Watford City – A local family’s entrepreneurial spirit is paying off. Mitch Haugeberg, a Watford City resident, created the board game Strike it Rich to give his children real‑world lessons about money, marriage, children and the power of compound interest.
From a backyard idea to a national product
Haugeberg says the game blends the familiar feel of Monopoly with the life‑stage scenarios of The Game of Life. Though he first imagined the concept 33 years ago, the game only entered the market about three years ago. Since then, it has found a foothold in multiple U.S. states and even overseas markets.
Sales milestones and international reach
“I have one up in Calgary, Canada, and I have one in Milan, Italy, so I can say that I’m international,” Haugeberg told KFYR. He added that the game has sold roughly 520 copies in three years. In the board‑game industry, that volume is considered a strong success, especially for a family‑run venture.
Most independent game creators are motivated by passion rather than profit, and Haugeberg is no exception. “Most people that sell games don’t do it for the money, they do it for the love of the game,” he said. He enjoys the marketing process as much as the gameplay itself, noting that promoting the product has been “just as fun as playing it.”
Teaching financial literacy at home
The core mission of Strike it Rich is to equip the next generation with practical financial knowledge. Players navigate decisions such as buying a home, raising children, and investing for the future, all while seeing how compound interest can grow wealth over time. By turning these concepts into a game, Haugeberg hopes families will discuss money matters more openly and build stronger financial habits together.
Local impact and future plans
The success of the game reflects the entrepreneurial energy growing in Watford City and the broader North Dakota region. Haugeberg plans to expand distribution, explore additional educational modules, and possibly partner with schools to use the game as a classroom tool.
For now, the family continues to ship orders from their home base, proud that a simple idea born out of parental love is reaching families far beyond the Bakken oil fields.
Original reporting: KFYR-TV Bismarck (news) — read the source article.
