The Office: 10 Hilarious Ways The Schrute Buck Economy Makes No Sense

Fans of The Office sometimes seem to have their own language of in-jokes and references that only they can understand. When it comes to money, they have their own form of it: Schrute Bucks, the motivational tool Dwight Schrute introduces in the season three finale of the hit NBC sitcom.

Dwight, when attempting to step into the role of manager, wants his now-employees (former coworkers) to feel motivated to earn Schrute Bucks. He tells them that, when they have done something good, they will receive one Schrute Buck. He then goes into the particulars of the Schrute Buck economy, and so will we.

10 Extra Lunch Time

Dwight Schrute’s first rule for Schrute Bucks? “When you have done something good, you will receive one Schrute Buck. One thousand Schrute Bucks equals an extra five minutes for lunch.” Right off the bat, Dwight introduces quite a chaotic concept for the value of a Schrute Buck: one Schrute Buck is equal to one good deed, and so one thousand Schrute Bucks (or one thousand good deeds) is equal to an extra five minutes for lunch. One extra lunch minute is then equal to 200 good deeds, or 200 Schrute Bucks. 

9 Cash Value

In this episode, Pam is serving as Dwight’s secret assistant regional manager (or, if you ask Dwight, secret assistant to the regional manager). Because of this, she wants to help Dwight out during his explanation of Schrute Bucks, and so she asks him, “what is the cash value of a Schrute Buck?”

Dwight answers, “Excellent question, Pam. One one-hundredth of a cent.” This opens disturbing implications about the influence the American economy has on the value of Schrute Bucks, and vice versa. Do Schrute Bucks influence the U.S. economy? Will they be responsible for the next stock market crash?

8 Oscar Strikes Again

Ever the voice of logic, Oscar just has to chime in during the discussion. There’s a whole episode of The Office about how Oscar thinks it’s impossible for him to be wrong, so it’s not surprising that he would want to get involved in this conversation, being that he’s an accountant and all. He does have expertise. Oscar points out: “so, 10,000 of your dollars is worth one real dollar?” and Dwight tells him to zip his lid. This is even more concerning and makes no sense: how can his made-up Schrute Buck be worth any part of a real dollar? What value has been assigned to them?

7 Exchange Rate

Now, we start getting into the tricky particulars of the situation. Let’s look at the exchange rate, helpfully provided to us by the The Office Fandom Wiki.According to their calculations, the exchange rate of Schrute Bucks to Extra Minutes at Lunch is approximately 0.005.

However, because of what we just learned, this means that Extra Minutes at Lunch must somehow have an impact on the American economy, as well. If Extra Minutes at Lunch can be converted in Schrute Bucks, and Schrute Bucks can be converted into real American dollars (though, at this point, what is real, anyway?), then Extra Minutes at Lunch somehow impacts the American dollar in a very real way.

6 Dollars to Minutes

The math goes deeper. Don’t get bogged down in the little details, because I can tell you, I did just that, and now I’m in way too deep for my own wellbeing.

As we just discussed, there is an exchange rate of Schrute Bucks to Extra Minutes at Lunch. Not to make this more complicated, but this also implies a connection between Schrute Bucks, Extra Minutes at Lunch, and good deeds which will hereafter be stylized as Good Deeds. So, if these are all connected, they’re also connected to US Dollars, as well. The exchange rate of US Dollars to Extra Minutes at Lunch, as it turns out, is approximately 50.

5 Stanley Nickels

Now we’re getting into uncharted territory; Stanley is going to get involved. When Stanley correctly states that rain is a liquid, he earns one Schrute Buck, but, upon stating that he doesn’t want it, he’s deducted 50 Schrute Bucks.

Stanley tells Dwight to make it 100 and says that he’ll give Dwight a billion Stanley Nickels if Dwight never talks to him again. In saying this, Stanley is introducing an entirely new form of currency into this. Not only is it a new currency, but it’s not paper money, but coins, implying a deeper lore involving different paper and coin money for each employee in the office.

4 Ratioed

Dwight has no idea he’s going to open Pandora’s box when he asks his next question, but, open the box, he does. After everything flies out of the box, he sees the barest glimpse of hope left at the bottom, and he reaches for it. Dwight hopes against hope that Stanley is actually getting involved in the Schrute Buck Economy, and he asks, “what’s the ratio of Stanley Nickels to Schrute Bucks?” Perhaps he’s indicating a deeper understanding between the two of them. Perhaps there is a ratio. Perhaps they influence the global economy. My head is starting to hurt.

3 Unicorns to Leprechauns

What Stanley says next, nobody could have anticipated. When Dwight asks, “What’s the ratio of Stanley Nickels to Schrute Bucks?,” I’m sure he expects an answer in cash value, much like he and Pam discussed earlier in the episode. Perhaps a billion Stanley nickels do equal one Schrute Buck, or perhaps the 100 Schrute Bucks that Stanley had discussed earlier. Instead, Stanley doesn’t say any of this. No, Stanley instead tells Dwight: “The same as the ratio of unicorns to leprechauns.” What a curveball for our mathematics!”

2 How Many Leprechauns in a Unicorn?

Now we have to do some real calculations. We’re introducing leprechauns and unicorns now. According to some light Googling and averaging of found numbers, Leprechauns are about three feet tall, and Unicorns, assuming they’re about the same size as horses with a little spike on the top, are about 17 hands and then the horn, or, let’s say, six feet tall. Two Leprechauns to every Unicorn. 2:1. Two Stanley Nickels are equal to one Schrute Buck. So, according to Oscar’s earlier math, 20,000 Stanley Nickels equals one real American dollar.

1 Does This Make Sense?

The short answer? No. The long answer? Let’s try to make it make sense! One Good Deed is equal to one Schrute Buck. 200 Schrute Bucks are equal to one Extra Minute at Lunch. One Schrute Buck is equal to two Stanley Nickels. 400 Stanley Nickels are equal to one Extra Minute at Lunch. 10,000 Schrute Bucks are equal to one American dollar, and 20,000 Stanley Nickels are, as well.

Unicorns and Leprechauns are somehow involved, though we are not sure if it is merely as an example purpose, or if they can also be used as currency in some sort of twisted barter system. Makes total sense! Thanks, Dwight!

About The Author

Nicole Mello
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Nicole Mello is an author of horrors, romances, and comedies. On occasion, they will attempt to combine all three, as there really isn’t too much to life overall than fear, love, and laughter.

Nicole currently resides in Massachusetts with their husband and two best friends. They encourage everyone reading this to question everything, stay hydrated, and treat others with kindness.

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