What would you have done with $500 million?

JerryS

Well-known Member
I bought five tickets for the Power Ball, fully knowing that mathematically they provided me almost identically the same chance of winning as if I had not bought them. Even so, for a few minutes I indulged myself in the fantasy of imagining that the money was mine. I tried to come up with just what I would do with it.

I decided that some of my relatives---the ones I care about---would get generous gifts. The church would get a nice donation, and probably my old college. I would probably selectively help some people who need and deserve it. I would get a new pickup, and probably a couple of new TRACTORS---or maybe even one for every implement. That would call for a new shed. I'd probably get a log house on a lake somewhere that it's cool in the summer. The wife of course would have a list of her own---lots of travel, I imagine, and a few baubles.

But after that initial splurge, what then? I have no idea. What do you do with that kind of money? I know I have no desire to live the life of the rich and famous jet-setters. What would you folks do?
 
(quoted from post at 20:17:06 11/29/12) I bought five tickets for the Power Ball, fully knowing that mathematically they provided me almost identically the same chance of winning as if I had not bought them. Even so, for a few minutes I indulged myself in the fantasy of imagining that the money was mine. I tried to come up with just what I would do with it.

I decided that some of my relatives---the ones I care about---would get generous gifts. The church would get a nice donation, and probably my old college. I would probably selectively help some people who need and deserve it. I would get a new pickup, and probably a couple of new TRACTORS---or maybe even one for every implement. That would call for a new shed. I'd probably get a log house on a lake somewhere that it's cool in the summer. The wife of course would have a list of her own---lots of travel, I imagine, and a few baubles.

But after that initial splurge, what then? I have no idea. What do you do with that kind of money? I know I have no desire to live the life of the rich and famous jet-setters. What would you folks do?

I would buy a bunch of farmland, and have cash rent auctions all winter and sit back and watch everyone fight over the land. It would take me a few years, but I would eventually get bored with that plan.
 
I too bought the five tickets.

And after having bought the neighboring farm and gotten the kids going, I don't know...

After all, a man can only drink 20 to 30 beers a day, no matter how rich he is!
 
That's easy. We have a town near us that wants the resort/lake shore people to be happy. They have had opportunities to have manufacturing come into town and run them off not caring about the people that need jobs.

So with that kinda money I'd open a small factory, just outside the city limits and build the ugliest building I could. Don't know what I'd make but I would figure something out.

Rick
 
I'd have bought every imaginatively overpriced restored tractor in the photo ads. Then I'd hire a bunch of you-all to run for public office, and spend a lot of money advertising your campaign promises. I'd go broke but I would still have all those tractors.
 
Buy enough stock in my company that I would have enough influence to fire the fools that run it now.
 
Dalet's idea is something I entertained too. By the way, where's Old. He's from Missouri. Could he be.............? Jim
 
I would give most of it to people I dont like much. I think winning that kind of money would make everything a guy has worked for worthless! I did buy a ticket though. I think i would be much happier winning a couple hundred thousand.Jim
 
Geeze Rick sounds like ALOT of Minnesota towns! Sell their soul for the tourist-development dollar and let other towns have good paying year-round manufacturing jobs.
 
Here is what I would do, and you would do some of the same things.

1. Get your own security force, a dozen men watching your home, family all the time. I know I would. I would have 3 of these guys at the school my children go to......The threat of kidnapping and being held for ransom is very real.
Former co-workers wife worked at a bank where a large sum of money had to be taken by the FBI for a ransom drop. (just like in the movies) This really happened several years ago I am told.

2. Build the most incredible fortress I could imagine. Gorgeous home. I would still have a shop with a heated barn for storage of tractors and other toys. My home would have double brick on it for repelling attacks. And I would have Lexan polycarbonate windows for bullet resistance. Underground bomb shelter with living quarters too.

3. My own power plant. If and when the electric grid takes a dump.

4. Have a small community of close friends and family on a large parcel of land to look out for each other.

5. Destroy the political careers of some of the bums in DC.

6. Buy businesses that are good investments also land and raw materials. And I want a big new gas guzzling diesel truck too.
 
Just came back from a parent teacher conference at a wonderful Christian school. We've managed to send the younger kids to for the last few years. I would love to write them and a few other similar programs nice big checks.
 
The part that they never mention in their ads is that you would pay a whole lot in taxes!
 
Got in a pool at work 10 us put ten bucks each and the thought of sitting at work thinking about winning and what I would do was well worth the ten bucks.. First thing would be pay everything off... Second would be buy a new diesel truck, then a 1000 or so acres in Ohio and a whole slew of two cylinders and matching equipment to farm it with my old man and family...
 
I would probably set up a scholarship program for the grand children, and their decendants.
Would force them to work for something, rather than just giving it away. Probably get a nice building named for me at the college of my choice too! I wouldn"t give away - I"d make it work for me, and boost the economy that way. No desire to join the jet set - probably would keep farming until it"s all gone!

PS, I have been hit by lightning!
 
Id take the 3rd thats left after taxes and see how much fun a poor old redneck could have or buy a sizeable amount of land then cover it with old farm equipment.
 
A cabin in each province,a large ranch,a hotel,a manager,oh yeah,a 5/8 mile banked oval somewhere in the bush just for me and friends,a large facility for my collection of antique farm tractors and machinery complete with full time mechanic.Gee I'm outa money already? What about my yacht,my rolls,my mansion,my rolex?
 
Security. Security. Security. You're now on the mind of a lot of undesirable people with bad intentions. Other than that I would step on the toes of every BTO (and wannabes) that acts like a blowhard fool and thinks they alone should have run of the entire area. It's gotten to the point where some of these "operators" stop by and declare to others in a less than friendly way what "territory" belongs to who. They best not stop and talk to me about that.
 
We could have used to pay about one third of the cost to support the external_links last year.

Dean
 
I think I would stay drunk for a month. Then have a house built for my mother. Buy myself a place. Then make the rounds at some hospitals. Pay the bills for those that really needed the help.Always wanted to help the ones that truly need the help.
 
First thing first Pay off all the bills , Then pay the kids student loans off . Then i would treat my Dodge truck to a full tank of fuel and off to the body shop and get the rust repaired , I do not want a new truck . Then i would help a friend out that is asfar down as one can get and still be alive . Pay off her medical bills and get her the operation she needs that she can not afford and pay off her place and a new or newer SUV for her. And what that would have taken out of my share would not even be missed . Then start fixen what i do have and not worry about do i have enough to get the parts i need and can i afford this or that . Hire someone to come in a BUILD THE WAR DEPT her new Kitchen that she will probably never use just so she would shut up about it and get off my back
.
 
If I won the lottery I would pay someone a good wage to answer my phone and mail. Anyone that called or sent a letter wanting money, they would get a check for one cent along with a note that if they wouldn't have begged they would of got a lot more. I think that any one that thinks that just because someone comes into a lot of money that they deserve some should get nothing. After 6 months to a year who ever did not beg I would give a good gift.

Bob
 
After taxes, and after my wife took what she thought she deserved, I'd take the remaining $2 and buy another PowerBall quick pic for the next drawing.
 
After I answered, I noticed that others had said the same thing. So, I came up with something else. I'd take saxaphone lessons. Yeah, that's it. (;>))
 
Not much--consult with the same guy that has steered me right for the last 15 years about how to invest the part that I won't lose farming. Buy a new 1/4" impact driver that I want. Fill up the farm gas tank. What's important in life doesn't have a $ attached.
 
Easy make offers to my butt head neighbors they could not refuse so I could get rid of my neighbor problems and also own the land I have wanted for years. I would also sell each of the houses on the land with 5 acres of land so those people could not be a pain ion my back sides since the houses are such that they would be out of my way and then buy up a lot more dead tractors and stuff like that and of course guns many many guns
 
The govt would go thru their share in about half an hour.

I would put some into a longer term investment, help out a number of charities, and finally figure out what is wrong with my Farmall!
 
It would be a curse.You would have to move,realtives and new friends would be begging for money,then curse you if you don't pay up.
Every scam artist and salesman within 500 miles will be looking you up.Probably a divorce in your future,money changes everything.
 
First thing I'd do is put a good gate at the end of the lane. And then mebbe order 10 bred duroc gilts.
 
1) I'd be planting corn with an MX370 next spring
2) I'd be hauling corn with a Pete 389 tri-axle glider with a very well built pre-emissions 60 series and 13 speed
3)The pair of 630s and JD B in the back of the boss' shed would be running again
4) I'd get myself a pile of red tractors, and maybe a couple green ones, and build a shop to keep them in.
5)my dad needs a new dozer
 
I really don't need the money. Everything I have is paid for and I have no desire to be rich or famous, but if I did win the money here is what I would do.I live in a county with no 4 lane roads ,no traffic lights and very few businesses or jobs. We graduate close to a hundred seniors a year from our school and 95 of them has to leave the county to get a job. Most of them never come back. The population of our county is aging quickly. I would build a factory, to produce what, I don't know at this time. But it would create jobs, create a tax base for the county, entice the younger folks to stay in the area and help to ensure the continued existence of the county where I live.
 
I'd pay off my small mortgage, buy the horse farm, and donate to the animal shelter, and the TRF, thoroughbred retirement foundation. Than buy a ford 6610 II fwd, c/h/a, lol
 
I love how everyone found happiness already. That is BS! I am sure everyone found that happiness is within, but still 500 million? Answer the question truthfully!
 
What about a 2013 ram truck like you posted about last week? You could buy a whole bunch of them if you wanted?
 
First, I'd retire.
I would then spend a lot on cold beer, hot women and antique tractors.
The rest I would waste. ;)
 
A gas guzzling DIESEL truck... Where exactly would you drive it? Why not just dig a big hole in the ground and go into hiding for the rest of your life. No amount of money would be worth having to live in a constant state of paranoia that someone is out to get you. If someone wanted to get you they wouldn't have to get into your fortress, they'd just have to keep you from getting out.
 
Would you just walk around town unarmed?
IF you had over 200 million dollars you WOULD be a target of kidnappers.
The wealthiest people in this country take precautions. I sure would.
 
I didn't buy a lottery ticket, so I didn't think about what to do with $500,000,000. I guess I'm just happy keeping my $1.
 
Had I won:
it would come to about 180 million after the tax and the cash penality. I would have Split it down the middle with my brother( my only sibling) put 15 m in an account to be managed by a board to trustees that gives the interest to charitys (salvation army, etc)That is so when someone comes looking for charity, you can say" I don't handle that, here's a card, they take care of all of that for me".I would have set up a 10 m fund at the local bank so that all graduates from my local high school (about 35 per year)from now untill its gone walk out with a check for 10,000. I'd see to it that all area fire depts had one of those heat seeking cameras. I'd invest well in my home town. All of this would endear me to the local population enough that it would be hard for strangers to find and harass me. provide help for my close friends. then get a motorhome and do the snowbird thing. and do a lot of international traveling. I always wanted to see the beaches of Brazil. Learning to fly a small airplane has always been on my bucket list.
 
I figure the government, my partner, will take half leaving me with 250 million. I'd invest that in some low risk 2-3% return bank. Interest would be 5-7.5 million per year, of which my silent worthless no good rotten partner will probably demand half leaving me with 2.5-3.5 million per year to figure out what to do with.

I'd set up multiple trust funds benefiting my favorite charities.

I'd buy a big piece of land to farm, ranch and hunt. And a huge building to house all my existing and future toys. State of the art shop to do my own repairs and restorations. I'd hire several hands to do all the crap I don't like to do.

If money can't buy happiness I'd like to try the kind of misery it brings!
 
Split it with James and invest my portion.

Retire to the farm.

Pay all debts owed by me and my immediate family.

Donate to God's work.

Set up trust funds for my family.

Build assisted living/retirement homes specifically for veterans.

Set up scholarships for children of veterans.

Calls/mail from unknown persons/organizations would be ignored.
 
After all the taxes and fees, I would take one half of what's left and put it away in various investments and savings. I would then take the other half and pay off all my debt, gift several family members, friends and my church. Then my wife and I would split what's left. I would be a land, cattle and equipment buying fool. That in turn would drive my wife mad so she would travel the world so she wouldn't have to put up with me 8)

Casey in SD
 
Make a real nice donation to my church for God's work then buy myself a nice hobby farm and work that a little with my collector tractors and matched tools for them to do the work, just for the fun of it....I still love farming. I'd help some immediate members of my family who don't have very good jobs get some addition education to enable them to get good jobs and help them buy decent homes for themselves and their families. In spite of being 78 years old I think I could still have some practical things to help me enjoy life for a few more years, God willing.....
 
Paint My truck, fix the screens on the back porch,and if there was any left I would invest it.
Ron
 
There are lots of millionaires walking around every day. I'm sure they take precautions but not to the extreme like you are talking. They probably have a security system and maybe even a bodyguard/driver but the majority of them don't have a security force that would put the secret service to shame. I kind of doubt the multi-millionaires walk through the sleazy part of town at 11 pm but I'm sure most of them aren't paranoid about being kidnapped. A lot of rich people aren't in the spot light, so how would anybody even know they were rich. The guy that got gas in front of you yesterday could have been a multi-millionaire. Living in bubble worried that someone might be out to get you would be a horrible way to live.
 
I will tell you right now that the people at the bank will know you and how much green you have, friends will talk, your former co-workers will talk. Word will get out and you will become a target.
Think about Governors, and Senators, the Secret service is with them.
I have a former neighbor that was a state cop years ago. He now does security for a wealthy family, very wealthy. Yes, I am serious. He is basically a bodyguard. How he got in is that his former captain runs the private security for this family and he must Always carry a side arm. And he has to train with it every few months.
It is better to be careful then dead or have a family member kidnapped.
Yes it happens, Yes you will live in a shell to a point. But........that is the cost of being super wealthy.
There are lowlifes in the world that will kill you for $5k, or less. Desperate losers that will do anything for money.
 
(quoted from post at 01:04:28 12/01/12) I will tell you right now that the people at the bank will know you and how much green you have, friends will talk, your former co-workers will talk. Word will get out and you will become a target.
Think about Governors, and Senators, the Secret service is with them.
I have a former neighbor that was a state cop years ago. He now does security for a wealthy family, very wealthy. Yes, I am serious. He is basically a bodyguard. How he got in is that his former captain runs the private security for this family and he must Always carry a side arm. And he has to train with it every few months.
It is better to be careful then dead or have a family member kidnapped.
Yes it happens, Yes you will live in a shell to a point. But........that is the cost of being super wealthy.
There are lowlifes in the world that will kill you for $5k, or less. Desperate losers that will do anything for money.
would just go ahead & give it all to BHO, he will take it all sooner than you think, anyway.
 
One bodyguard not a dozen like you mentioned. You seem paranoid that someone would start WW III and attack your residence. Who would want to be super wealthy but always looking over their shoulder thinking someone is out to get them. I've known a few very wealthy people and if they were as paranoid as you, they'd probably end up in a padded room. You said previously that you don't even let your kids friends come in your house unless they go to your church. I'm sorry but that's already paranoid. Most people would be a basket case if they already felt that way and came into a lot of money.
 
(quoted from post at 10:21:17 12/01/12) My favourite charity (strippers benevolent fund) would probably have several good years.
hat a LOT of g-string stuffing!!!! :lol:
 

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