Smaug is the gigantic dragon that Bilbo and the Dwarves face in The Hobbit. This monster, as terrifying as it is mysterious, fascinates. From his place in Tolkien's writings to his role in Peter Jackson's films, here are 7 facts you (perhaps) didn't know about Smaug.
#9 Smaug's thirst for gold is "genetic" (canon and fan theory)
In The Hobbit, Smaug is a dragon colossal being that jealously guards a treasure it did not acquire, but stole from the Dwarves of the kingdom of Erebor. This pile of gold and jewels is the legacy of centuries of Dwarven labor, centered around the Arkenstone, the iconic gemstone. Yet one question remains: why is such a powerful being, with no predators or material needs, so obsessed with a treasure it does not consume? Literally, this obsession is inspired by medieval legends, notably Beowulf, where dragons embody greed, guarding treasure without gaining anything from it.
But in Tolkien's universe, this obsession could have a darker origin. Dragons were said to have been created or corrupted by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, who infused his own nature into his creatures. Morgoth himself was obsessed with precious objects, such as the Silmarils, for which he unleashed a cataclysmic war. Thus, Smaug's greed would not be a simple character trait, but a direct consequence of his evil origins. It would be written into his very nature, transmitted by the ancient evil from which he descended, making his thirst for gold as instinctive as it is destructive.
#8 Forbes has estimated Smaug's fortune (fan theory)
Smaug, the famous dragon from Bilbo The Hobbit, is recognized as the richest character in Middle-earth. But how much is his treasure really worth? An estimate published by Forbes in 2011, and updated in 2024, attempted to answer this question using real-world monetary values. Based on his body size (18.3 m) and the size of the treasure he guards beneath the Lonely Mountain, analysts have estimated his haul at approximately $54.1 billion. This figure includes gold, silver, diamonds, and valuable artifacts, such as the Arkenstone, which alone is estimated to be worth over $4 billion. However, some fans believe this estimate is still too low, even suggesting a fortune approaching $900 billion. Regardless, Smaug remains unquestionably one of the richest fictional characters ever imagined (just behind Disney's Scrooge McDuck), an absolute symbol of legendary draconic greed.
#7 And what does a Smaug eat? (canon and fan theory)
Smaug lived 171 years under the Lonely Mountain, sleeping on an immense treasure. But what was he eating all that time? During his attack on Erebor, he probably devoured many Dwarves, leaving behind many corpses that he could have fed on over time. However, these bodies probably quickly began to decompose. To survive, Smaug may have behaved like some reptiles, entering brumation—a state of inactivity specific to cold-blooded creatures, similar to hibernation, which allows them to go without eating for years. However, contrary to what the films show, Smaug did not remain indoors: he regularly came out to attack Dale, especially kidnapping young women to devour them. Furthermore, although it is not clearly stated, it is likely that he prowled near Lake-town, since the inhabitants erected defenses there. Finally, in addition to humans, he may have hunted game in the nearby forests.
#6 The Smaug of the films owes everything to Doctor Strange (making-of)
In The Hobbit, Smaug fascinates as much for his power as for his personality. But behind this fearsome dragon hides Benedict Cumberbatch, also known for his role as Doctor Strange. More than just a voice, the actor lent body and soul to the character via motion capture, crawling on the ground and growling in an improbable "costume." To prepare, Cumberbatch observed reptiles at the London Zoo, drawing inspiration from their slow and sudden movements. This meticulous work, coupled with digital effects from Wētā Digital, gave life to a dragon that is at once majestic, cruel, and ultimately almost human. His Smaug, immense and charismatic, stands out with his chilling dialogue, his refined sadism and that relatively unexpected little "so British" touch. A real strong point of The Desolation of Smaug, the dragon owes as much to technology as to the inhabited performance of Cumberbatch, who was able to create a being halfway between bestiality and typically British phlegm, a rare thing in cinema. The Hobbit was to be directed by Guillermo Del Toro, a huge Tolkien fan who wanted to offer a more magical, fairy-tale-like vision than Peter Jackson's. Among his plans was a complete redesign of Smaug. Del Toro wanted a unique dragon, with hard-to-locate eyes hidden within a massive horned head to heighten the tension during encounters with Bilbo. His mouth would have been very human-like, expressive, with thin, mustache-like spines. The slippery, soft underbelly would have shown Smaug's vulnerability, explaining his defeat at the hands of Bard. Del Toro was aware that this design would be controversial, but he wanted to break with the classic image of the Western dragon. Despite the crew's skepticism, he hoped to create a new and strange monster. Ultimately, Del Toro left the project, leaving Peter Jackson to take over as director. But his work on Smaug very clearly influenced his later creations, such as the kaijus of Pacific Rim.
#4 Is Smaug more powerful than the Balrog? (canon)
Smaug is often seen as one of Tolkien's most fearsome creatures, but does he hold a candle to the Balrog of Moria? Sure, Smaug is gigantic, intelligent, able to fly, and fire-breathing. He was a scourge of Erebor and inspired fear throughout the North. However, he remains a physical being, vulnerable to a single well-aimed arrow, as Bard demonstrated. By comparison, the Balrog Gandalf faces, known as Durin's Bane, is a spiritual entity that predates the creation of the world, an ancient Maia who fell to darkness with Morgoth.
Unlike dragons, Balrogs are not simply beasts, but demons of fire and shadow, masters of sorcery. The fact that Gandalf—also a Maia—had to personally confront the Balrog proves its exceptional threat. If a duel had taken place between the two, the Balrog would likely have won: it is older, invulnerable to flames, and possessed of supernatural power that Smaug could not match. To be honest, at one time, dragons were just the Balrogs' steeds (as we explained in detail here).
#3 But why didn't Gandalf kill Smaug himself? (canon)
As we have just seen, a dragon is no match for a Balrog. However, Gandalf managed to defeat (not without difficulty) a Balrog. So, obviously, the question logically arises: why didn't Gandalf kill Smaug himself? In reality, as a magician sent by the Valar (gods or archangels, depending on your understanding of the lore), Gandalf was not there to impose his power, but to guide the free peoples of Middle-earth against Sauron.
Using all his strength against Smaug would not have been very constructive. The Dwarves had to regain their kingdom, certainly, but also—and above all—their pride. Furthermore, stupidly eliminating Smaug without involving Men and Dwarves would have created a vacuum in the Mountain, giving rise to new rivalry conflicts, which would undoubtedly be much longer and more painful than the Battle of the Five Armies. Gandalf therefore opted for an indirect approach, sending Bilbo and the Dwarves, banking on a solution that would strengthen alliances against Evil in the long term. (fan theory) If Smaug had survived the events of The Hobbit, the story of The Lord of the Rings would have been radically changed. The dragon, fearsome and greedy, could have become a terrifying ally for Sauron. Together, they would have formed a near-invincible coalition, combining dragonfire and orc armies. But Smaug was also fiercely independent. His pride could have prevented him from submitting to the Dark Lord's power. However, Sauron was a shrewd strategist and a master manipulator.
Aware of Smaug's thirst for treasure, Sauron could have promised him the riches of the subjugated peoples. But then again, Sauron should have been wary of a Smaug tempted by the peerless jewel that is the One Ring. Worse still: if Smaug had laid his hand on the Ring, he would have become an unstoppable force of destruction. Faced with this grim possibility, neither the Fellowship nor the Free Kingdoms would have been enough to stem his rage. Fortunately, Bard aimed correctly, Gandalf crossed paths with Thorin, and all's well that ends well.
#1 Smaug has been cloned (extended universe)
In 2023, the card game Magic: The Gathering offered a collection of new cards inspired by the lore of The Lord of the Rings, designed by fans for fans. These cards play with Tolkien's mythology and offer players the opportunity to exploit the game's mechanics to imagine improbable twists and turns in Tolkien's expanded universe. For example, the game offers a saga card called There and Back Again, which traces Bilbo's journey in The Hobbit. After several actions, the card allows you to create a legendary creature: Smaug. However, when Smaug dies, he generates 14 Treasure tokens. can then exploit the game's rules regarding legendary creatures—which prohibit having multiple identical ones in play—to create multiple copies of Smaug, sacrificing all but one. This allows them to instantly generate a large number of Treasure tokens. But the most dedicated players also know that it is possible to combine this strategy with cards like Doubling Season or Ego Blade. In this case, they can multiply Smaug and maximize their Treasure gains, then use this wealth to cast powerful, devastating spells, transforming Smaug cloning into a truly key resource in the game.
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