Magnum Mania!

Magnum was working as chief of security for the estate, but was given the guest house and use of the Ferrari (presumably without cost to him). Was it ever mentioned if Robin ever paid him on top of that? Also, would Magnum have been collecting any type of pay from the Navy for his service? I have no idea how it would work with his rank, posistion, the way he left, etc. He seemed to normally be completely broke yet had no rent or vehicle exspenses. He was also constantly getting free food and drink from either the main house or the club.

I cant speak to any salary that Robin would have paid Magnum as I dont believe it's mentioned. but IIRC Thomas regularly performed security tasks for Robin early in the series. I'm sure he was compensated, but probably not much as he always seemed a bit short on walking around money.
as to any type of military pension, he resigned from the Navy and had no military privileges (including pay). during the first episode he didn't have ready access to the base and had to rely on favors from friends to get what he needed.
I'm not sure how he got his commission back at the series end, but I like to think that he has since retired as a high ranking officer in SpecOps community. and to fill in his "sunset" years he hired on as the majordomo of an obscure affluent billionaire to manage his estate

Nice thread- I think Magnum had very low living expenses and was seldom compensated by Robin Masters. He did earn money as a P.I., I mean Private Investigator, which probably covered his food expenses. The guy was a cheapskate. He rarely paid for gas when TC flew him everywhere. For booze, he would raid the wine cellar. I sometimes wonder how Higgins put up with his antics and tolerated Magnum destroying his flowers.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong - but I believe he mentions this in his inner monologue during the pilot episode doesn't he?

When he's attempting to break into the estate and steal the Ferrari he talks about how he performs security checks etc on the estate in exchange for living there. Nothing is mentioned of additional cash in this episode or any other, and is never insinuated. It's always expected of TM (and he knows it) that he is obliged to help when Higgins ask him to perform a task as a personal favour to Robin Masters, or that RM would be very greatful if TM did.....

I actually had the idea of a little pet project a while back to keep track through the season of how much cash Magnum actually earns, but I was so seldom I forgot about it. More often than not his clients tell them they can't afford him, and he always returns with "that's alright, we'll work something out."

What steveadl said.

You wouldn't want to be Magnum's accountant- his tax return would be a nightmare.

Danno wrote:What steveadl said.

You wouldn't want to be Magnum's accountant- his tax return would be a nightmare.

As Maggie Poole found out when TM was audited to keep him busy

Sisophous wrote:Nice thread- I think Magnum had very low living expenses and was seldom compensated by Robin Masters. He did earn money as a P.I., I mean Private Investigator, which probably covered his food expenses. The guy was a cheapskate. He rarely paid for gas when TC flew him everywhere. For booze, he would raid the wine cellar. I sometimes wonder how Higgins put up with his antics and tolerated Magnum destroying his flowers.

But how much money did he really need? Chili Dogs, Beer, maybe some Macho Taco or Burrito Machisimo, some milk for cereal?....all funny stuff living on RM's Estate. I'm sure he was to bum some grub from Higgie baby.

Hawaii Winds wrote:

But how much money did he really need? Chili Dogs, Beer, maybe some Macho Taco or Burrito Machisimo, some milk for cereal?....all funny stuff living on RM's Estate. I'm sure he was to bum some grub from Higgie baby.

Now that you mention it, I think he had to put gas in the Ferrari and pay for miscellaneous costs while doing investigations. I can't think of any other costs other than feeding himself. Magnum was always borrowing things and never returning them. When Higgens demanded Magnum tune up the Ferrari, Magnum, dumped it on TC who botched the job, the first time.

Now, now... let's cut the guy a break shall we. True, he seemingly always owed people money (particularly T.C.), but it was implied that he paid the money back at some point (it just took him a while). And then he borrowed more money (or gas or drinks or whatever) and then eventually paid that back. And on and on. But he did clear his tabs! People (even his friends) wouldn't just keep loaning him money if he never paid it back.

So, why was he always so short on cash? His expenses were low. He didn't have a mortgage or kids to feed... The answer is simple. The guy did most of his P.I. work pro bono, or at a very reduced rate! Seemingly every other client he meets is in a bind or short on cash. Like many good-hearted P.I.'s before him, he helps people out in need because it's the right thing to do, irregardless of whether or not he makes any money. It's not a great way to make money, but he just didn't care.

IIRC a lot of the shows didn't even have propper clients, they were old friends or whatever who he would find out had been kidnapped or something. So he wasn't really raking in the dough.
It's just a TV show, don't read to much into it.

I always understood Tom's stay in the guesthouse and use of the Ferrari was compensation for his security work on the Estate.

I'd say he wasn't on the military long enough to pull down any early retirement pay and he made a point when talking to TC about the reserves that he wanted nothing to do with it so that removes that as well.

I think most of compensation, when there was some, took place off screen because his mooching was such a part of the character. If people saw him getting paid, yet never paying TC, in would built resentment towards his as a user vs. a lovable almost loser I'd think.

Then again, when all is said and done, it was a TV show.