diff --git a/src/mudlib/server.py b/src/mudlib/server.py
index 86a306b..3fb05a1 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/server.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/server.py
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ async def shell(
             "inventory": [],
             "description": "",
             "home_zone": None,
+            "is_admin": False,
         }
 
     # Resolve zone from zone_name using zone registry
@@ -388,6 +389,7 @@ async def shell(
     # Set description and home zone
     player.description = player_data.get("description", "")
     player.home_zone = player_data.get("home_zone")
+    player.is_admin = player_data.get("is_admin", False)
 
     # Load aliases from database
     player.aliases = load_aliases(player_name)
diff --git a/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py b/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
index b926364..33caade 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class PlayerData(TypedDict):
     inventory: list[str]
     description: str
     home_zone: str | None
+    is_admin: bool
 
 
 class StatsData(TypedDict):
@@ -112,6 +113,15 @@ def init_db(db_path: str | Path) -> None:
         )
     if "home_zone" not in columns:
         cursor.execute("ALTER TABLE accounts ADD COLUMN home_zone TEXT")
+    if "is_admin" not in columns:
+        cursor.execute(
+            "ALTER TABLE accounts ADD COLUMN is_admin INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"
+        )
+        # First account ever created becomes admin
+        cursor.execute(
+            "UPDATE accounts SET is_admin = 1 "
+            "WHERE rowid = (SELECT rowid FROM accounts ORDER BY created_at ASC LIMIT 1)"
+        )
 
     conn.commit()
     conn.close()
@@ -171,6 +181,10 @@ def create_account(name: str, password: str) -> bool:
             "INSERT INTO accounts (name, password_hash, salt) VALUES (?, ?, ?)",
             (name, password_hash, salt.hex()),
         )
+        # First account ever created becomes admin
+        cursor.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM accounts")
+        if cursor.fetchone()[0] == 1:
+            cursor.execute("UPDATE accounts SET is_admin = 1 WHERE name = ?", (name,))
         conn.commit()
         return True
     except sqlite3.IntegrityError:
@@ -329,6 +343,7 @@ def load_player_data(name: str) -> PlayerData | None:
     has_inventory = "inventory" in columns
     has_description = "description" in columns
     has_home_zone = "home_zone" in columns
+    has_is_admin = "is_admin" in columns
 
     # Build SELECT based on available columns
     select_cols = "x, y, pl, stamina, max_stamina, flying"
@@ -340,6 +355,8 @@ def load_player_data(name: str) -> PlayerData | None:
         select_cols += ", description"
     if has_home_zone:
         select_cols += ", home_zone"
+    if has_is_admin:
+        select_cols += ", is_admin"
 
     cursor.execute(
         f"SELECT {select_cols} FROM accounts WHERE name = ?",
@@ -376,6 +393,11 @@ def load_player_data(name: str) -> PlayerData | None:
         home_zone = result[idx]
         idx += 1
 
+    is_admin = False
+    if has_is_admin:
+        is_admin = bool(result[idx])
+        idx += 1
+
     return {
         "x": x,
         "y": y,
@@ -387,6 +409,7 @@ def load_player_data(name: str) -> PlayerData | None:
         "inventory": inventory,
         "description": description,
         "home_zone": home_zone,
+        "is_admin": is_admin,
     }
 
 
@@ -407,6 +430,28 @@ def update_last_login(name: str) -> None:
     conn.close()
 
 
+def set_admin(name: str, is_admin: bool) -> bool:
+    """Set admin status for an account.
+
+    Args:
+        name: Account name (case-insensitive)
+        is_admin: Whether the account should be admin
+
+    Returns:
+        True if account was found and updated, False if not found
+    """
+    conn = _get_connection()
+    cursor = conn.cursor()
+    cursor.execute(
+        "UPDATE accounts SET is_admin = ? WHERE name = ?",
+        (1 if is_admin else 0, name),
+    )
+    updated = cursor.rowcount > 0
+    conn.commit()
+    conn.close()
+    return updated
+
+
 def save_aliases(
     name: str, aliases: dict[str, str], db_path: str | Path | None = None
 ) -> None: