I don't think I ever heard an explanation of that anywhere. I also don't remember reference to the wealthy person hiring him. I thought he was at MK1 just to represent his clan and obviously to win and become the champion. In the world of MK1 where there was no Shao Kahn or Outworld, it seemed like running the tournament was somewhat of a big deal so I always assumed the Lin Kuei wanted to take control of it and Sub was there to do that.

I don't think it was ever mentioned in Mythologies, but I think it was implied (see - I assumed) that Quan Chi was the 'wealthy enemy'.

Never explained.

In MKM it's strange how Shang invites him to enter the tournament. It's like they forgot his MK1 ending and thought they were explaining why he was there even though we already knew.

someone on this site posted a theory a few months ago saying he thought it could have been Kitana who hired Sub-Zero to assassinate Shang Tsung

One doesn't exclude the other. He could've got an assignment after Shang's invitation. And the fact that Sub-Zero was going to be at the tournament only offered a better opportunity for his forthcoming goal and somebody could have simply took advantage of this.

Besides, it's quite obvious that when Sub's MK1 ending was written nobody thought about MKM:SZ. And I think that Shang Tsung's appearance in the latter game was just a nice way of linking the games' timelines.

I always thought it was a mission his grandmaster gave him, until I re-read that part about one of Tsung's wealthy enemies. I don't think it was Quan Chi, because Sub would never do anything for him after all that had happend in Mythologies. The ending was just something to put when MK1 came out. No other characters had been created besides the ones in MK1, so I don't think they really had anyone in mind to be the wealthy enemy. And after MK1, I think they forgot about the whole story all together. So with that said, it was just some random person and never anyone any of us would know, unless they tie that story into Noob's at the end of Armageddon, which is doubtful.

Yeah, I think Smoke01 is right. I'm pretty sure it was the Lin Kuei Grandmaster who ordered Sub-Zero to assassinate Shang Tsung, which means that MK2 ignores the wealthy enemy bit in his MK1 ending.

That's what I also had in mind when I said that Shang Tsung's appearance was just a nice way of linking the games' timelines. And frankly, I really liked that when I completed the game for the first time and I still don't think that Tsung's appearance was a bad move.

As a sidenote, I think it was funny in a way, that Rich Divizio impersonated both of the sorcerers.

As for the actual topic, I'm quite sure they didn't think of anyone specific while writing about this "wealthy enemy". Back then they simply didn't have such need, 'cause as they said, MK was initially planned to be a one time project.

But they can always add something to this plot in the future games. For instance, create a brand new character who will turn out to be that "long forgotten" wealthy enemy of Shang Tsung.

He did look cool and it was a more exciting way to end it than the Grand master just telling him some guy hired him.

The thing I like about MKM's ending is that MK II had been out for years and we know the result: He was going to die.

jonney cage he is rich