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QUARK: I don't. And I'm going to do something about it. This disease has got to be stopped before it destroys everything Ferenginar stands for. If Zek wants me to be Nagus, he's going to have to let me do things my way. Or else, I'll turn down the job!

 

ROM: Are you serious?

 

QUARK: You bet I am.

 

ROM: But being Nagus will make you rich.

 

QUARK: I don't care. I won't preside over the demise of Ferengi civilisation. Not me. The line has to be drawn here. This far and no further!

QUARK: Just think. This time next week I'll be living in the Nagal Residence.

 

NOG: They say even the waste extraction fixtures are plated with latinum.

 

QUARK: That's right. Oh, the first thing I'm going to do is rip them out and replace them with solid latinum fixtures.

 

LEETA: That's a little indulgent, don't you think?

 

QUARK: Of course, that's the point. A Nagus has to lead by example. My greed has to be a shining light to everyone. A testament to the rewards of avarice.

QUARK: Why else would he come all this way. He's going to buy me out... and for a fraction of what the place is worth.

 

ROM: You can always refuse to sell.

 

QUARK: Why didn't I think of that. (angrily) Idiot, the Nagus doesn't take no for an answer.

QUARK: I don't. And I'm going to do something about it. This disease has got to be stopped before it destroys everything Ferenginar stands for. If Zek wants me to be Nagus, he's going to have to let me do things my way. Or else, I'll turn down the job!

ROM: Are you serious?

QUARK: You bet I am.

ROM: But being Nagus will make you rich.

QUARK: I don't care. I won't preside over the demise of Ferengi civilisation. Not me. The line has to be drawn here. This far and no further!

QUARK: Just think. This time next week I'll be living in the Nagal Residence.

NOG: They say even the waste extraction fixtures are plated with latinum.

QUARK: That's right. Oh, the first thing I'm going to do is rip them out and replace them with solid latinum fixtures.

LEETA: That's a little indulgent, don't you think?

QUARK: Of course, that's the point. A Nagus has to lead by example. My greed has to be a shining light to everyone. A testament to the rewards of avarice.

QUARK: Why else would he come all this way. He's going to buy me out... and for a fraction of what the place is worth.

ROM: You can always refuse to sell.

QUARK: Why didn't I think of that. (angrily) Idiot, the Nagus doesn't take no for an answer.

So, the Nagus can declare where Ferengi can do business (and demand a cut of the profits in exchange for prime spots), he can overrule the Ferengi Commerce Authority (which include the powers to forbid Ferengi from doing business), he can unilaterally make laws like the Emancipation of Ferengi Women (and Grand Nagus Zek ended his reign with a round of a number of sweeping reforms). A Nagus might risk being deposed or assassinated by using his power recklessly, but that appears to be the only thing that can stop him. And, at least Quark believes he can (and in fact routinely does) buy out businesses for a fraction of what they're actually worth, with little recourse for a Ferengi to refuse.

So, Zek, the Grand Nagus for most of the run of Deep Space 9, was almost certainly the richest Ferengi we ever saw in material terms. It's quite possible he was the richest Ferengi overall in that time period, but it's difficult to confirm as there doesn't seem to be an explicit reference and you potentially run into different definitions of wealth.

So, the Nagus can declare where Ferengi can do business (and demand a cut of the profits in exchange for prime spots), he can overrule the Ferengi Commerce Authority (which include the powers to forbid Ferengi from doing business), he can unilaterally make laws like the Emancipation of Ferengi Women (and Grand Nagus Zek ended his reign with a number of sweeping reforms). A Nagus might risk being deposed or assassinated by using his power recklessly, but that appears to be the only thing that can stop him. And, at least Quark believes he can (and in fact routinely does) buy out businesses for a fraction of what they're actually worth, with little recourse for a Ferengi to refuse.

So, Zek, the Grand Nagus for most of the run of Deep Space 9, was almost certainly the richest Ferengi we ever saw in material terms. It's quite possible he was the richest Ferengi overall in that time period, but it's difficult to confirm as there doesn't seem to be an explicit reference and you potentially run into different definitions of wealth.

Zek's reign ended with a large number of sweeping reforms intended to limit the Nagus' power, so future holders of the title may not find it so easy to financially dominate.

With all of this unchecked power, it's hard to imagine the Grand Nagus, given enough time to use it, not eventually becoming the wealthiest Ferengi, unless he wasn't trying very hard, which was probably one of the few things that might get him deposed.

So, Zek, the Grand Nagus for most of the run of Deep Space 9, was almost certainly the richest Ferengi we ever saw in material terms. It's quite possible he was the richest Ferengi overall in that time period, but it's difficult to confirm as there doesn't seem to be an explicit reference.

Quark once thought that the Nagus' presence meant that he would lose the bar (again in the episode "The Nagus"):

QUARK: Why else would he come all this way. He's going to buy me out... and for a fraction of what the place is worth.

ROM: You can always refuse to sell.

QUARK: Why didn't I think of that. (angrily) Idiot, the Nagus doesn't take no for an answer.

So, the Nagus can declare where Ferengi can do business (and demand a cut of the profits in exchange for prime spots), he can overrule the Ferengi Commerce Authority (which include the powers to forbid Ferengi from doing business), he can unilaterally make laws like the Emancipation of Ferengi Women (and Grand Nagus Zek ended his reign with a round of a number of sweeping reforms). A Nagus might risk being deposed or assassinated by using his power recklessly, but that appears to be the only thing that can stop him. And, at least Quark believes he can (and in fact routinely does) buy out businesses for a fraction of what they're actually worth, with little recourse for a Ferengi to refuse.

With all of this unchecked power, it's hard to imagine the Grand Nagus, given enough time to use it and with enough of support that he's not easily overthrown, not eventually becoming the wealthiest Ferengi, unless he wasn't trying very hard, which was probably one of the few things that might get him deposed. The worship of Greed is one of the founding stones of Ferengi civilization, using that power for material gain is expected. Zek was acknowledged as the Grand Nagus for a significant chunk of the 24th century.

So, Zek, the Grand Nagus for most of the run of Deep Space 9, was almost certainly the richest Ferengi we ever saw in material terms. It's quite possible he was the richest Ferengi overall in that time period, but it's difficult to confirm as there doesn't seem to be an explicit reference and you potentially run into different definitions of wealth.