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We know that the Ninja Turtles (TMNT) love pizza. We often see them pay for the pizza.

How do they get the money to pay for the pizza? Is there a canon explanation for this?

For example, in the 1990 film they give the pizza guy $10.

But I want answers about the TMNT world, in general. Not only about this film.

Here we have a lot of explanations on how they get their pizza, but still no answers on how they get the money to buy the pizza.

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  • 39
    Per my comment - "I asked the Director of the Ninja Turtles (1990) film where they got their money from. He said "The props department". Not much help there."
    – Valorum
    Apr 24, 2017 at 22:55
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    And my other comment "They spend their time beating up drug dealers. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that once they've knocked them out, that they then rob them"
    – Valorum
    Apr 24, 2017 at 22:57
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    Maybe they search the sewer for lost cash.
    – Molag Bal
    Apr 24, 2017 at 22:57
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    They are constantly hitting April up for money, that's why she's doesn't own an apartment.
    – Mark Rogers
    Apr 25, 2017 at 14:29
  • 3
    ...have you never (accidentally) dropped change in a toilet?
    – xDaizu
    Apr 26, 2017 at 7:10

2 Answers 2

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93

It would appear that the Turtles do odd-jobs to earn money, especially those that allow them to move around without attracting (unwanted) attention.

In the animated 2007 feature TMNT we see Donatello working as an IT Support Tech

Donatello: I'm just Donnie, your friendly IT tech support...here to help you 24 hours a day, sir. [Pause] Yeah, I'm sorry. Ma'am.

enter image description here

Michaelangelo earns a

"freakin' lot of cash"

as Cowabunga Carl, a costumed children's entertainer.

enter image description here
TMNT Movie Prequel #2 - Michelangelo

Donatello shares those earning by working as his driver

enter image description here
TMNT Movie Prequel #3 - Donatello

And Raphael uses his knowledge of comic-books to find bargains at his local thrift stores (which he then sells on, after having read)

enter image description here
TMNT Volume 1. #15

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    So, some of them have weird jobs. That's funny... :) Thanks a lot for your answer.
    – joaorodr84
    Apr 25, 2017 at 0:57
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    Wait, Raph's a comic book collector? Weird.
    – Suman Roy
    Apr 25, 2017 at 6:44
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    Hang on, how can you turn a profit on a comic like that if you take it out the packaging and read it first?
    – DisturbedNeo
    Apr 25, 2017 at 10:38
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    @DisturbedNeo Comics don't come in package from the manufacturer. They are put in protective bags by collectors. So there is no observable change that can cause value loss like taking a toy out of its packaging
    – Kevin
    Apr 25, 2017 at 11:05
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    And you can bet he is very carefull when reading it ;)
    – TomTom
    Apr 25, 2017 at 12:30
-8

I have always (since the late 80s) believed that April O'Neal gives them the money out of her income from being a news reporter.

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    You have some canon citation for that claim?
    – Angelo Fuchs
    Apr 25, 2017 at 11:39
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    I have always believed that she operates a questionable business out of the Turtle Van. $$$
    – Gusdor
    Apr 25, 2017 at 15:00
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    She should have some money to spare, she wears the same yellow jumpsuit every single day.
    – Daft
    Apr 25, 2017 at 16:16

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