His main goal throughout the series is to inherit or steal the Baudelaire fortune.

This may indicate that Poe is after the Baudelaire fortune, and has purposely placed them in peril.

Throughout most of the series, he conspires with Count Olaf to steal the Baudelaire fortune.

All the while, villainous Count Olaf pursues the children in order to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune.

Every time we fail to get the Baudelaire fortune, Count Olaf yells at everyone!

It was a shame to think that the Baudelaire fortune would just sit in the bank, gathering interest and dust!

They've been very kind to us--well, Jerome has, at least--and anyway, they don't need the Baudelaire fortune.

Mr. Poe is the executor of the Baudelaire fortune.

He always has an evil scheme to steal the Baudelaire fortune.

When the count learns that he will not receive the Baudelaire fortune, he immediately drops all pretenses of friendliness toward the children.