Grumpy Cat was first viewed in the social news website Reddit when her photo was posted in 2012 by the brother of her owner, Tabatha Bundesen. Otherwise known by her real name Tardar Sauce, it wasn't long before Grumpy Cat became a YouTube sensation after her appearance earned 15.7 million views. The cat has also inspired a Hollywood movie and two books which have become bestsellers. Apart from YouTube, she now has over six million fans in Facebook, more than 200,000 on Twitter, and over 500,000 on Instagram.
The cat has a unique sour face expression which is attributed to an underbite and to a condition called 'dwarfism.' Her contemptuous look has already inspired a number of memes, an iced coffee product, and even a Hollywood movie that features Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza as Grumpy Cat's speaking voice.
The movie, which premiered in the U.S. last month and has attracted millions of viewers, is aptly called 'Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever.'
In a short span of two years since she has appeared over the Internet, Grumpy Cat has amassed more than $100 million for its owner. Her earnings have even overshadowed some of the biggest names in Hollywood such as Matthew McConaughey, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman.
"What she's achieved in such a short time is unimaginable and absolutely mind-blowing," said Tabatha Bundesen. "I was able to quit my job as a waitress within days of her first appearance on social media and the phone simply hasn't stopped ringing since."
Grumpy Cat's first book, 'Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book,' is a guide on how to achieve 'true grumpiness' with tips coming from no less than Grumpy Cat herself being a self-proclaimed expert in having a bad attitude.
One of the helpful tips included in the book talked about getting incurable brain freezes from eating ice cream cones. It also gave out a reminder that the germs found in 100 toilet seats are no match to the number of germs that are carried by a kiss.
The sequel, "The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations by Grumpy Cat," gives out an advice that says, 'It's always good to have a partner in crime - you need someone to blame when people start asking questions.'
Apart from the books, Grumpy Cat has also appeared on the front page of the "New York Magazine" and "The Wall Street Journal."
It remains to be seen whether Grumpy Cat's fame and fortune will finally make her change her expression into something that hints a smile. However, if such expression is the reason behind raking in all these wealth, Grumpy Cat may just choose to be the only contender for the grumpiest face award.
