[5] Rav Papa inherited some property from his father; and he also amassed great wealth by brewing beer, an occupation in which he was an expert.
[6] He likewise engaged in extensive and successful business undertakings,[7] and his teacher Rava once said of him: "Happy is the righteous man who is as prosperous on earth as only the wicked usually are!".
[8] However, Rava also accused Rav Papa and his contemporary Huna of being exploitative in business: "You would take the coats from people's backs".
[9] Rav Papa was known for his honesty in business: he once returned a field he had purchased upon learning that the seller regretted the sale.
[18] However, it is almost certain that the story of Rav Papa and the baby was not originally part of the Talmud, but rather was inserted centuries later in the time of the rishonim.
[20] He was, consequently, not greatly respected as a scholar; and R. Idi b. Abin Naggara termed him and Huna ben Joshua "dardeki" (children).
[21] R. Huna b. Manoah, Samuel b. Judah, and R. Ḥiyya of Vestania, pupils of Rava, came, after their teacher's death, to attend Rav Papa's lectures, which they found obscure and vague.
[28] The sayings quoted by him include the following: At many modern siyums, a short prayer is said which mentions ten sons of Rav Papa.