Review: Billionaire Boy, by David Walliams

Billionaire Boy is the third novel from David Walliams, illustrated by Tony Ross. Joe Spud is the richest twelve year old in the world, after his father invents toilet paper that's wet on one side and dry on the other. Joe has his own cinema, race track, butler (he used to have an orangutan butler, but that worked out rather messily.) He's got eight billion in trust for when he gets older, but to keep him going until then his father gives him a million every now and then. The only thing he doesn't have is a friend.

Joe switches from his posh school (tights and Elizabethan ruffs, and lessons like 'Learning to step over the homeless person as you leave the opera' and 'History of wearing corduroy') to the local comp, where no one will know who he is. He quickly makes a friend, but thanks to his father's well meaning interference his secret soon comes out. Can Joe ever be happy?


Aimed at eight or nine year olds, this book pokes gentle fun at the 'Oh, if I won the lotto everything would be perfect!' school of thought. Joe has more money than he can possibly spend, but it doesn't make him happy – just friendless and vaguely overweight. Walliams has a deft touch and the comedy and drama never overwhelm each other.

And the moment where Joe picks his favourite books – The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink – made me laugh. Both, of course, are written by David Walliams.


"Sit down!" said Grubb Two, as he or she put his or her hand on Lauren's shoulder to force her down onto the bench. Lauren, however, grabbed his or her hand and twisted it behind his or her back, and then pushed him or her to the ground. The other Grubb charged her, so Lauren leaped into the air and kung fu kicked him or her to the ground. Then the other one leaped up and tried to grab her, but she karate chopped him or her on his or her shoulder and he or she raced off screaming in pain.

It really is quite hard writing this when you don't know someone's gender.