Star Trek has many forms of intelligent life, but the shiftiest examples are Ferengi. These little goblins prize profit above all, and they concoct a slew of shady business practices to attain that profit. This behavior makes them a recurring nuisance, but there is more to them than meets the eye.
The franchise has unveiled several curious facts about the Ferengi, both in front of and behind the camera. These are odd quirks that make any outsiders scratch their heads. Some factoids even go back to the species' inception. It's hard not to wonder what the creators were thinking with these guys. Whatever their origins, though, the Ferengi are now a permanent part of Star Trek history.
7 Based On Money-Grubbing Humans
When creator Gene Roddenberry and his team were conceptualizing the Ferengi, they looked to humanity as inspiration. Specifically, they zeroed in on the corporate world. According to the Cinefantastique magazine, they used "agents and lawyers" as templates. Granted, they admitted that vision was based on stereotypes, but the inspiration remains.
People in these fields know how personally important their tasks are to clients, so they charge extraordinary amounts for their services. It's easy to see how that mindset informs the Ferengi. It's also easy to imagine how real agents and lawyers would be offended. Then again, as long as they get paid, they may just laugh the whole thing off.
6 Replace Klingons
When developing The Next Generation, the creators wanted an alien race to serve as recurring villains. The Klingons filled this role in the original series: Kirk and co. tangled with the warrior species every few episodes. Though said Klingons were now allied with the Federation, why lose a regular antagonist?
The Next Generation 365 book outlines this process. In contrast to the Klingons' might, the Ferengi would make mischief through scheming and corruption. This is somewhat confusing since the Romulans act as similar enemies. However, the showrunners presumably wanted a new faction--one more suited to the utopia's contrast with capitalism.
5 Men Wear The Pants (Literally)
On top of being greedy to a fault, the Ferengi are a misogynistic society. Males handle all financial transactions while females are at their beck and call. Women can't set foot in the business world or even own property. The policy goes all the way.
Female Ferengi don't wear clothes. Their normal wardrobe is no wardrobe at all, as they run around completely naked. When Quark and Rom's mother defies conventions by donning a dress, it makes them physically uncomfortable. Let's hope they never invite outsiders to family gatherings.
4 Their Ears Are The Way To Their Hearts
A Ferengi's most noticeable feature is the massive pair of ears. Combined with their beady eyes and bulbous teeth, they look like intergalactic rats. One obvious function of these oversized ears would be an auditory advantage. Naturally, they want to hear whatever's going on so that they can manipulate it to their benefit. That's not the only music to their ears, though.
Their lobes seem to stimulate pleasure. Massaging said lobes generates a state of euphoria. This is a crippling weakness, as it makes the Ferengi susceptible to whatever suggestion comes their way. That happens to Quark several times on Deep Space Nine. By that logic, nailing a Ferengi with a wet willie could tank his entire enterprise.
3 They're Run By A Woman
Female Ferengi may not normally amount to much, but Quark and Rom's mom is a living refutation of that. The boys eventually learn that she's dating Grand Nagus Zek: the Ferengi leader. He is renowned for his keen business sense and insight into profit. Sadly, he's not as sharp as he once was.
Age has slowed Zek's mind. He's not entirely senile, but he makes several mistakes that would shock his followers. Luckily, his lover is there to pick up the slack. She has an eye for acquisition to rival the best Ferengi, so Zek is happy to let her run things from behind the scenes.
2 One Joined Starfleet
Given their inherently selfish and capitalistic nature, one would expect the Ferengi to be at odds with the United Federation of Planets. After all, the latter's mission is exploration and intercultural cooperation with no thought of profit. One Ferengi believed in that mission.
Enter Nog. A resident of Deep Space Nine, he comes to admire Starfleet's noble goals. His friendship with Jake Sisko likely fuels this attitude, but it's also due to him having no prospects as a businessman. Because of that, he strives to become the first Ferengi in Starfleet. He dives into the academy and eventually attains a captaincy, much to everyone's shock and admiration.
1 Death Is Yet Another Sale
Some people donate their bodies to science, but the Ferengi sell their bodies. Yes, even funerals become business transactions. They dry out the body and divide it into several pieces. These pieces go into vacuum-sealed discs. Attendees can then buy said discs for a fixed price.
Sure, it's tasteless, but it can also be extremely profitable. Some of the more famous Ferengi turn into valuable collector's items. It's similar to how celebrity belongings go for big bucks on the internet, albeit more morbid.