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We are not big gamblers around this house, but when the Powerball gets to a big enough pot—and it is currently at around $500 million—we
buy tickets. I mean, why not? Everybody has an equal chance to win. It could be me. Or you.
What we do love in this house is playing the “What if we won?” game. On Saturday mornings, we walk the dog together, and plan outlandish things. Christopher Robin is a businessman above all else, and he loves to create business plans. For example, if we were to win that pot right now, he’d like to build a Mini dealership in Colorado Springs. I’ve been shopping for a Mini and it’s a pain to go to Denver all the time. I would build a vegan/vegetarian restaurant that’s really, really good because I get tired of looking at great menus with really awful veg options. It’s not that hard, peeps, come on! If I have to eat another vegetarian burger, I’ll explode.
So the Mini dealership would feature a complex with a vegetarian restaurant. And since we’re dreaming, why not take over a plot of land nearby the highway that’s gone up for sale? Plenty of room for an urban farm, with free chickens laying eggs for us, and space for a cat rescue, and a giant organic vegetable garden to supply the restaurant. We’d hire my friend Heather, the business whiz, to oversee it all and we could just enjoy it. I mean, really, hundred of millions is a lot of money.
I’d also create foundations and charities. The cat rescue, of course. Something for working class girls who want to be writers so they can go to college. It would be fun to be an anonymous donor, giving money away to my favorite causes. It would be a blast, actually.
Of course, there would be the gifts to my family and friends, the vacation home, and the dermatological visits (hey, I’m not getting any younger!) and travel, but the businesses and foundations would be the fun part for me. I have a job I love, so that wouldn’t go anywhere. I’d probably get some expensive hobbies, like flipping houses.
Money doesn’t buy happiness, but as the wise Tom Robbins has said, “It does buy a certain zen-like calm.” I’m pretty sure I could find ways to enjoy a massive fortune.
How about you? What would you do with $500 million dollars? Do you play the lotteries, or does it seem like a gigantic waste of money?
55 Comments on “What would YOU do with $500 million?”
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Yes, I play, and I fully expect to win someday. My sister and I have discussed what we would do with a metric boatload of money and our plans have not changed much in years. First of all we really love our house even though it is a manufactured home so we would make the changes we want and stay here. We are on the I-5 of the spirit world and we would miss our visitors.If I did move, I would build my own Hobbiton because I love Frodo’s house and it would be completely energy efficient.
We would pay off all our debts as well as our mom’s and our kids. Buy the cars we really want, sister wants a Kia and I want a Taurus Sho. Set up scholarships for the grands. We want to set up alternative energy for the people who can’t afford it on their own. We also want to set up a foundation that will help the homeless people get back into homes they can afford to keep.
Like you I would rather do it anonymously because i have seen what happens to people who get a lot of money suddenly, others want to help you spend it -their way. I am not interested in glory, I just want the where with all to make a difference.
And I would show up at the next gathering of the goddesses and have a splendiferous time!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 2:17 am.
A Hobbiton! That’s a spectacular idea. I’ll come visit you there and we shall have tea.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:54 pm.
Come right on over, tea it is. I have the recipe for lembas bread.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:25 pm.
Mmmm!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:08 pm.
I have never bought a lottery ticket and probably never will so my chances of winning are nil. That being said, I have no idea what I would do with the money. The first thing I would do though is keep it a very big secret so people wouldn’t hound me for money. I’d make donations, buy more books, travel more. I might even be able to visit Fresno, CA to see where I was born.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:59 am.
I suspect you could get to Fresno on $300 million. I’m with your books, travel, and donations. Simple. Good.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:56 pm.
I dream lottery winnings a lot. but rarely play.
the jackpot here with super 7 is 50 million, with 7 extra million dollar prizes.
With the power ball money, that would change a lot of lives!
if won, I’d give a million to each member of my family, right on down to great neices and nephew yet born.
that would take a good 30 mil right there!lol
I’d give a lot to charity, scholarships.
for me, i’d live in my dream home, a lovely cozy 4 bedroom home near a bird sanctuary and beach that I have loved for yrs. close enough to the city for groceries and clothes, but far enough out to be quietly country. have a few large goofy dogs, a few cats, a greenhouse and live simply and safe.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 8:25 am.
I love it that you’d give a million to each family member! That’s not only kind, but would probably forestall a lot of trouble.
And yes to that greenhouse! I want one so badly.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:57 pm.
Like you, we only play when the jackpot is huge.
I would be paying off my mom’s house and giving her money so she could quit work and travel. I’d do the same. I’d invest in businesses for my kids. A cabin by a lake where I could have more dogs.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 9:02 am.
I’d like doing things for my kids, too. That would be fun.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:57 pm.
First thing, I would relax about deadlines and not care if I made them or not!!
I would pay off houses for those in the family who still owed, I would buy houses for those in the family in need, and I would go on the Mother of All Shopping Trips
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 9:06 am.
Love the idea of paying off everybody’s houses. I didn’t think of that!
And no deadlines sounds like heaven right now, though I wouldn’t quit writing.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 3:58 pm.
New Guy and I put in for the 100 million dollar jackpot a couple of weeks ago and the ticket was a winner albeit 7th division. If we had won first division there would be several properties purchased, a trip to Germany for New Guy and I and most likely a trip somewhere else so that we can get some cosmetic surgery done – teeth for New Guy and lipo, teeth, tummy tuck and something done to remove my tuckshop lady arms. We would also set things up that our parents would be debt and bill free for the rest of their lives. We would also take a trip to the US so we can meet all our friends over there in person and give them a big hug or three, we would also have a really nice house but most people wouldn’t get to see it because otherwise they would try and hit us up for loans without the intention of paying it back. New Guy would have all the games that he desires and I would have complete collections of the authors that I love.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 9:43 am.
I’d give dental work, too. It’s so expensive!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm.
I know the public libraries in our area are suffering so I would create some type of endowment to ensure their continuation.
There is a lovely lake in N.Wisconsin that I would purchase and take off the grid along with a winter condo in Florida.
Then chat with the Green Bay Packers about a special box at the stadium.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:15 am.
I’m on the library board of my local library. Endowments are a big thing in Library Land, in general right now. Some libraries are able to take a smaller mill levy because certain collections are funded by an endowment. So, you’re idea to endow libraries is noble and great.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:43 am.
I didn’t think of libraries, either. That’s such a great idea. I can’t stand to think of my libraries not having everything they need.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:02 pm.
Hide from my in-laws.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:19 am.
Hahahaaaaa!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:27 am.
It’s a pretty small world, my friend. Private island, maybe?
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:02 pm.
When my dad was alive, we’d play together, and we actually hit on a pick 4 straight & boxed, & won a few thousand a piece. I still play with my husband, hoping to win at least enough to pay off our bills. If we hit it big, we’d move out of our small apartment and into a house big enough to have a library & rooms for our hobbies, as well as a great kitchen & backyard & a couple of guest rooms so our nieces & nephews could come & stay with us whenever they wanted to. The last thing we’d to is a little traveling; my hubby’s family is from Germany & England, & mine is from Italy, so it would be nice to go there, & also to visit some of the islands.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:35 am.
That’s pretty cool, Maria, that you won on a ticket once. That would be the end for me, I’m afraid–I’d play and play and play.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:04 pm.
I did inherit some money from my grandma. Not a as much as the power ball, and really, it wasn’t all that much after it got split three ways in the family. When one has a windfall of extra, what to do with it becomes troublesome. We paid off a debt, roofed the house, got DH some new tools for work, and I bought a Camaro. We put the balance in savings, and I also put some in the market, which is tanking right now.
Showing up with a new car in our small community taught me who my friends really are. Those that clapped and were happy for me and wanted to go for a ride are friends. Then there are The Others. They asked which of our other vehicles we traded to get the Camaro. When I explained that DH is now driving my former car as his commuter vehicle, and that we had to keep our truck to pull our camper and trailers, they look confused. Then, the air changes. They want to ask how in the **** are we affording such an expensive car. Since it is none of their business, I just leave it alone. The moral of this rambling is, when one gets a break in life and gets to have fun toys, you really learn who your true friends are.
I won’t play the power ball, but if I have another windfall of cash, I wouldn’t tell a soul outside of my immediate family, I’d quietly put it away, keep my same cars, and go on with my life, as I already know who my friends are
And I’m with evlqn. I’d be attending Goddess events, too!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:37 am.
That’s a really interesting illumination, Amanda, and I suspect many lottery winners have learned it in spades. If you are a family- and friend-oriented person, it would be painful to discover not everyone is happy for you.
Glad you got the Camaro, though. Seems like a fun toy, and hey, life is short!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:05 pm.
Oooooh! I love this game! The Brother, The Roommate and I also bought tickets last night. Alas, I will not be quitting my job anytime soon.
I would write my name along with all my siblings and my parental units on the back of that ticket to split the pot. There’s a pile of charities that I’d LOVE to support (American Cancer Society, 4-H, Amanda the Panda, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the list is endless). I’d like to start my own organization that would lend support to care givers of people with chronic/terminal illness. With both my dad and brother, I found a huge lack of resources in that particular arena.
However, just for fun….
1. I would give an endowment to Iowa State to build on to the existing conference center & start a scholarship program for ag & JLMC majors.
2. My mom and I would buy the small town (more like a village) located about 15 miles from where I grew up. It’s on a main road, but there’s only about 8 buildings…only one of which has a business. We’d create a tourist area with shops, restaurants and a gathering venue for weddings, etc.
3. I would buy and acreage and MOVE OUT OF TOWN!!! (Blissful!)
4. Put my youngest two siblings and nieces through college.
5. Hire a personal chef and trainer.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:39 am.
A village! That’s a very fun idea.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:09 pm.
We were having lots of those discussions! We usually do play, but we don’t play the Powerball much since the tickets went up to $2–we actually bought one and I won! A whole $4!!
I doubled my money on the ticket–LOL!
We usually buy the Mega Millions and the Texas Lotto once a week, but that’s about it, and we win only enough that we don’t lose money doing it.
We would pay off our debts, make some repairs to our current house and give that to my daughter, her hubby and our little munchkin because it’s a great area to raise kids. Build the house that we would like on a gorgeous piece of land with a fishing tank for the hub and room for a couple of horses. Pay off his folks’ debts, buy houses for his siblings (mine already have them–his are renting), put money away for munchkin’s college… Then, we would probably invest in land and metals more than banks.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:40 am.
I tend to be a land person, too, Julie. There’s just something so satisfying about it.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:10 pm.
Ah, all it takes is a dollar and a dream, right? Usually when the jackpots reach a big level I will buy a few tickets. Normally though I don’t purchase them. Honestly I’ve been hermit-ish lately and haven’t left the house so I didn’t even purchase any for the big one. But as long as we’re dreaming…
I would make sure my family is taken care of. Well, most of them anyways!
I would buy myself one of the beautiful old mansions in Savannah, and a house in Ireland and Cayman. I would love to own a nursery that, among other things, helps to feed and beautify the community. I would also start an organization that helps kids that have been bullied. I have one other that I’d like to start as well. All the while I will still be writing, of course, because that is my true passion!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 10:55 am.
Love the idea of a mansion in Savannah, and of course the nursery that feeds and beautifies the community.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:09 pm.
I sometimes buy lottery tickets, but not terribly often.
If I had that crazy amount of money, I would give some to my parents, siblings, (in-laws included), I would donate a large chunk to different charities, I would buy a house for my husband, sons, and I to live in, I would put a bunch into my savings for use on groceries, gas, etc. then I would take my husband and sons to Scotland for a nice trip. The remainder would be for future property tax bills, insurance, and basic survival.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:34 am.
Of course, I must mention that the new house that I would buy, would HAVE to have a library in it… or a room that I could convert into a library.
And it would likely have to have a shop for my husband.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:34 am.
Very sensible mix, Cheri. And of course the library would have one of those ladders that swing around and you could climb to the ceiling.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:11 pm.
Oh, of course. There’s no doubt that it would be a very impressive library, with multi-levels, a swingy ladder, a comfy window seat, and several cozy couches.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 8:56 pm.
Unfortunately my state doesn’t allow the lottery. They would prefer all of our lottery money go to Georgia where we can buy lottery tickets!
However, I have always fantasized about what I would do if I won the lottery!
1. Pay off my student loans.
2. Pay off my Mom and brothers’ debts and give them each a lump sum to live on so they could go on with a clean slate. However, I only intend to do it once! After that it is up to them to live well on the money I give them.
3. Fund a no-kill animal shelter in my county with a free spay-neuter clinic on site and a low cost veterinary clinic for those pet owners who need it.
4. Fund a huge library to replace the little one we have here. They do so much with so little I know they could do so much more if they had the facility and funds.
5. Travel! Research trips to England, trips to visit my friends in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Italy.
6. Have a nice English thatch-roofed cottage built on my property with indoor/outdoor kennels attached to the house and a nice conservatory for my cats to laze around in. I would have a huge library in which to write as well.
7. I would quit my job at Walmart and spend the rest of my life writing and traveling!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:03 pm.
That house sounds very cozy, Louisa. I’d love to hang out with your cats, too.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:11 pm.
I love that game. I would take the whole amount, I would make a few investments, put some money into trusts, I would travel (backpack Europe – from one hotel to the other
) I wouldn’t go crazy with cars or homes, I think I want a relaxed life and the gift of providing for those that I care about… oh, I also would hire an attorney to get the money so my name would never be out there.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:06 pm.
Good idea on the attorney.
I’m not a big luxury person, either, though I do like some things that are luxurious. I’d make sure i had the kitchen of all kitchens. And a cute car.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:12 pm.
Once or twice a year, I might buy a scratch ticket, but that is about it. What would I do with a big windfall like that, though? Hrm. Travel is big on the list.
I’d probably donate a chunk to various charities, put a chunk in the bank and invest.. give some to my brother, take care of the Geezer. Other than a few material things, there isn’t a lot of “stuff” that I want, but that may change once I am done going through the giant pile of “stuff” I am dealing with now.
Oh.. I think a splurge would be a cleaning service and regular massages and pedicures.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:29 pm.
A cleaning service is a heavenly thing.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:13 pm.
First, I’d probably pass out! I did buy one ticket for the Powerball that didn’t win, but “hope springs eternal.” I was once in the NJ Millionaire Drawing in Atlantic City for which I automatically received $500.
If I did win a huge jackpot, I’d get a bigger place to live as I only have one room now. Then I’d see to my girls needs. My BFF lives in one room, too, and I could move her to a bigger place. We all need cars, because two of us have none and the girls cars are shot. A college fund for Leia the Babe would be next, then I’d split the balance among my girls, my BFF, and me for charity, investments or whatever.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:02 pm.
I was in a drawing in AC once too – I wonder if it was the same drawing…
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
It would be hard to believe at first. I keep thinking today about the people who actually did draw the numbers. What is today like? Pretty scary, I bet, but also really fun.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:14 pm.
California doesn’t participate in Power Ball — yet. But even so, I’d like a big house that overlooks a lake or a river, and a couple of neighboring houses for my parents and sisters. And an amusement park with lots of trampolines and slides for the nephews. And my own private movie theater. *g*
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:05 pm.
I don’t play, in general, though have seen a lot of press about this big jackpot. I think CA is going to have their own powerball beginning in the spring. If I played and if I won? Go instantly forward on the kitchen remodel. I’ve been putting it off because it requires thinking and creativity but I could just pay someone to do all that. Set my kids up. Plan a vacation. Endow…somethings. Probably spend about a month pinching myself!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 1:34 pm.
I’d like to start kitchen renovations, too. We just had plans drawn because CR kept threatening to tear out a wall while I was teaching somewhere, and I made him at least get a plan in case he got a wild hair and actually did it!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:10 pm.
Hey, everybody: Barbara just texted me and she’s having trouble connecting to internet from her current location. ASAP, she’ll be here responding to comments!
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 2:05 pm.
Thanks, Christie!
I’m catching up as quickly as I can, but am now far behind. Just didn’t want you all to think I was ignoring you. Hard to answer via phone, so forgive errors.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:11 pm.
I don’t play the lottery. It isn’t that I have anything against it, I just never get around to it even when the prize is huge.
I think it is really cool when the winner(s) is someone who can really use the money– hardworking people for whom it is too incredible to believe. I guess that appeals to the fairy godmother in me
If I had all that money I would take a percentage to blow on me and mine, set aside a bigger percentage to set in trust for my kids and their kids, and probably give another nice percentage to my favorite charities. I would really enjoy being able to make a big difference in the last case, rather than dribs and drabs. It would be fun to do it in a big way.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:14 pm.
I’ve got it all planned out. I’d give to my favorite charities first, then I’d buy a huge slice of acreage for a cat/dog no-kill ranch. I’d set up trust funds for the kids and a stellar retirement plan for me and that would be about it.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 4:21 pm.
Funny how many of us are animal rescuers.
That’s because we are kind hearted people, right?
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:15 pm.
Well, I run a lottery pool at work, so I’d make sure we all rented a limo and went down to claim the money in person.
If it was my own ticket, I would set up a trust or corporation so I could claim the money anonymously. That way everybody and their mother would leave me alone. They say people who win big money get hounded by relatives they don’t even know and scam artists. Of course I would take care of my family and friends
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 5:05 pm.
That part would be fun, riding in a limo to the site.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 7:16 pm.
I have no idea what I’d do first but there are tons of great suggestions here that are selfless. I’d payoff my mortgage, buy a couple of cozy places in a variety of places I’d like to live, force my mom to finally retire to FL so my new nephew could be spoiled rotten by his new grandparents.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:05 pm.
I would pay off everyone in my family debts.
Put money in accounts for each of my nieces and nephews college funds.
Buy two of my brothers a house, and it would be tricked out for my brother who has MS.
I would take all my nieces and nephews to Disney World.
Take my friends to Las Vegas.
Give each of my brothers a set amount of money.
Of course there would be those charaties that I would give annual amount.
I would just love to be a Fairy Godmother to everyone I am close too. I have a list I have had for years of the people I would help.
Posted on November 29, 2012 at 11:06 pm.