[1] The Enterprise-D is called to assist the colony on planet Beta Agni II with their contaminated water supply.
They meet with trader Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek) who happens to have the extremely rare compound needed to neutralize the contamination.
The volatile substance cannot be beamed aboard, so Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) is assigned to make several shuttle trips to collect it.
Fajo shows Data a Varron-T disruptor, a weapon banned for causing an extremely painful death, and summons his assistant Varria.
The episode's title comes from a popular saying found on bumper stickers and T-shirts in the 1980s which read, "He who dies with the most toys wins.
[3] The character’s name Kivas Fajo comes from script coordinator Lolita Fatjo, and a mineral mentioned as an item Spock deals in for the episode Errand of Mercy.
Select scenes with Rappaport were included in a special In Memoriam reel on disc five of the third-season TNG Blu-ray set.
Actress Jane Daly did not like wearing the makeup or the elaborate hairdo and when the costume went for approval she convinced Gene Roddenberry to remove the antennae and change the hair style.
[8] Famous artwork is heavily featured in this episode, to demonstrate Fajo's taste in what he considers unique and valuable.
[9] Keith R.A. DeCandido reviewed the episode and gave it 8 out of 10, praising the ambiguous ending, and the performances of Spiner and Rubinek.
[10] In 2021, Robert Vaux writing for Comic Book Resources, said this was a "strong episode" in season 3, and that it tested the morality of the crew.