Han is insanely rich, why is he ripping off the Yakuza?

Question

In The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, we find that Han is in some sort of business with Yakuzas and is actively ripping them off (even befriended the Yakuza's nephew to gain their trust etc). He doesn't appear to be stealing very large sums of money though. Chronologically, Tokyo Drift takes place after Fast & Furious 6, which happens after Fast Five after which all of the team became filthy rich (enough to buy private jets, multiple Lamborghinis and what not).

Further, in Tokyo Drift, Han himself claims and demonstrates that he has plenty of money. He can't be stealing significant enough amounts to be comparable to what he already has. He probably doesn't even need to be in business with the Yakuza anyway, since he has enough money to last more than a lifetime. Then why is he doing it and, more importantly, why is he stealing insignificant amounts? Just for fun?

Answer 1

Why do people become "fast and furious"? It's not to break speed records. They're thrill seekers. They just happen to center their thrills (mostly) on fast cars, but they do get off on robbing people. They've shown that time and time again, from small gas trucks to the wealthiest person in an entire country.

Han was chasing the thrill of ripping off the most dangerous gang in Tokyo.

Answer 2

Based on @BlueMoon93's comment, it would probably be safe to say that it can be attributed to Tokyo Drift being non-canon (partially anyway) and perhaps a mistake on writer's part in Fast & Furious 6 -

Han becomes rich after Fast Five which was released in 2011, Tokyo Drift had come out five years before in 2006. The film writers, at the time of writing Tokyo Drift, likely couldn't have known the turn the story would take half a decade in future and then the retrofitting of Tokyo Drift into the main story in Fast & Furious 6 failed to properly explain this particular bit.

Answer 3

There are two possible answers to this question. Either he didn't think too much of it, or he was setting aside money for Sean. The closest answer we can get from Han himself is Han's comment about it when DK confronted about it: "We ain't the boy scouts. This is what we do". He was dismissive of DK's concerns because he didn't seem to think of it as all that big of a deal, especially since it's probably not a lot of money. The assumption that it really isn't a lot of money is further reinforced by the scene DK's uncle pointed it out, DK told his uncle that it probably not a lot and and the uncle, rather than contradict him, equates that sum of money as a nail in his proverb. This is even further reinforced that that money was in a duffel bag, just sitting in Twinkie's car, in full sum. There is good reason to believe this is Han's money because when Twinkie handed it over "Han probably would have wanted [Sean] to have [this money]". This heavily implies that Han had a say where that money went, because it was his money.

This brings us to the other possible reason: It was for Sean. The straightforward reason for setting aside that money would be that it was an emergency fund set aside for Sean, as in "Han probably would have wanted you to have this money if something bad happens". The other possible reason is that Han meant to give it to him once Sean had finished "paying" him back for the car he broke. This way, it would clear out all the possible bad taste Sean would have had for being tricked into working for him, but only after Han was happy enough with the amount of mentoring he has doled out on Sean.

As for Han's financial status, it has been 1-2 years after fast 6, and several years after the heist that made him rich. We do not know what Han was up in that time period and how much money he was spending. It is also important to note that while Tokyo drift takes place after fast 6, it was released as the third in the franchise and have changed Tokyo Drift's continuity (i.e. changing the year it took place) and while he may have been rich in Tokyo drift, the exact amount of his fortune was retroactively defined in Fast Five and that fortune size may not truly reflect what Han was implied to have in Tokyo Drift.

Answer 4

I have also questioned Tokyo Drift many times as it seems like a lot of the story and characters roles (for example Morimoto) deserve a lot more explanation. But with this question I came to the conclusion that by the time that Han actually begins to live in Tokyo, he would’ve already spent quite a share of his money travelling and opening a garage. And yes, what about Giselles money after she died? Well she had probably spent quite a bit and knowing Han, he most likely gave the money she left behind to her family. And also, the business DK and Han have together may actually be more costly than it seems, as they drive cars and modify others cars with high end upgrades, and distribute most likely illegal items such as drugs through their drivers Sean and Morimoto, meaning that there is also money being spent on that and drugs worth selling when it’s people like Han and DK are most likely big amounts (as DK mentions late shipments). So the reason Han may be stealing is because it’s actually a lot more money than it seems for one, secondly, he knows DK will not notice on his own as he does not pay enough attention (seen when his uncle tells him Han stole), and lastly, it’s always important to have some source of income, even if you are rich.

Answer 5

To be honest the only reason that can be valid is that Tokyo is an expensive city and 10 million most likely would not be enough there, if you want to live a luxury life.