Fred Claus

As a child, Frederick "Fred" Claus grew up in the shadow of his younger brother Nicholas "Nick". Due to Nick’s selflessness and good will, he became a saint, which gave him and his family immortality. Fred’s jealousy of Nick and his parents' preference for him cause a rift between the brothers.

In the present, Nick has become the modern-day Santa Claus, delivering gifts to the children of the world. Fred has become a repossession agent in Chicago. Fred lives alone and is friends with orphan Samuel “Slam” Gibbons. After his girlfriend Wanda breaks up with him, Fred is arrested for impersonating a Salvation Army employee in an attempt to raise seed money for an illegal casino plan. Fred asks Nick for bail and seed money. Nick accepts on the condition that Fred visits the North Pole for the holidays to earn the money.