<P> The Money in the Bank ladder match is a multi-person ladder match held by the professional wrestling promotion WWE . First contested at WWE's annual WrestleMania event beginning in 2005, a separate Money in the Bank pay - per - view was established in 2010 . The prize in the match is a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match, which can be "cashed in" by the holder of the briefcase at any point in the year following their victory . If the contract is not used within the year of winning it, it will be invalid, but this has yet to happen . From its inception until 2017, only ladder matches featuring male wrestlers occurred, with the contract being for a world championship match . Beginning with the 2017 event, women also have the opportunity to compete in the match, with their prize being for a women's championship match . </P> <P> The first match was contested in 2005 at WrestleMania 21, after being invented (in kayfabe) by Chris Jericho . At the time, it was exclusive to wrestlers of the Raw brand, and Edge won the inaugural match . From then until 2010, the Money in the Bank ladder match, now open to all WWE brands, became a WrestleMania mainstay . 2010 saw a second and third Money in the Bank ladder match when the Money in the Bank pay - per - view debuted in July . Unlike the matches at WrestleMania, this new event featured two such ladder matches--one each for a contract for the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship, respectively . </P> <P> Before the establishment of the annual Money in the Bank pay - per - view, wrestlers were allowed to use the contract to claim a match for any world championship in WWE . After the establishment of the pay - per - view, the Money in the Bank contracts were specifically aimed at one or the other championship . With the unification of the WWE and World Heavyweight titles into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in December 2013, there was only a single briefcase / contract in play . This went into effect beginning at the 2014 Money in the Bank pay - per - view event . </P>

Who invented the money in the bank ladder match