The Big Bang Theory

Answer: He has no concept of money and simply cannot budget at all. Therefore it is likely he squandered his money.

Ssiscool

Answer: Scientists actually hardly make any money. Raj is almost fully supported by his parents to live like he lives.

lionhead

Answer: She wanted room for her own things. The apartment was cluttered with so many collectables that Leonard never looked at, that he never noticed when she put some in storage.

Brian Katcher

Well if they're a couple why not talk to him about it? After all couples are supposed to compromise on things, imagine if he'd done this to her.

Rob245

Not sitcom couples. Every reaction has to be exaggerated and borderline psychotic.

Sammo

It's a play on the "women always do what they want and the man goes along with it" type scenario. Plus, Penny is seriously hot and way out of Leonard's league so its entirely plausible she knows this and knows he wouldn't question her anyway, as he will always give in and give her what she wants.

The_Iceman

The Excelsior Acquisition - S3-E16

Plot hole: In Series 1, Episode 7, "The Dumpling Paradox, " Sheldon makes an oblique reference to his financial status: "Frankly, if I could afford the rent, I'd ask you [Leonard] to leave, " meaning he cannot pay the rent on his two bedroom apartment by himself - not that he doesn't want to, he can't. However, in "The Execlsior Acquisition, " we find that he does not even cash his pay cheques. He doesn't even deposit them into a bank account - he leaves them in a drawer in his desk. In Series 2 Episode 14 "The Financial Permeability", he lends Penny a large amount of money from a huge bankroll he just happens to have lying about - again, without cashing his pay cheques! He is obviously independently wealthy. Either he doesn't have enough money to afford the rent or he has enough to work without being paid while practically giving large amounts of cash away. Can't be both.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: Not being able to afford doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have the money, especially a man like Sheldon. He works with a budget and he sticks to it. In his budget he has a certain amount set aside for rent, anything more than that and he can't afford it alone.

Nonsense. If he was sticking to a "rigid budget" he wouldn't have even thought of lending a hopeless credit risk like Penny a single cent. Instead he throws a huge bankroll at her without even discussing a repayment plan.

Rubbish, I stick to a strict budget but still have the money to lend to close friends. Like Penny is to him.

He might have different budgets for different things. People could get a higher margin because they could be of more use to the scientific mind of Sheldon.

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