Turkmenistan
$1 USD = 24,000 Manat
There aren't enough manat in the world to buy you a ticket to the opera, which was officially abolished by Turkmenistan's late leader, Turkmenbashi — along with the ballet, AIDS and other scourges.
The former Soviet republic got its own currency on Nov. 1, 1993, when the manat replaced the Russian ruble. Turkmenbashi, also known as former "President for Life" Saparamurat Niyazov, put himself on the country's money — all of it.
The country's significant oil and natural gas resources haven't been enough to quash its high poverty rate, which persists. The government will issue a new manat on Jan. 1 of next year.
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