Watto

"Mind tricks don't work on me, only money."

- Watto

Watto was a male Toydarian junk dealer/human trafficker, who owned a shop in Mos Espa, Tatooine. He was the owner of Shmi Skywalker Lars as well as her son, Anakin Skywalker, the young boy who would grow up to become both a revered Jedi Knight and a feared Sith Lord known as Darth Vader.

Biography
Watto started his life as a soldier on Toydaria. However, he left Toydaria after he suffered an injury. He then went to Tatooine, where he watched Jawas sell used goods and decided to star his own business.

Watto then became junk dealer living in Mos Espa, Tatooine. Owner of a small shop, Watto won two slaves, Shmi and her son, Anakin, from Gardulla the Hutt in a bet. Watto was an inveterate gambler, and when he discovered Anakin's natural podracing abilities, he sponsored the boy in several Podraces. Despite this, Watto often bet against Anakin, who was talented but lacked experience. Watto eventually lost Anakin to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn in a wager on the Boonta Eve race.

Years later, Watto sold Shmi to the moisture farmer Cliegg Lars.

Once Anakin returned to Tatooine, Watto asked him if he could help with some "deadbeats who owe me a lot of money." After being asked about Shmi, Watto tried to help Anakin find his mother, giving him all of the information he knew about Shmi's new life and location. Watto treated him well at this time, but most likely only because he used to treat Anakin harshly, and since Anakin was now a Jedi with a lightsaber, Watto was intimidated to the point of absolute respecting of his former slave.

Personality and traits
Watto was proud of his business and distrusting of Republic credits, which he felt weren't "real" enough for the tough economy of an Outer Rim Territory planet like Tatooine. When Qui-Gon Jinn attempted a mind trick on him in order to get him to accept 20,000 credits in exchange for a T-14 hyperdrive generator, he shrugged it off, telling Jinn that as a Toydarian, mind tricks didn't work on him, "only money." Watto was a heavy gambler, and later lost the hyperdrive and Anakin in a bet he had wagered against the Jedi.

Behind the Scene
Watto portrayed by voice actor Andrew Secombe.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones

Non-canon appearances

 * William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First