The license plates on Bruce Patman's Porsche read 1BRUCE1, and that's exactly how he thinks of himself - as Number One. Handsome and arrogant, Bruce is used to getting everything he wants.
Bruce's cousin Roger, who lives with the Patman family, is nothing like Bruce. Roger was penniless for most of his life. He only recently found out that his late father was a Patman and that he was heir to his father's estate. Roger is still trying to adjust to his newfound wealth.
The boys have only one thing in common - their grandfather, who is one of the richest men in California. A shrewd, hardworking businessman, Mr. Patman decides to set up a contest between Bruce and Roger. The winner will inherit the grandfather's entire estate. The war is on - and Bruce will od anything to win!

Grandfather Patman smiled, first at one boy, then at the other. "I'd like to give each one of you boys two thousand dollars in cash. What you do with that money, as long as it's legal, is your business. The point is, four weeks from tomorrow night, when your parents get back from their trip, we'll see who's invested their money more wisely. Whoever has more money four weeks from now is the winner."
Mr. Patman looked stunned. "Father," he said, "are you saying - "
"I'm saying, the boys ought to fight it out, darn it!" Grandfather Patman cried.
"And whoever wins the contest gets the controlling shares of the company?" Bruce asked weakly.
"That's exactly right," Grandfather Patman said with a look of satisfaction.
Bruce felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He'd always known that he was going to inherit the Patman Corporation one day. Now his future had been yanked out from under him.
Well, he was going to fight it. He was going to fight it every step of the way. If Roger thought he was going to rob him of his inheritance, he was going to have to think again!