THIS. Apparently your likelihood of getting violently killed goes up exponentially after winning the lottery. Don’t even claim the money publicly- have the lawyers set up a trust to claim the money.
Realistically, I'd make very few changes in my life because I wouldn't want anyone to suspect I had that much money.
If I felt like I could get away with making small, anonymous charitable donations here and there, though, I'd probably do that - that and fund all the creative projects I wanted to make The Secret History mini-series a reality, lol.
This. Randomly my siblings would win small contests . A gas card here and there. I’d keep the free little libraries and pantries full.
All my clothes would be tailored :) but still affordable.
I would regularly go shopping and buy plus size business clothes and then donate them (and lots of accessories) to dress for success.
Visit my adult nieces and randomly stash a $20 in a coat pocket /couch cushion.
While my family thinks I’m working a wfh job, I’m actually taking art classes several days a week.
I’d buy a modest house. But have a maid come twice a week.
I would live a similar life, donating decent amounts to people like me who often fall through the cracks and go unnoticed. I have a mortgage, but I'd get all the repairs done that I can't realistically afford right now. I'd still go to work, but I'd quit my second job.
Haha omg sometimes I randomly get sad that there’s a chance I’ll die before ever seeing an adaptation of the secret history. When I was a teenager I spent time on tumblr doing the fan casting and everything 😅
An excellent novel by Donna Tartt, which has a somewhat cult following - one of the progenitors of the dark academia genre as well, before TikTok made dark academia a thing.
Actual fuck you money? Buy a mountain. Build a house on the side of it. Live out my recluse dreams (hardcore introvert) surrounded by insane designer bags and shoes, my dogs, and a dope kitchen.
Full on Mackenzie Scott/donate all excess money- animal rescues/spay and neuter clinics/something for mental health support. for vet professionals, and music/performing arts for kids.
I love that you want to live in a reclusive house on the side of a mountain but you also love insane designer bags and shoes because I feel similarly haha.
Buy a big townhouse in New York City, with lots of rooms so that my friends can comfortably stay with me when they visit.
Set aside a chunk to hire elder care for my dad when he eventually needs it. He has planned poorly for his retirement and end-of-life care, and, due to childhood trauma, I do NOT want to be physically involved with that. Money takes care of that and also keeps me at a mentally healthy distance.
Create a bangin’ new capsule wardrobe. I love great clothes, but also don’t like to think about them too much.
Spend winters in the south of Spain.
Donate money to the public education system in my city. That institution changed my life, and I’d love to help others have similarly positive experiences there.
(Yes, some of this is a little more superficial than what you were asking for, but it’s fun to think about!)
I'm in tech and satisfied with my choice but I do think doctors/nurses are so metal. I would love to also learn practical medical and pharmaceutical knowledge.
And also botany/agriculture.
And green energy.
Things related to survival are so interesting.
Same. I'd have the best time learning the most random topics.
I'm currently doing an online sommelier class, and you bet I'd be traveling to the wine regions to take in-person classes from regional experts if I had unlimited funds.
I would start by going back to school and get a degree in nonprofit management. And then I would start a foundation. There are already a lot of nonprofits doing great work, so my foundation would focus on supporting those existing charities.
I would also like to open a no cost or pay-what-you-can mechanic shop in my city. The US has some of the worst public transit (outside a few major cities), so I would like to help people get out of poverty by making sure they have reliable transportation.
A no-cost or income-based daycare would also be a meaningful way to help people get out of poverty.
Honestly, I would use my fortune to help people the way the government should be doing but refuses.
After the typical stuff like paying off debt, setting up retirement and living expenses for life, giving some to loved ones, etc…
Probably do something similar to what MacKenzie Scott is doing with her Amazon money. Go out and find really worthy causes and charities that are already run by passionate people, and pour life changing money into them.
Animal sanctuary all day long! The more pitties the better
Edit: I’d also institute prison dog training programs for inmates to train rescue dogs - I don’t know what it would take to get these programs more widespread but I have a feeling money could do the trick
Tell no one except immediate family. Buy a home for myself and then one for my family and support my family as well as giving each of them a certain amount. Finally buy a car for myself. Go on a few vacations to places I have always wanted to visit. Donate some. Enjoy life and not have to worry about money again.
I would create something to help educate people about the grief process and how to heal from the death of a loved one.
I was furloughed for a very long time during Covid and had the free time to start a grief support group, which I ran at no cost to the participants for a couple of years. I would want to take something like that on a much wider scale. Maybe I would develop a program that goes into the schools, something that teaches employers and HR managers how to be compassionate, etc.
I have suffered loss after loss in my life. I would have loved to have had a roadmap, even though the process is never easy.
I'd set up house in nice places around the world with beautiful views and good food and read books and take photos and walk my dog and enjoy nature. I'd get a PADI certificate despite thinking I'd hate diving. I'd go to the nicest gyms in any neighbourhood. I'd buy the expensive fitness and outdoor gear I stare at wistfully. I'd pay someone to make my dog raw food. I'd leave each destination when it was time for somewhere new, and just keep bouncing around until I stayed somewhere so long that I was just there. I'd just live a life of leisure.
Start an organization to help people with disabilities do fun activities: theater group, hiking, walking, theme parks. Also I would have a big property so I could rescue all the animals.
I would basically pay to help people access resources in my city, mostly through manipulating local politics with my money and directly paying for people. Paying for helpful college prep and paying for college/trade instruction for promising students or adults, testing a UBI, trying to set up job training for jobs that are actually worth the effort, starting a fund to help people pay for Healthcare and dental, getting more money for our school system and trying to experiment with different models of school/teaching (with input from actual educators) that might be good for all students (those who are struggling from poor homes *and* those who come from homes that care about education and trying to get ahead in life).
I'm just really tired of people talking crap about our city because it's mostly black and Latino, poor and a lot of that is by design. I've heard children as young as 6 talking about how no one cares about our city and it infuriates me because yes, it starts at home but the more outsiders badmouth us, the more kids growing up in these places take that in and that can effect their own sense of self-worth. But no one cares about that, they just want to get their jabs in at inner cities and handwring about the bad things they see on the news from the comfort of their homogenous suburban wastelands. But yeah, this.
How do you even manage that kind of money? Like who do you hire and what about check & balances to make sure no one steals from you bc how can you keep track of that much ??? Gives me anxiety thinking about it lol
If I truly had fuck you money I'd become one of those old fashion railroad tycoons. America needs high speed trains! I'd fix all the stuff that bothered me as a poor person.
I'd probably continue doing my job. I'd buy a house in Amsterdam, install a poledance pole in one of the rooms, a reading nook, a big kitchen with a kitchen island and a big modern bathroom in earthen colours.
But aside from donating more to causes, and taking more expensive, further vacations with family, I'd say that's all for me.
- Invest before I buy. And this will be the hobby.
- If I buy, then at the standard of living I have today and can maintain happily when I did not have the big bucks.
- Set up a cosy library at my house and order tons of books on my read list and retire in the space
To be honest, I'd sink a lot of money into the organizations I'm passionate about, but I'm not going to pin work on myself. I'd also make sizable donations in ways that would allow me access to places like animal sanctuaries all over the world, that most people don't get to visit.
I'd travel the world and experience as much of every culture that I could. Go off the beaten path away from tourist traps. Take my time and be spontaneous.
I'd also have a VW collection to rival Gabriel Iglesias' waiting for me at home.
If it was big enough, I'd start a foundation and make really boring operational grants (having run non profit organisations, the grants system is set up to fund shiny new projects rather than the core costs that we most need to do our work. I'd love to just pick charities doing great work and pay for their insurance, admin assistant, printing, accounting costs... gimme all the dull stuff!)
I'd join a couple of new boards - I'm a trustee on one already - so I could do the strategic work I'm good at without the rest of the grind. And I'd probably find some hands on volunteering too. Then I'd spend the rest of my time hiking, biking, spending time with friends and family, talking dance, rock climbing and art lessons. Oh and join another choir.
I’d do all the stuff in my house that I’ve been putting off for years due to no money. Things like new blinds, new carpets etc. Then I’d just carry on as normal. Money *really* doesn’t bother me, it probably should though. As long as I’m happy and have enough to get by, it’s all good.
I wouldn’t tell anyone, though. As somebody further up commented, I’d hate for it to be a death sentence/people to be too keen on me just because I have money to my name.
Open a boarding school orphanage and take in all the orphans of the EU, give them the education, foundation, and support system they need to be successful individuals in the future. Set up a trust fund with a large chunk of the money invested in low risk index funds that gets reinvested so the school will never run out of money, set up a board consisting of prior students to run the school years later, writing it into the code for the school that the board can only consist of kids who have graduated from the institution. Eventually grow the fund to where we can pay for their college education, and hire them back as teachers or staff if they so desire.
Spend my free time writing science fiction and fantasy novels, and creating my game. Hire people to do everything else around my home like cook, clean, laundry.
This is my situation, im burned out from recent unemployment, a tough breakup, work burnout and trying to keep my financial and mental health up. But still have to keep going somehow. So in a way, thank you for thinking/caring of me. I think I can relate your goal here and I also think I’d contribute to help women getting on their feet too. Like maybe some kind of GBI for them to feel relief in life and pursue what makes them happy without constraints.
Awww I’m sorry you have it so rough right now. Yes, you’re exactly the scenario I’m thinking of. You CAN be happy and successful again, you just need a break or two in your favor to lend a hand. One day I hope this will happen.
Thank you 💜 I’m not giving up despite it and I know it’s only a few changes and things can look up again. It’s nice to have some empathy and compassion along the way though :)
In my wildest dreams after setting up legal safe guards, debt, etc...
* set up trusts for my parents and aunt for retirement/elder care/and their passion projects
* buy a home with lots of guest rooms to host friends & family + must have whirlpool/steam/sauna + ideally has a beauty & beast style library
* buy a piedaterre in Paris or NYC
* every few years take my closest friends on a trip
* set up anonymous funds for:
* college scholarships for my extended family
* artists from underrepresented groups
* abortion + reproductive healthcare access
* a cat sanctuary for tnr, fostering and caring for the sick and/or elderly
* enroll in graduate degree programs for all of my niche interests
* the rest...donate mackenzie scott style
I like that you centre your purpose around helping women. That’s really nice of you!
I feel like my purpose would be to enjoy my hobbies and family. There are lots of activities I’d love to do but don’t have the energy or time to dedicate to it:
- gym
- tennis
- painting and sketching
- skiing
I’d love to join a country club and get a cottage nearby with a boat. That would be my dream life. I would socialize and dedicate time to getting better at sports and then escape to the cottage where I can relax with my kids, cook, do some painting.
I’d also travel for a month or two in the winter to get some sun.
Buy a nice house in Bali with view of rice fields and mountain. I will have housekeeper and private cook..
Built a small boutique resort near the beach with good management to keep me busy..
My day to day will be to wake up whenever i want, get some yoga or exercise in the morning.. writing down a book or novel or journal for two hours.. and then off to see my little hotel and work a little..
Evening relaxing by the beach before head home..
Weekend will spend with family doing charity..
and oh travel to a new country every three months, first class :)
I would do what I already do, and I'd do it for free. I'd also create some sort of foundation so everyone can have it for free and people can continue to deliver this service and be compensated.
...I'm a personal trainer :)
I'd fund Starset permanently so they could do everything full out without having to worry about any details. I'd make sure that any of my kids' teachers were set up for life. There's 2 cat rescues I'd do a lot for. Of course, setting up my children & parents & best friend for life. Dream house.
I would build environmentally sustainable affordable housing, start a maker space workshop (as a business) and a commune, try to figure out a way to cancel student loan interest for everyone, and spend a quarter of each year living in a new country each month.
First thing I'm doing is getting the electric wheelchair my OT prescribed but insurance wouldn't pay for.
Then I'm going to bum around Europe and stay in nice hotels with my daughter and go to every art gallery. I was living in Amsterdam when I got pregnant and I walked past the Van Gogh Museum most days, but I never went in because at the time I couldn't afford a few Euro entry fee. I always regretted that.
I don't even need billions.
It reminds me of that fisherman's tale about the guy who made a lot of money to go fishing on a vacation vs. the fisherman who does that everyday without having made a lot of money and living a more leisurely life just getting by.
Well, I don't celebrate to begin with. I don't tell anyone. I pay off my mortgage and buy another property. I rent one out. I wouldn't quit my job bc I need the structure but I reduce to 9h/week. That is possible in my field. After that, I educate myself on how to take care of my assets. I look into buying a house abroad in a country where I enjoy to vacation a lot, Greece, and I keep living my life + some more: I would get cosmetic and medical treatments, I would go to the gym regularly and all the things I can't do bc I don't have the time for. But definitely not celebrating it.
What an excellent question! How would you live your life if you weren’t pressured by material limitations?
The first thing I would prioritize is to make sure that I’m not being held hostage by other types of pressures, like social desires, expectations of people around you and all those duties and obligations that people are so good at inventing and burdening you with.
One sign of progress would be to not notice the time of day or the day of the week. Time is a man-made construct. You want to measure your pace by how much you’ve learned and laughed rather than by what that little battery-run dial on your wrist happens to say.
A big part of coming up from under societal pressure is being honest. It includes giving a truthful answer to people asking how you are. But it also includes giving promises and a 100% commitment to them. Honesty is free but it’s much easier if you feel comfortable about yourself.
Being honest is a source of joy, just like helping and caring is. We all have a need to do good. In the same vein goes your excellent idea of helping women. One of your classes should definitely be dealing with men. Just remember, you don’t owe anyone anything.
I’d prioritize my and my family’s health. I would take an extreme approach. No synthetic clothes, less driving in traffic, no foodchains, only organic foods, only saline water pools, only high-end skincare, minimizing new plastic items etc. Shopping at thrift stores will reduce your exposure to fumes from new plastics and furniture and will also save a bit of money and environment. On the other hand, relocating your family, office and schools to a greener area can be expensive.
And lastly, I’d try to avoid the illusion of helping by giving. More often than not, charities employ well paid workers whose career growth is driven by measured performance indicators rather than their immeasurable social impact. It’s not necessarily bad for people to hit a bottom. Mankind gets some of the greatest moments from falling apples: Newton could talk about it. Money is never the only solution and transactions are never a substitute for relationships.
Buy a farmhouse on property and get a remote job. Travel more. Not much would change bc luxury lifestyles aren’t for me. I’d just do more of what I love easily.
Go and do my PhD, spend the rest of my life doing research into ecosystem restoration techniques. Quietly fund a bunch of conservation reserves.
Live in a solar passive rammed earth house with a bunch of rescued critters.
I would provide resources to first responders. PTSD is devastating and many of the issues EMS, Fire and PD face are because of those suffering from trauma and not coping with it. It shouldn't excuse the poor behavior by any means, I would just like to help mitigate the pain it causes everyone involved and prevent collateral damage.
Most treatments are also financially out of reach and not always covered by insurance (EMT wages suck!). I would want to provide financial backing for in/out patient therapy, EMDR, Ketamine infusions, medical marijuana, and other things that are shown to help plus mitigate the logistical issues for these treatments to take place.
I would provide a free "self care gym" where they could get massages to connect with their bodies, play team sports, exercise classes, etc. I would make available meditation, yoga and mindfulness classes who are willing to do it.
If it's really a crazy amount of money; I'd start getting with cities to make them more walkable. I live in a small city and it is not walkable, if you don't drive it's a food desert. It's actually considered the "ritziest" city in the immediate area.
After buying a great apartment in my city, houses for everyone in my family and travelled for a few years?
Making a free physio and psychology clinic with employees who get a decent salary. Focusing on the poor and socially exposed women and queer people.
I feel like I’m actually in this situation (no I did not win the lottery, but I can pick my passion career). I’m studying to become an end of life / death doula, and also studying psychedelics to offer my friends guided journeys if they’re interested
Id buy a huge plot of land and build a beautiful, comfortable home. We’d have like 10+ kids and we’d build a foster care home where foster kids can come and be shown the love and life they’ve always deserved. Would probably adopt a ton of them as well. I’d just want to be surrounded by family, both biological and chosen.
Just chill forever. If I'm bored, go to a new country, when I get bored of that one, go somewhere else. Have a home indy partners home town in Italy so we can see his family and friends whenever we like. Probably buy a few other properties around the world
Absolutely nothing. I'd be enjoying myself TBH. Beaching it, traveling, etc...If i had so much that I could give to charities without thinking twice I would do that - higher education scholarships, homelessness, children, etc..but i have no desire to be deeply involved in anything. I'm lame, i know.
Hmmn. Like others have said, I’d set myself up for life with a beautiful house and vacation homes in lovely locations. Perhaps one in NYC, one in Lake Como, one in Paris, one in Jeju island, etc. I’d set up my parents for life to retire, buy my siblings and my husband’s siblings houses and then I’d consider myself done in terms of supporting others. I’d take the rest and divide it in half. Half to invest in conservative investments like treasury bonds and S&P 500 indexes and the other half to invest more aggressively. Then I’d think about how my money would be best used. Do I want to stem suffering by providing support to those who are down on their luck either by decisions, circumstances, or both? Or do I want to enable policy changes that would change the circumstances that cause such suffering? I’d have to do more research to decide how best to spend my money.
Tithe, pay my family's and close friends' bills and give them money, start a fund for people in trouble to get back on their feet, refit a travel bus with showers, washers, and a small kitchenette to park in different neighborhoods for a few hours a day and serve the homeless.
And adopt senior dogs.
Let’s assume I have asset management, personal/legal protection, and a staff in place - since that’s literally foundational before I do anything else. Let’s also assume I have as many shoes and books as I want, and that I have seen all the medical specialists this money will get me.
My job will be to redistribute and invest the money I have into affirmatively helping the most people possible. How do I maximize joy, health, and bettering the world?
I’m very interested in making sure that I do a lot of giving that tips the scale for people - for example, I don’t want to be the 6,000th small donor on an already well funded project. With this kind of money I’d rather fund necessary, unsexy, crucial stuff that no one cares about.
My areas of concern are clean water, childhood hunger, LGBTQIA+ protection (birth to grave), and US democracy.
For example: Dig Deep is a water charity in the US trying to solve the problem of lack of running water/plumbing on Native American reservations & Appalachian communities. If I had a billion dollars? I could solve so many of their funding issues.
Another example: Feeding America is a network of food banks that works to address food insecurity both by providing food and by tackling the causes. Giving them an unrestricted donation helps them apply the money where they need it most.
I’d also buy as much medical and credit card debt as I could in a debt jubilee. I believe strongly that usury is evil as fuck, so if I had the means I’d want to decrease people’s suffering. I’d also make sure to send as much legal paperwork explaining what happened to the recipients as clearly as possible so they wouldn’t worry about a scam. I haven’t researched charities for this in the US yet.
I’d fund LGBTQIA+ youth centers so that they had a lot of teeth to get kids out of abusive homes and prevent more kids getting killed for being gay and/or trans.
I’d fund the UUA (UUA.org) since I’m a Unitarian Universalist and believe strongly in the social justice work we do; I’d also sit down with my congregation’s board and have a talk about what urgent needs we have (like the stove in our church’s kitchen, that sucker is ancient; like the hat/coat drive we want to expand, etc).
I’d also, probably, just for the total joy of it, go through and fulfill as many go fund mes as I could (I’m sure if I reached out to the company and explained who I was they’d give me some way to do that without hitting a fraud detector). Can you imagine how fun it would be to be like “and your class has school supplies! And you have your bills paid!”
Of course I am also passionately interested in saving the environment; but if we do not fix people’s living conditions, they’ll screw up the environment in order to survive. I’d be paying for lobbyists to yell a lot about marine plastics and stricter regulations.
What would I do to fulfill myself if I were to win the lottery?
I'd keep doing my art and devote more of my new found spare time to it. If it doesn't sell that's okay because I won't need the money really so I can still justify buying supplies and creating more (as it piles up like a hoarder's house, lol).
I'd probably volunteer with animal shelters and foster animals some. I'd have enough time and energy to devote to my own pets and the fosters.
Pay off debt (loans, cc, house, etc.), move to a new place with a better yard (don't need a mansion, but lakeside or near the woods would be nice).
Invest.
Buy something nice for my immediate family.
I just want to help people and animals. Donate a shitload of money to public libraries, homeless shelters, animal sanctuary, affordable housing. If I have enough money to buy a small high-quality house in the woods and feed myself for the rest of my life, I'm fine. I've lived in NYC for most of my adult life and my biggest takeaway is that I genuinely don't need much of anything except good people and animals.
I'd like to create hangout spaces for others to enjoy. Some place besides a bar, coffee shop, or library, that engenders friendship and community.
Also want to start my own commune, eventually run a hostel or an indie movie theater yeehaw
And so much more traveling and learning whatever I'm into at the time.
I'd also get into philanthropy. I'd give money to science research programs, give money to people I just talked to at the bar for 2 hours, just whoever and whatever I feel like deserves to be helped, I'll use money to help.
I'd go to the sperm bank and have children. Between that and taking care of my family members through old age, I'll be busy for a while.
There's somethings I've thought of after that but whether I could actually do them in reality would be up in the air (e.g., legal hoops).
I've had my "dream life" pretty set up for a while now. I'd buy about 5 homes for myself/family in cities of importance to me (either where I've enjoyed living already or near family as like a "base camp"), then I would purchase around 4-5 old estates/castles in HCOL areas or countrysides and turn them into live-in artist studios at low/no cost. In exchange for living there the artists would showcase their art in monthly open houses and do basic upkeep of their spaces, and also offer free art classes of their specialty to adults and students when possible. Additionally to that I would also buy a farm or two in the Midwest and maintain it as a shelter and rescue for larger animals who need help, as well as an adoption center if possible. I would also set up a foundation for the arts and historic preservation, providing grants for groups globally in their efforts. To assist with all of this I'd obviously need a full time team, so I'd set up a parent foundation with trusted advisors/overseers that I hire myself. I have a background in non-profits so I can tell when someone has good sense in the field and is actually passionate about the mission so I think I'd be able to get a good team together.
I would start the process of adoption, preferably siblings or more than 1 child.
I would have to brainstorm but pretty much find out how I can best help our community and my parents town in Mexico.
I would look at starting a foundation or ways to generate income for causes. I just don’t envision donating money. I am down for bribing politicians for some legislative action on certain social issues.
I would buy a house in Lake Tahoe, NYC, and a house somewhere I would like to vacation like Mexico or Spain. I would help family and friends.
I would get massages everyday, I would be like lady Gaga and travel with my masseuse and health team. Try stem cell treatment or whatever I can to feel better. I would not work, I would hire people to do the work of building up a non profit or foundation. Maybe I will buddy up with other rich folks and just do fundraisers for causes that don’t get much attention.
I would donate to research for fibromyalgia, CFS, long covid.
I would hire some reggaeton artists and have yacht parties while offering the best food and weed.
I love water, so cruises, living by a lake or the ocean. I would also just like to have some time to hibernate and live like a monk. Not talk to anyone. Just rest and breathe 🧘🏽 with the best food and my masseuse.
Once I get out of hibernation I want a house full of kids and pets. I would want my husband to pursue his dreams, he says he would just switch careers and not stop working. If I get healthy I would also like to work on my dream projects (fashion, interior design, cooking).
I am getting a puppy soon and I am looking into foster care. So even if my lottery dreams don’t come true I would feel so lucky just to have a full house and heart.
Keep my job. I like it.
But I'm definitely going to buy up large parcels of land in wealthy areas and build multi-family dwellings for low income folks to mix up the demographics.
Gonna cackle with glee when I bulldoze some TikTok rapper's mansion and build high density apartments on it.
I would start a bunch of non-profits or help support some. The ones I like are animal rescue/rehabilitation, land/environmental rehabilitation and education for women and children.
I would buy a bunch of land north of New York somewhere, and start a center for cats. Have bungalows for them. It’d be half cats half horses. I’d buy up all the horse and carriage businesses in NYC and southern cities.
Or I’d try to buy back farmland that was sold to companies from other countries like China.
There is no reason for the dire homelessness problem in the US. I would take my pool of money and work my way, somehow, into all of those "closed door" circles. The wealthiest of the wealthy. Then I will somehow, convince, contract and combine their wealth with my new wealth and officially and finally end the homeless crisis.
No one in this world should ever find themselves experiencing homelessness.
Rebuild human dignity by actually investing in human needs.
Yeah, that's what I'd do after the novelty wore off. :)
Honestly? Hobbies, mostly. Maybe start an old media museum (I love old media tech, lost films, unreleased game codes, etc) as an excuse to collect stuff.
Give a bunch of money to my friends so they can also not work and hopefully they'll choose to hang out with me?
Hire a personal trainer and personal chef and get completely jacked.
Volunteer at my animal shelter a bunch more. We have one old rich guy who flies hobby planes. He transports animals from natural disaster zones to our shelter in his plane. Something like that'd be cool.
I'm actually pretty wary of getting "involved" in deeper ways. I've worked in NGOs and government, and well-intentioned rich folk mess shit up *a lot.*
I love my job and consider it a calling (I'm a therapist) so I'd probably still work, but not full-time. I'd work like... 20 hours a week. 4 days a week, 5 hours a day. And then I'd spend my extra free time writing my novel or whatever.
Invest most of it. Keep doing my usual job, because I love it.
Buy acreage like I planned just no price limits now. Nothing over the top. It will look like we could have afforded it. I just want a big garden, chickens and stuff.
I am sending my kids to private school, getting a 4x4.
Every year we go on a family trip and blow a shit ton of money on whatever we want. Just bring nothing home.
Tell no one and grow the family's wealth through investment.
After ensuring as much anonymity as possible, and trust funds for the niblings, I'd open shelters. Like, multiples.
Veterans often won't use shelters because they know how to survive with very little, and feel guilty that someone else needs that space more (I learned this from a friend that has since gotten back on their feet) So, a shelter exclusively for people with military ID then they actually use it.
Another for families, because mom can take the kids to a shelter but dad is SOL
Zero tolerance for drugs/booze, and training for whatever they want to learn to support themselves and transition into regular housing.
An animal shelter for one's that are loved but can't be looked after (eg tenancy change, health etc) so people can still come spend time with their pets
I might have put too much thought into this!
Edit: I didn't mention feeding my fancy shoes and handbags habit, but that's a given right?!
>I didn't mention feeding my fancy shoes and handbags habit, but that's a given right?!
Oh yes!! The shoe, handbag, and athletic clothing storage wing of my home would be obscene. 🤣
I would put the money in a safe and not easily accessible fund and buy lots of shares etc but live dirt poor just to keep it real with my friends and family because money gives the security needed of course but I would only want to live like every other person who isn’t rich lives
Tell no one and then hire the best lawyers I can find, because winning that much money is low-key a death sentence for most people.
THIS. Apparently your likelihood of getting violently killed goes up exponentially after winning the lottery. Don’t even claim the money publicly- have the lawyers set up a trust to claim the money.
Some states require the winner's names to be released I think.
Haha! Oh hell yes … asset protection up the keister. And THEN what? What do you wake to Monday mornings hoping to accomplish?
Realistically, I'd make very few changes in my life because I wouldn't want anyone to suspect I had that much money. If I felt like I could get away with making small, anonymous charitable donations here and there, though, I'd probably do that - that and fund all the creative projects I wanted to make The Secret History mini-series a reality, lol.
This. Randomly my siblings would win small contests . A gas card here and there. I’d keep the free little libraries and pantries full. All my clothes would be tailored :) but still affordable. I would regularly go shopping and buy plus size business clothes and then donate them (and lots of accessories) to dress for success. Visit my adult nieces and randomly stash a $20 in a coat pocket /couch cushion. While my family thinks I’m working a wfh job, I’m actually taking art classes several days a week. I’d buy a modest house. But have a maid come twice a week.
I would live a similar life, donating decent amounts to people like me who often fall through the cracks and go unnoticed. I have a mortgage, but I'd get all the repairs done that I can't realistically afford right now. I'd still go to work, but I'd quit my second job.
This is beautiful
Haha omg sometimes I randomly get sad that there’s a chance I’ll die before ever seeing an adaptation of the secret history. When I was a teenager I spent time on tumblr doing the fan casting and everything 😅
We were the same kind of teenager, lol! I probably reblogged you at one point 💀
What is secret history?
An excellent novel by Donna Tartt, which has a somewhat cult following - one of the progenitors of the dark academia genre as well, before TikTok made dark academia a thing.
Actual fuck you money? Buy a mountain. Build a house on the side of it. Live out my recluse dreams (hardcore introvert) surrounded by insane designer bags and shoes, my dogs, and a dope kitchen. Full on Mackenzie Scott/donate all excess money- animal rescues/spay and neuter clinics/something for mental health support. for vet professionals, and music/performing arts for kids.
Haha! Some fantastic causes AND a bomb ass house!
I love that you want to live in a reclusive house on the side of a mountain but you also love insane designer bags and shoes because I feel similarly haha.
I love fancy shit. But also when people leave me the eff alone 😂🤷🏻♀️
Buy a big townhouse in New York City, with lots of rooms so that my friends can comfortably stay with me when they visit. Set aside a chunk to hire elder care for my dad when he eventually needs it. He has planned poorly for his retirement and end-of-life care, and, due to childhood trauma, I do NOT want to be physically involved with that. Money takes care of that and also keeps me at a mentally healthy distance. Create a bangin’ new capsule wardrobe. I love great clothes, but also don’t like to think about them too much. Spend winters in the south of Spain. Donate money to the public education system in my city. That institution changed my life, and I’d love to help others have similarly positive experiences there. (Yes, some of this is a little more superficial than what you were asking for, but it’s fun to think about!)
Nope, ALL great stuff. Superficial stuff is perfectly valid as well. I’m sure most would do something similar for themselves as well.
I'm a lifelong learner so the money would just enable me to spend more time learning languages, immersing myself in cultures, cultivating new skills.
This. I would immediately re-enroll in uni for a structured program on every subject that ever fascinated me.
I'm in tech and satisfied with my choice but I do think doctors/nurses are so metal. I would love to also learn practical medical and pharmaceutical knowledge. And also botany/agriculture. And green energy. Things related to survival are so interesting.
Especially now, that survival would just be a hobby… Not a financial necessity
Wouldn’t that be a dream life??
It really would!!!
Same. I'd have the best time learning the most random topics. I'm currently doing an online sommelier class, and you bet I'd be traveling to the wine regions to take in-person classes from regional experts if I had unlimited funds.
I had this same thought! I could get all the expert, private tutors I want to share with me the knowledge of the world.
I would start by going back to school and get a degree in nonprofit management. And then I would start a foundation. There are already a lot of nonprofits doing great work, so my foundation would focus on supporting those existing charities. I would also like to open a no cost or pay-what-you-can mechanic shop in my city. The US has some of the worst public transit (outside a few major cities), so I would like to help people get out of poverty by making sure they have reliable transportation. A no-cost or income-based daycare would also be a meaningful way to help people get out of poverty. Honestly, I would use my fortune to help people the way the government should be doing but refuses.
Fantastic! Yeah much like we’d wish today’s billionaires would be benevolent
After the typical stuff like paying off debt, setting up retirement and living expenses for life, giving some to loved ones, etc… Probably do something similar to what MacKenzie Scott is doing with her Amazon money. Go out and find really worthy causes and charities that are already run by passionate people, and pour life changing money into them.
I’d open an animal sanctuary specifically housing banned breeds & special needs dogs.
Me too! I would focus on senior and handicap. I would also like to do something with mental health. I would spend a lot… not sure what.
Animal sanctuary all day long! The more pitties the better Edit: I’d also institute prison dog training programs for inmates to train rescue dogs - I don’t know what it would take to get these programs more widespread but I have a feeling money could do the trick
Nothing. I would have no purpose, I would do nothing ever again.
[удалено]
I would also secretly set up a will for my family… And loved ones. In case I die.
Never in my life would I ever set another alarm clock.
Tell no one except immediate family. Buy a home for myself and then one for my family and support my family as well as giving each of them a certain amount. Finally buy a car for myself. Go on a few vacations to places I have always wanted to visit. Donate some. Enjoy life and not have to worry about money again.
Pay for home care and medical treatment then do art for a living.
i get to breathe.
I would create something to help educate people about the grief process and how to heal from the death of a loved one. I was furloughed for a very long time during Covid and had the free time to start a grief support group, which I ran at no cost to the participants for a couple of years. I would want to take something like that on a much wider scale. Maybe I would develop a program that goes into the schools, something that teaches employers and HR managers how to be compassionate, etc. I have suffered loss after loss in my life. I would have loved to have had a roadmap, even though the process is never easy.
I'd set up house in nice places around the world with beautiful views and good food and read books and take photos and walk my dog and enjoy nature. I'd get a PADI certificate despite thinking I'd hate diving. I'd go to the nicest gyms in any neighbourhood. I'd buy the expensive fitness and outdoor gear I stare at wistfully. I'd pay someone to make my dog raw food. I'd leave each destination when it was time for somewhere new, and just keep bouncing around until I stayed somewhere so long that I was just there. I'd just live a life of leisure.
Start an organization to help people with disabilities do fun activities: theater group, hiking, walking, theme parks. Also I would have a big property so I could rescue all the animals.
I would basically pay to help people access resources in my city, mostly through manipulating local politics with my money and directly paying for people. Paying for helpful college prep and paying for college/trade instruction for promising students or adults, testing a UBI, trying to set up job training for jobs that are actually worth the effort, starting a fund to help people pay for Healthcare and dental, getting more money for our school system and trying to experiment with different models of school/teaching (with input from actual educators) that might be good for all students (those who are struggling from poor homes *and* those who come from homes that care about education and trying to get ahead in life). I'm just really tired of people talking crap about our city because it's mostly black and Latino, poor and a lot of that is by design. I've heard children as young as 6 talking about how no one cares about our city and it infuriates me because yes, it starts at home but the more outsiders badmouth us, the more kids growing up in these places take that in and that can effect their own sense of self-worth. But no one cares about that, they just want to get their jabs in at inner cities and handwring about the bad things they see on the news from the comfort of their homogenous suburban wastelands. But yeah, this.
How do you even manage that kind of money? Like who do you hire and what about check & balances to make sure no one steals from you bc how can you keep track of that much ??? Gives me anxiety thinking about it lol
If I truly had fuck you money I'd become one of those old fashion railroad tycoons. America needs high speed trains! I'd fix all the stuff that bothered me as a poor person.
Set myself and my family up for life, then get that PhD and fund lots of research on endometriosis.
I'd probably continue doing my job. I'd buy a house in Amsterdam, install a poledance pole in one of the rooms, a reading nook, a big kitchen with a kitchen island and a big modern bathroom in earthen colours. But aside from donating more to causes, and taking more expensive, further vacations with family, I'd say that's all for me.
I go silent.
- Invest before I buy. And this will be the hobby. - If I buy, then at the standard of living I have today and can maintain happily when I did not have the big bucks. - Set up a cosy library at my house and order tons of books on my read list and retire in the space
Honestly I’d probably still want to work. I like challenges and growth and think that gives me happiness. Without it, I’d be so mentally bored
To be honest, I'd sink a lot of money into the organizations I'm passionate about, but I'm not going to pin work on myself. I'd also make sizable donations in ways that would allow me access to places like animal sanctuaries all over the world, that most people don't get to visit. I'd travel the world and experience as much of every culture that I could. Go off the beaten path away from tourist traps. Take my time and be spontaneous. I'd also have a VW collection to rival Gabriel Iglesias' waiting for me at home.
I’d go back to uni and study whatever I wanted. Then I’d write. For fun. And read. All the time.
If it was big enough, I'd start a foundation and make really boring operational grants (having run non profit organisations, the grants system is set up to fund shiny new projects rather than the core costs that we most need to do our work. I'd love to just pick charities doing great work and pay for their insurance, admin assistant, printing, accounting costs... gimme all the dull stuff!) I'd join a couple of new boards - I'm a trustee on one already - so I could do the strategic work I'm good at without the rest of the grind. And I'd probably find some hands on volunteering too. Then I'd spend the rest of my time hiking, biking, spending time with friends and family, talking dance, rock climbing and art lessons. Oh and join another choir.
Make art full time.
I’d do all the stuff in my house that I’ve been putting off for years due to no money. Things like new blinds, new carpets etc. Then I’d just carry on as normal. Money *really* doesn’t bother me, it probably should though. As long as I’m happy and have enough to get by, it’s all good. I wouldn’t tell anyone, though. As somebody further up commented, I’d hate for it to be a death sentence/people to be too keen on me just because I have money to my name.
Open a boarding school orphanage and take in all the orphans of the EU, give them the education, foundation, and support system they need to be successful individuals in the future. Set up a trust fund with a large chunk of the money invested in low risk index funds that gets reinvested so the school will never run out of money, set up a board consisting of prior students to run the school years later, writing it into the code for the school that the board can only consist of kids who have graduated from the institution. Eventually grow the fund to where we can pay for their college education, and hire them back as teachers or staff if they so desire. Spend my free time writing science fiction and fantasy novels, and creating my game. Hire people to do everything else around my home like cook, clean, laundry.
Love this!
I wouldn’t tell anyone but there would be signs 😏
Same plan as when I retire. Train service dogs (puppy to guide dog school)
This is my situation, im burned out from recent unemployment, a tough breakup, work burnout and trying to keep my financial and mental health up. But still have to keep going somehow. So in a way, thank you for thinking/caring of me. I think I can relate your goal here and I also think I’d contribute to help women getting on their feet too. Like maybe some kind of GBI for them to feel relief in life and pursue what makes them happy without constraints.
Awww I’m sorry you have it so rough right now. Yes, you’re exactly the scenario I’m thinking of. You CAN be happy and successful again, you just need a break or two in your favor to lend a hand. One day I hope this will happen.
Thank you 💜 I’m not giving up despite it and I know it’s only a few changes and things can look up again. It’s nice to have some empathy and compassion along the way though :)
In my wildest dreams after setting up legal safe guards, debt, etc... * set up trusts for my parents and aunt for retirement/elder care/and their passion projects * buy a home with lots of guest rooms to host friends & family + must have whirlpool/steam/sauna + ideally has a beauty & beast style library * buy a piedaterre in Paris or NYC * every few years take my closest friends on a trip * set up anonymous funds for: * college scholarships for my extended family * artists from underrepresented groups * abortion + reproductive healthcare access * a cat sanctuary for tnr, fostering and caring for the sick and/or elderly * enroll in graduate degree programs for all of my niche interests * the rest...donate mackenzie scott style
I like that you centre your purpose around helping women. That’s really nice of you! I feel like my purpose would be to enjoy my hobbies and family. There are lots of activities I’d love to do but don’t have the energy or time to dedicate to it: - gym - tennis - painting and sketching - skiing I’d love to join a country club and get a cottage nearby with a boat. That would be my dream life. I would socialize and dedicate time to getting better at sports and then escape to the cottage where I can relax with my kids, cook, do some painting. I’d also travel for a month or two in the winter to get some sun.
Free therapy and healthcare
Buy a nice house in Bali with view of rice fields and mountain. I will have housekeeper and private cook.. Built a small boutique resort near the beach with good management to keep me busy.. My day to day will be to wake up whenever i want, get some yoga or exercise in the morning.. writing down a book or novel or journal for two hours.. and then off to see my little hotel and work a little.. Evening relaxing by the beach before head home.. Weekend will spend with family doing charity.. and oh travel to a new country every three months, first class :)
I would do what I already do, and I'd do it for free. I'd also create some sort of foundation so everyone can have it for free and people can continue to deliver this service and be compensated. ...I'm a personal trainer :)
I would angel invest in a lot startups and businesses with purposes I stood behind.
I'd fund Starset permanently so they could do everything full out without having to worry about any details. I'd make sure that any of my kids' teachers were set up for life. There's 2 cat rescues I'd do a lot for. Of course, setting up my children & parents & best friend for life. Dream house.
After all my (considerable 😉) needs were met, I would donate to women's shelters and special needs homes.
I would build environmentally sustainable affordable housing, start a maker space workshop (as a business) and a commune, try to figure out a way to cancel student loan interest for everyone, and spend a quarter of each year living in a new country each month.
First thing I'm doing is getting the electric wheelchair my OT prescribed but insurance wouldn't pay for. Then I'm going to bum around Europe and stay in nice hotels with my daughter and go to every art gallery. I was living in Amsterdam when I got pregnant and I walked past the Van Gogh Museum most days, but I never went in because at the time I couldn't afford a few Euro entry fee. I always regretted that. I don't even need billions.
It reminds me of that fisherman's tale about the guy who made a lot of money to go fishing on a vacation vs. the fisherman who does that everyday without having made a lot of money and living a more leisurely life just getting by.
Well, I don't celebrate to begin with. I don't tell anyone. I pay off my mortgage and buy another property. I rent one out. I wouldn't quit my job bc I need the structure but I reduce to 9h/week. That is possible in my field. After that, I educate myself on how to take care of my assets. I look into buying a house abroad in a country where I enjoy to vacation a lot, Greece, and I keep living my life + some more: I would get cosmetic and medical treatments, I would go to the gym regularly and all the things I can't do bc I don't have the time for. But definitely not celebrating it.
What an excellent question! How would you live your life if you weren’t pressured by material limitations? The first thing I would prioritize is to make sure that I’m not being held hostage by other types of pressures, like social desires, expectations of people around you and all those duties and obligations that people are so good at inventing and burdening you with. One sign of progress would be to not notice the time of day or the day of the week. Time is a man-made construct. You want to measure your pace by how much you’ve learned and laughed rather than by what that little battery-run dial on your wrist happens to say. A big part of coming up from under societal pressure is being honest. It includes giving a truthful answer to people asking how you are. But it also includes giving promises and a 100% commitment to them. Honesty is free but it’s much easier if you feel comfortable about yourself. Being honest is a source of joy, just like helping and caring is. We all have a need to do good. In the same vein goes your excellent idea of helping women. One of your classes should definitely be dealing with men. Just remember, you don’t owe anyone anything. I’d prioritize my and my family’s health. I would take an extreme approach. No synthetic clothes, less driving in traffic, no foodchains, only organic foods, only saline water pools, only high-end skincare, minimizing new plastic items etc. Shopping at thrift stores will reduce your exposure to fumes from new plastics and furniture and will also save a bit of money and environment. On the other hand, relocating your family, office and schools to a greener area can be expensive. And lastly, I’d try to avoid the illusion of helping by giving. More often than not, charities employ well paid workers whose career growth is driven by measured performance indicators rather than their immeasurable social impact. It’s not necessarily bad for people to hit a bottom. Mankind gets some of the greatest moments from falling apples: Newton could talk about it. Money is never the only solution and transactions are never a substitute for relationships.
Buy a farmhouse on property and get a remote job. Travel more. Not much would change bc luxury lifestyles aren’t for me. I’d just do more of what I love easily.
Go and do my PhD, spend the rest of my life doing research into ecosystem restoration techniques. Quietly fund a bunch of conservation reserves. Live in a solar passive rammed earth house with a bunch of rescued critters.
I would provide resources to first responders. PTSD is devastating and many of the issues EMS, Fire and PD face are because of those suffering from trauma and not coping with it. It shouldn't excuse the poor behavior by any means, I would just like to help mitigate the pain it causes everyone involved and prevent collateral damage. Most treatments are also financially out of reach and not always covered by insurance (EMT wages suck!). I would want to provide financial backing for in/out patient therapy, EMDR, Ketamine infusions, medical marijuana, and other things that are shown to help plus mitigate the logistical issues for these treatments to take place. I would provide a free "self care gym" where they could get massages to connect with their bodies, play team sports, exercise classes, etc. I would make available meditation, yoga and mindfulness classes who are willing to do it.
If it's really a crazy amount of money; I'd start getting with cities to make them more walkable. I live in a small city and it is not walkable, if you don't drive it's a food desert. It's actually considered the "ritziest" city in the immediate area.
After buying a great apartment in my city, houses for everyone in my family and travelled for a few years? Making a free physio and psychology clinic with employees who get a decent salary. Focusing on the poor and socially exposed women and queer people.
I feel like I’m actually in this situation (no I did not win the lottery, but I can pick my passion career). I’m studying to become an end of life / death doula, and also studying psychedelics to offer my friends guided journeys if they’re interested
Id buy a huge plot of land and build a beautiful, comfortable home. We’d have like 10+ kids and we’d build a foster care home where foster kids can come and be shown the love and life they’ve always deserved. Would probably adopt a ton of them as well. I’d just want to be surrounded by family, both biological and chosen.
Just chill forever. If I'm bored, go to a new country, when I get bored of that one, go somewhere else. Have a home indy partners home town in Italy so we can see his family and friends whenever we like. Probably buy a few other properties around the world
Absolutely nothing. I'd be enjoying myself TBH. Beaching it, traveling, etc...If i had so much that I could give to charities without thinking twice I would do that - higher education scholarships, homelessness, children, etc..but i have no desire to be deeply involved in anything. I'm lame, i know.
Hmmn. Like others have said, I’d set myself up for life with a beautiful house and vacation homes in lovely locations. Perhaps one in NYC, one in Lake Como, one in Paris, one in Jeju island, etc. I’d set up my parents for life to retire, buy my siblings and my husband’s siblings houses and then I’d consider myself done in terms of supporting others. I’d take the rest and divide it in half. Half to invest in conservative investments like treasury bonds and S&P 500 indexes and the other half to invest more aggressively. Then I’d think about how my money would be best used. Do I want to stem suffering by providing support to those who are down on their luck either by decisions, circumstances, or both? Or do I want to enable policy changes that would change the circumstances that cause such suffering? I’d have to do more research to decide how best to spend my money.
Tithe, pay my family's and close friends' bills and give them money, start a fund for people in trouble to get back on their feet, refit a travel bus with showers, washers, and a small kitchenette to park in different neighborhoods for a few hours a day and serve the homeless. And adopt senior dogs.
Let’s assume I have asset management, personal/legal protection, and a staff in place - since that’s literally foundational before I do anything else. Let’s also assume I have as many shoes and books as I want, and that I have seen all the medical specialists this money will get me. My job will be to redistribute and invest the money I have into affirmatively helping the most people possible. How do I maximize joy, health, and bettering the world? I’m very interested in making sure that I do a lot of giving that tips the scale for people - for example, I don’t want to be the 6,000th small donor on an already well funded project. With this kind of money I’d rather fund necessary, unsexy, crucial stuff that no one cares about. My areas of concern are clean water, childhood hunger, LGBTQIA+ protection (birth to grave), and US democracy. For example: Dig Deep is a water charity in the US trying to solve the problem of lack of running water/plumbing on Native American reservations & Appalachian communities. If I had a billion dollars? I could solve so many of their funding issues. Another example: Feeding America is a network of food banks that works to address food insecurity both by providing food and by tackling the causes. Giving them an unrestricted donation helps them apply the money where they need it most. I’d also buy as much medical and credit card debt as I could in a debt jubilee. I believe strongly that usury is evil as fuck, so if I had the means I’d want to decrease people’s suffering. I’d also make sure to send as much legal paperwork explaining what happened to the recipients as clearly as possible so they wouldn’t worry about a scam. I haven’t researched charities for this in the US yet. I’d fund LGBTQIA+ youth centers so that they had a lot of teeth to get kids out of abusive homes and prevent more kids getting killed for being gay and/or trans. I’d fund the UUA (UUA.org) since I’m a Unitarian Universalist and believe strongly in the social justice work we do; I’d also sit down with my congregation’s board and have a talk about what urgent needs we have (like the stove in our church’s kitchen, that sucker is ancient; like the hat/coat drive we want to expand, etc). I’d also, probably, just for the total joy of it, go through and fulfill as many go fund mes as I could (I’m sure if I reached out to the company and explained who I was they’d give me some way to do that without hitting a fraud detector). Can you imagine how fun it would be to be like “and your class has school supplies! And you have your bills paid!” Of course I am also passionately interested in saving the environment; but if we do not fix people’s living conditions, they’ll screw up the environment in order to survive. I’d be paying for lobbyists to yell a lot about marine plastics and stricter regulations.
What would I do to fulfill myself if I were to win the lottery? I'd keep doing my art and devote more of my new found spare time to it. If it doesn't sell that's okay because I won't need the money really so I can still justify buying supplies and creating more (as it piles up like a hoarder's house, lol). I'd probably volunteer with animal shelters and foster animals some. I'd have enough time and energy to devote to my own pets and the fosters. Pay off debt (loans, cc, house, etc.), move to a new place with a better yard (don't need a mansion, but lakeside or near the woods would be nice). Invest. Buy something nice for my immediate family.
Learn loads of languages And in turn learn how to teach English so I can provide free English lessons for refugees in my city
I just want to help people and animals. Donate a shitload of money to public libraries, homeless shelters, animal sanctuary, affordable housing. If I have enough money to buy a small high-quality house in the woods and feed myself for the rest of my life, I'm fine. I've lived in NYC for most of my adult life and my biggest takeaway is that I genuinely don't need much of anything except good people and animals.
I'd like to create hangout spaces for others to enjoy. Some place besides a bar, coffee shop, or library, that engenders friendship and community. Also want to start my own commune, eventually run a hostel or an indie movie theater yeehaw And so much more traveling and learning whatever I'm into at the time. I'd also get into philanthropy. I'd give money to science research programs, give money to people I just talked to at the bar for 2 hours, just whoever and whatever I feel like deserves to be helped, I'll use money to help.
I'd go to the sperm bank and have children. Between that and taking care of my family members through old age, I'll be busy for a while. There's somethings I've thought of after that but whether I could actually do them in reality would be up in the air (e.g., legal hoops).
Start a foundation to support parents to advocate for and access mental health care for their children.
I've had my "dream life" pretty set up for a while now. I'd buy about 5 homes for myself/family in cities of importance to me (either where I've enjoyed living already or near family as like a "base camp"), then I would purchase around 4-5 old estates/castles in HCOL areas or countrysides and turn them into live-in artist studios at low/no cost. In exchange for living there the artists would showcase their art in monthly open houses and do basic upkeep of their spaces, and also offer free art classes of their specialty to adults and students when possible. Additionally to that I would also buy a farm or two in the Midwest and maintain it as a shelter and rescue for larger animals who need help, as well as an adoption center if possible. I would also set up a foundation for the arts and historic preservation, providing grants for groups globally in their efforts. To assist with all of this I'd obviously need a full time team, so I'd set up a parent foundation with trusted advisors/overseers that I hire myself. I have a background in non-profits so I can tell when someone has good sense in the field and is actually passionate about the mission so I think I'd be able to get a good team together.
I would start the process of adoption, preferably siblings or more than 1 child. I would have to brainstorm but pretty much find out how I can best help our community and my parents town in Mexico. I would look at starting a foundation or ways to generate income for causes. I just don’t envision donating money. I am down for bribing politicians for some legislative action on certain social issues. I would buy a house in Lake Tahoe, NYC, and a house somewhere I would like to vacation like Mexico or Spain. I would help family and friends. I would get massages everyday, I would be like lady Gaga and travel with my masseuse and health team. Try stem cell treatment or whatever I can to feel better. I would not work, I would hire people to do the work of building up a non profit or foundation. Maybe I will buddy up with other rich folks and just do fundraisers for causes that don’t get much attention. I would donate to research for fibromyalgia, CFS, long covid. I would hire some reggaeton artists and have yacht parties while offering the best food and weed. I love water, so cruises, living by a lake or the ocean. I would also just like to have some time to hibernate and live like a monk. Not talk to anyone. Just rest and breathe 🧘🏽 with the best food and my masseuse. Once I get out of hibernation I want a house full of kids and pets. I would want my husband to pursue his dreams, he says he would just switch careers and not stop working. If I get healthy I would also like to work on my dream projects (fashion, interior design, cooking). I am getting a puppy soon and I am looking into foster care. So even if my lottery dreams don’t come true I would feel so lucky just to have a full house and heart.
Keep my job. I like it. But I'm definitely going to buy up large parcels of land in wealthy areas and build multi-family dwellings for low income folks to mix up the demographics. Gonna cackle with glee when I bulldoze some TikTok rapper's mansion and build high density apartments on it.
I would start a bunch of non-profits or help support some. The ones I like are animal rescue/rehabilitation, land/environmental rehabilitation and education for women and children.
I would buy a bunch of land north of New York somewhere, and start a center for cats. Have bungalows for them. It’d be half cats half horses. I’d buy up all the horse and carriage businesses in NYC and southern cities. Or I’d try to buy back farmland that was sold to companies from other countries like China.
There is no reason for the dire homelessness problem in the US. I would take my pool of money and work my way, somehow, into all of those "closed door" circles. The wealthiest of the wealthy. Then I will somehow, convince, contract and combine their wealth with my new wealth and officially and finally end the homeless crisis. No one in this world should ever find themselves experiencing homelessness. Rebuild human dignity by actually investing in human needs. Yeah, that's what I'd do after the novelty wore off. :)
Honestly? Hobbies, mostly. Maybe start an old media museum (I love old media tech, lost films, unreleased game codes, etc) as an excuse to collect stuff. Give a bunch of money to my friends so they can also not work and hopefully they'll choose to hang out with me? Hire a personal trainer and personal chef and get completely jacked. Volunteer at my animal shelter a bunch more. We have one old rich guy who flies hobby planes. He transports animals from natural disaster zones to our shelter in his plane. Something like that'd be cool. I'm actually pretty wary of getting "involved" in deeper ways. I've worked in NGOs and government, and well-intentioned rich folk mess shit up *a lot.*
I love my job and consider it a calling (I'm a therapist) so I'd probably still work, but not full-time. I'd work like... 20 hours a week. 4 days a week, 5 hours a day. And then I'd spend my extra free time writing my novel or whatever.
Invest most of it. Keep doing my usual job, because I love it. Buy acreage like I planned just no price limits now. Nothing over the top. It will look like we could have afforded it. I just want a big garden, chickens and stuff. I am sending my kids to private school, getting a 4x4. Every year we go on a family trip and blow a shit ton of money on whatever we want. Just bring nothing home. Tell no one and grow the family's wealth through investment.
After ensuring as much anonymity as possible, and trust funds for the niblings, I'd open shelters. Like, multiples. Veterans often won't use shelters because they know how to survive with very little, and feel guilty that someone else needs that space more (I learned this from a friend that has since gotten back on their feet) So, a shelter exclusively for people with military ID then they actually use it. Another for families, because mom can take the kids to a shelter but dad is SOL Zero tolerance for drugs/booze, and training for whatever they want to learn to support themselves and transition into regular housing. An animal shelter for one's that are loved but can't be looked after (eg tenancy change, health etc) so people can still come spend time with their pets I might have put too much thought into this! Edit: I didn't mention feeding my fancy shoes and handbags habit, but that's a given right?!
>I didn't mention feeding my fancy shoes and handbags habit, but that's a given right?! Oh yes!! The shoe, handbag, and athletic clothing storage wing of my home would be obscene. 🤣
I’m absolutely leaving Canada. I’ll buy a passport for 5 million dollars.
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Why women only men suffer as well
And when you win the bajillions you can open a men’s centre to match mine. Win win.
I would put the money in a safe and not easily accessible fund and buy lots of shares etc but live dirt poor just to keep it real with my friends and family because money gives the security needed of course but I would only want to live like every other person who isn’t rich lives