"Ben Franklin may have discovered electricity- but it is the man who invented the meter who made the money"

Benjamin Franklin is often celebrated as a pioneering inventor and scientist for his investigations into electricity, particularly his experiment with the kite and key. His discoveries illuminated the basic properties of electricity and paved the way for future innovations, but Franklin did not profit from his experiments. Rather, his contributions lay in expanding scientific understanding and setting the stage for others to commercialize and apply his insights.

The emphasis of the statement lies on the distinction between invention and commercialization. While Franklin’s work represented the breakthrough, true monetization came later, with the development of practical tools to measure, regulate, and bill the use of electricity. The meter in question refers to the device that tracks electrical consumption, enabling electricity companies to charge customers for their usage with accuracy and fairness. Without such a mechanism, the provision and management of electricity on a mass scale wouldn’t have been economically viable.

This observation reveals an important truth about technological progress and wealth creation. Often, it is not merely the person who makes a conceptual or scientific discovery who stands to gain wealth or recognition in society. Economic impact is typically realized by those who translate abstract knowledge into a product or system that creates value in the market. The inventor of the meter, by quantifying and controlling the distribution and consumption of electricity, was able to facilitate entire new industries and revenue streams.

The message also gives insight into the nature of innovation as a collaborative, iterative process. Each new use, improvement, or adaptation creates opportunities for profit and social benefit in ways that pure discovery does not. The path from discovery to commercial success can be long, with different stakeholders contributing in unique ways. Thus, while Franklin is rightly remembered as a genius, it is also worth considering the others—the practical engineers, the creative businessmen—whose inventions and business models ultimately transformed discoveries into lucrative ventures that shaped modern life.