Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP / Getty Images
Ever wonder how Mario came to be the most beloved character in gaming? Turns out there's a heartwarming story behind Nintendo's iconic plumber.
Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto says Mario is named after Mario Segale, a landlord who owned a warehouse in Tukwila, Washington that Nintendo leased in the early '80s.
When Nintendo fell behind on the rent, Segale gave them some extra time to pay up - so Nintendo named the main character of its new video game after him.
Segale passed away in 2018 at the age of 84 - and used to joke that he was "still waiting for my royalty checks."