Legal Definitions - pecuniary gain

Pecuniary gain refers to a financial benefit or advantage obtained, typically in the form of money, assets, or anything that can be valued monetarily. It signifies an increase in one's wealth or financial standing.

• A corporate executive uses confidential information about an upcoming merger to purchase shares of the target company before the public announcement. Once the merger is announced and the stock price rises, the executive sells their shares for a substantial profit.

  This illustrates pecuniary gain because the executive directly increased their personal wealth by acquiring money through the sale of stock, an asset, based on privileged information. The profit represents a clear financial benefit.

• An individual creates a fraudulent online charity, soliciting donations from unsuspecting donors. Instead of forwarding the money to a legitimate cause, the individual deposits all contributions into their personal bank account.

  Here, the individual achieves pecuniary gain by accumulating funds directly into their personal finances through deceptive means. The donations, which are monetary assets, represent a clear financial advantage for the individual.

• A construction company intentionally uses substandard, cheaper materials for a government project, despite having billed the government for high-quality, expensive materials. The company pockets the difference in cost.

  This demonstrates pecuniary gain as the company financially benefits by reducing its expenses while maintaining the higher revenue from the government contract. The saved costs directly translate into increased profit and financial advantage for the company.