I am by NO means a gambling type of person. I don’t play the lottery, with the exception of a very occasional scratch ticket. I don’t go to casinos and I’m even fairly conservative when it comes to my 401 K stock portfolio. But after hearing the number 1 BILLION dollars…how could I not? How could I not buy into the dream of things you could do with that money!
So, I bought a ticket. Technically, I bought 5. I spent $10 of my hard earned money on a dream that has a VERY little chance of coming true. But, hey it sure is fun imaging what if. And what I could possibly do with some of that money. I read an article on NerdWallet that suggested 5 things you could do, or maybe should do as a billionaire. I will include some of those, as well as my own ideas below.
But let’s start with the basic facts about the powerball, the money, the chances and logistics.
Chances of Winning
It REALLY is a dream, as your chances of winning are about 1 in 303 million. Good luck to you, and me!
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Pay Out
It’s not really a billion dollars. As NerdWallet explains, “If you choose a lump sum, you get a little less than half of that: $497.3 million. Or you can spread that billion bucks over 30 years, hauling in about $14 million the first year and going up gradually in subsequent years.”
Billionaires Have Boats
As the famous line in the original Jaws movie goes…”You’re gonna need a bigger boat!” I mean, how many billionaires do you know who don’t have boats. Then again, how many millionaires do you even know. ME: 0
Personally, it seems like a lot of work so, I might go the rental route. You?
(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
You Get A House, and you Get A House and YOU Get A House
Suddenly, you are Oprah. Imagine that. Not only can you buy yourself a house or two, but maybe get one for a bestie, your parents, your kids! Heck, buy a neighborhood stocked with people you love.
(Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
A Personal Chef
This is my personal choice. If I won a billion, I would most definitley hire a full time, personal chef. Imagine waking up to healthy cooked and served meals every day!
(Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
Rich People Have their Own Planes
Think Robert Kraft, Taylor Swift, Tom Cruise, Mark Cuban… These billionaires all have private jets. Apparently, it’s a rich people thing. Again, if it were me I would rent. But it sure would be nice to avoid the lines and hassels and visit wonderful friends and places all over the world. According to the NerdWallet article you can get a used one for around 53 million, if you are into buying one.
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Be A Movie Star
Ok, so you wouldn’t be starring in a movie, but you could make a movie! There are very few good movies out in theaters anymore, unless you are a big fan of horror movies. So, why not make your own! Stock it with your favorite actors and consider yourself a really big deal.
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Make the World a Better Place
A billion dollars is a lot. Think of all the good it could do. Whether it’s donations to a particular organization, people or cause, you have the chance to really make a difference. You could set up your own fund or family foundation. And since you will likely quit your job, you can also donate your time!
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