Originally Posted By Liberty Belle My friend informed me the other night that she and her boyfriend WERE winning the $40 000 000 lotto that night, leaving her with half the money to spend. She divided the money up, telling me who she was going to give money to and what she would do with the rest of it. Very surprisingly, they didn't win. Still, it's really quite fun spending lots of money you don't have, so I tried it myself. Of course, it's entirely possible I'm the only one who finds spending hypothetical money enjoyable, and that I'm just odd, but I'm guessing there has to be at least ONE more out there. Firstly, I'd give $2 mil to each of my sisters, and $1 mil to each of my parents (I'd only give them less because I know they'd tell me to do so). For my nieces and nephews I'd put $300 000 each aside in an investment account until they're 21 (knowing that they'd be looked after with some of my sister's money as well, of course). And I'd donate a million to charity, I'm thinking alzheimers or cancer research. I'd probably give $200 000 each to my two closest friends (if one of them, who is notoriously bad with money, would promise me she'd spend it towards a house or something instead of wasting it!), and $100 000 each to another two friends. So with all that boring stuff done with - time to spend on me! Firstly I'd pay my car off, and put the rest in a high-interest account for a while while I shop for my perfect house, so let's say about a million there plus a bit of money to buy, you know, furniture. Then I'd take a year off work to travel around the world. I've always wanted to, but have refused to dip into my savings. The rest of it I'd invest and live off in retirement (and possibly for going part-time at a young age considering I am, after all, a multimillionaire). Ta-dah!
Originally Posted By dshyates First I would buy a house and not tell my family where I am. I'll get back to you on the rest.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck Yeah, do you suppose the US government would let me buy Montana and put a big fence around it?
Originally Posted By dshyates "Yeah, do you suppose the US government would let me buy Montana and put a big fence around it?" You CAN buy it. Just talk to Ted Turner and David Letterman.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss First thing to consider is that the gubment is gonna take half of "your" money... especially with a trillion dollar+ plan in the works. You'll be one of those rich folks who is gonna be paying for the plan. So really you only have $10 million... leaving you nothing since it looks like you just gave that much away.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I would give to many charities, probably 1/8 of the prize or so. I would pay off the student loans for my four closest girlfriends. My closest guyfriends don't need this. This would be about $400,000. I would buy my best guy friend a car, "to be fair". Let's say $30,000. I would pay my parents back for my education/wedding as much as they would let me. Let's say they'd take $30,000. I would give my sister and my brother each $1mil for them and for their kids. They are generous and good savers for college. I would buy myself a new car, and a new TV/music system. Let's estimate $50,000. I will definitely spend some on our house (when we figure out where we are going to live). I still wouldn't want one too big. I will spend some on trips to WDW, Venice, Paris, and NYC. (WDW trips to be repeated.) I would stay in the Polynesian, and the AKL, etc.. I would save the rest.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains After taxes... half to charity - Pay off my family's houses. (maybe $300K) Find my true dream house (not too big) Buy a small condo/house in s.cal so I can stay there when I go to DL. New band equipment for DH Invest the rest.
Originally Posted By SoThisIsLove I would take it to Safeway right now, where I am headed, to buy the ailing royal Princess: *ahem* Trix cereal Trix yogurt quote: "Little Valentine's Day presents for my friends." (The fever is now making her delusional.)
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer There is a wonderful house here that is the oldest fully concrete construction manor home. The owners were 2 generations of philanthropists. The Colonel died about a decade before his wife. This house deteriorated as the beloved wife Migsie only heated 4 rooms. This house even has a secret tunnel. A developer bought the estate and would sell the home for the cost of the land it sits on provided the purchaser restores this piece of history. (Many like this have already been lost all over Canada and USA). They estimate to return this home to it's former grandeur would cost about a million to 1.5 million. When my dad drives by this house it brings a tear to his eye. (This family would let the neighbourhood kids in the "cottages" behind swim in the pool. Oh and did I mention that Prince Phillip slept in this house and some of the carpets in it came from Buckingham Palace? I would restore this home and give it to my parents. I would also in the tradition of Henry Ford (and the previous owners of this home) allow local groups such as Boy Scouts/Girl Guides use this home for functions. I would also open this house up with a Gala ball for charity (Diabetes or Cancer) and add this home to the Annual Christmas tour for charity. I would purchase for myself and all my extended family a California Mid Century Modern home to use, since I believe California has so much to offer. (Southern California sorry!) I would pay off my families college bills, and give my extended family a reunion (At wdw of course). For work, I'll keep my tradition of hosting a meal for my dept once a month (no longer pot luck), I'd quit my second job, but keep my first at least part time. As much as I bitch, it is a labour of love. I would donate a set amount to various charities directly. (Ie pay for a hall, errect a statue, set up a fund). I would continue to donate to fine museums around Canada and USA, only in a higher amount then I do now. The rest I'll share later...maybe.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck Oh there's an historic house here in town I would snatch up in a heartbeat and remodel the heck out of it & let my mom & aunt run it as a Bed & Breakfast. Its the perfect kind of house for that!
Originally Posted By avro_imagineer Theres one currently for sale, 3.2 million 17,000 sq ft plus a 3200 sq ft pool house (plus attic for finishing) with a conference room and dance hall) on a hill overlooking the city. Belonged to Mr Ivey, the house is currently owned by the ambulance driver that drove him to the hospital when he died... He was also a huge philanthropist. Also one of the most prestigious MBA schools (many Americans come here for the program) in North America was named after him. I am not interested in this one because it's already preserved. Even though the mural in the foyer is to DIE for. I would purchase a Ford Flex or Taurus or Chevy Camaro for many of my relatives. Did you see the 2010 Taurus? Heated massaging seats, 370hp! Features found only in cars costing 3 to 4 times more... Wow. I think I know what my Highlander would turn into. I would also donate to build a school in a third world country. Education is paramount. Over-education however brings educated idiots who do not realize by offshoring you're also shrinking your consumer base which means you're screwing yourself. There is a foundation here called Ryan's Well (Started when Ryan was in Kingergarten) to drill wells for villages in Africa. That would be great. Oh and I'd have my dream wedding at Breakers. I'll finally have enough security where my priority will be to be the everything for some unlucky lady.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle >>First thing to consider is that the gubment is gonna take half of "your" money<< I did mean to mention in my original post that we don't pay taxes on winnings here, so that wouldn't be an issue for me. I meant to tell you American-types to pretend the $20 mil was AFTER taxes!
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs After taxes, I would first pay off any, um, bills that have been nagging at me and then... 1. Share with immediate family; Perhaps buy my mom, dad and sister a house and a new car. 2. My grandmother passed away on Thanksgiving 9 years ago, and I lost my grandfather two weeks before Christmas, so I would invest in something for them, some way to honor them and thank them. 3. I'd give a portion to some of my closest friends and let them decide what to do with it. 4. Donate several amounts to my church, as well as a couple of charities... something involved with children like St. Jude's or third-world countries. Because strokes and heart attacks run on either side of the family, I donate to them as well. 4b. I want to give back...I would take time and build houses for Hurricane Katrina victims, or the victims of the San Diego fires. Just...something... where I can look back and say, "I built this house for someone, and now they have a home to live in, and a safe place for their family to grow up in." 5. Have schools and/or shelters built, like a school for the arts or a homeless shelter... or maybe another center for underprivileged kids. 6. If there's anything else, I'd use it on myself. I'd love to have a new house built EXACTLY like DL's Haunted Mansion...if not, then a 'regular' design will suffice. I could also buy myself the Fancy All-Exclusive Platinum Deluxe Super-Duper Annual Passport...you know, the one where you can go to DL anytime you want. And of course, I could finally buy the *expensive* items to add to my Collection of Evil"
Originally Posted By disney pete i would share a lot with family and friends. buy our dream home in florida. donate $1mill to special care baby unit who looked after kristopher. and throw a huge LP meet together somewhere nice.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh I'd quit the job, or take a sabbatical, fix up the RV, and take a trip across the US for a couple months, mostly visiting National Parks and Historic sites. I'd buy enough DVC points that I could take the family on one of those "Adventures by Disney" trips each year and stay for a week at a Disney Resort. I'd buy the "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" on eBay. I'd fix up my Lodge, and give and endowment to our Masonic Youth Groups so they wouldn't have to fund raise for fees and insurance, and help them go to fun places, like Silverwood and the Enchanted Forest, and maybe even Disneyland.
