The richest block of cheese in the world, Swarthmore was the most rapacious and successful businessman of his or any other era, a legendary titan who built his fortune on the non-dairy creamer boom of fifty years ago.
His wealth and power have made him a trusted advisor to the Royals, a position he takes full advantage of in crushing business competitors despite his public pronouncements of retirement.
Swarthmore had five children, the eldest of whom is Melvin Swarthmore, Jr., Monterey Jack's adopted father. Junior turned out to be something of a disappointment to Senior, lacking the agressiveness and razor-sharp business acumen that made his father so powerful. But granddaddy was quite taken with grandson Jack and was in the process of grooming the youngster to take over the company when Jack disappeared.