In the original tales, Aladdin was a lazy and irresponsible boy who lived alone with his mother. They were very poor and had no money, but Aladdin refused to work.
The lamp contains a genie, of course, and lies in a cave full of jewels and magical objects.
An evil magician desires the lamp, but cannot retrieve it himself. He must be given the lamp by another, so he tricks Aladdin into entering the cave for him.
When Aladdin refuses to turn over the lamp, the magician seals him up inside the cave. In despair Aladdin rubs the lamp, which summons the genie and makes him Aladdin's slave.
Aladdin uses the genie's magic to become rich and powerful, wooing the Sultan's daughter, whom he has fallen madly in love with. The evil magician attempts to trick the princess into giving him the lamp, but Aladdin eventually defeats him.