[Anders]

I see the situation as akin to the 15th and 16th century kings - they had personal wealth, but the wealth of the nation was not theirs to command. (For instance, one king of Denmark was allowed to attack Sweden - as the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, not as the king of Denmark - but on his own money.)

So when the Justice League says to Aquaman "We need $20 billion for a moon base", Aquaman can credibly say "My council won't allow it. You explain to them how it benefits the Atlanteans..."