[2] He was born “into humble circumstances on the far lower West Side of Manhattan, the son of a saloon owner.”[3] Brady worked his way up from bellhop and courier.

At 23, Brady parlayed his knowledge of the rail transport industry and its officials to become a highly successful salesman for Manning, Maxwell and Moore, a railroad supply company.

[5] Known for his penchant for jewels, especially diamonds, he collected precious stones and jewelry in excess of US$2 million (equivalent to approximately $73,248,000 in 2023 dollars).

[8] For breakfast, he would eat "vast quantities of hominy, eggs, cornbread, muffins, flapjacks, chops, fried potatoes, beefsteak, washing it all down with a gallon of fresh orange juice".

Luncheon would consist of "shellfish...two or three deviled crabs, a brace of boiled lobsters, a joint of beef, and an enormous salad".

Then in sumptuous procession came six or seven lobsters, two canvasback ducks, a double portion of terrapin, sirloin steak, vegetables, and for dessert a platter of French pastries."

Supposedly gamblers would make bets on whether he'd drop dead before dessert; as a matter of a fact he did have to cut down on his gargantuan eating several years before his death due to stomach troubles.

and "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown" (season 5, episode 20) – (Ethel calls Fred "Diamond Jim Mertz" after he warns her not to buy a dress).

[18][19] In 1968 film The Odd Couple, Oscar calls Felix "Diamond Jim Brady" when he orders tea for him at a late night diner while they are discussing his separation.

[citation needed] Brady inspired Monty Python's Flying Circus to create the fictional character Mr. Creosote who appears in the troupe's sketch comedy film The Meaning of Life (1983).

[citation needed] The actor Howard Keel was cast as Brady in a 1963 episode of the TV series Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews.