

The Spongebob's Wallet meme showcases Spongebob Squarepants holding a wallet, symbolizing a humorous eagerness to spend money in various contexts.

Background

Spongebob's Wallet is a series of images featuring Spongebob Squarepants holding a wallet. Initially gaining traction in the early 2010s, it served as a variant of the Futurama meme 'Shut Up And Take My Money!' Over time, it evolved to mock people's reluctance to spend money on certain items or situations.

How It Began

The image of Spongebob holding his wallet originates from the Season 1 episode 'Neptune's Spatula,' which aired on April 1, 2000. In this episode, Spongebob visits the fry cook museum and retrieves a golden spatula from ancient grease. King Neptune appears, stating that whoever can pull the spatula is worthy of becoming his royal fry cook. However, he attempts to disqualify Spongebob, who ultimately meets all the King's arbitrary criteria. The moment is punctuated when King Neptune begins to outline the requirements for a royal fry cook's wallet, only to stop mid-sentence as Spongebob reveals his wallet.

Meme Evolution

Spongebob's Wallet gained popularity in the early 2010s as a humorous alternative to the Futurama meme. The two memes were often combined, leading to various adaptations. An uncanny version of Spongebob's face began circulating, with the earliest known appearance in a 2012 YouTube remix titled 'Everything wen Spengbab.wmv.' In the late 2010s, the meme was further developed by combining it with an image of Spongebob from the episode 'I ♥ Dancing,' which aired on July 19, 2009. This format became a part of the Spongebob meme 'Who Put You On The Planet?' and took inspiration from the Drakeposting style, contrasting a sneering Spongebob with the wallet-holding Spongebob to illustrate different reactions. The meme saw significant engagement on platforms like Reddit, particularly in the /r/bikinibottomtwitter community.