Ok, You win the Mega, what's your...

First 5 purchases?
Me: a trophy home on a golf course in the Palm Desert area
A Ferrari Enzo
a Net Jet share in a G550
All the houses within 2 miles of mine
Buy the land and build 10 more locations for my restaurant
And you?

I'm going to take 10 million right off the top and use it to satisfy my basest desires, and then I'm going to blow the rest.

Serious answer, that kind of money presents a real problem for a working guy like me, in that it removes any reason for living. Why bother to get an education for my daughter? What difference would anything make, when none of it has any value any more, nothing has any worth? Fine things are still only things.
 
The value in life comes from earning, and being earned from; and giving, and being given in return. When that is ruptured a new dynamic must be reinstated. I am absolutely certain that I would set up some kind of philanthropic organization. I haven't a clue what it would be, or how to go about it. But I think I would have to do that, because I couldn't live without a reason to be needed.

1. First & Foremost -Set my Kids & Grandkids up with a Financial plan for life.
2. A luxury Condo in the Phoenix area.
3. A nice place in Sedona for family get togethers
4. A Bentley Continental GTC Convertable, Sand Colour
5. Rent an Estate in the British Isles and tour Europe 6 months a year as long as I'm physically and mentally able. Have a BMW Convertable for touring.

Mosca,
I think you're making an erroneous assumption that wealth removes any reason for living and that an education for your daughter doesn't mean anything.
Enormous wealth can give you the flexibility to do a lot of things that add meaning to life.
You mentioned a philanthropic organization. That alone can give tremendous meaning to your existence.
 
For example, I have a Granddaughter, 20 years old, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair as the result of a diving accident. She has the will to walk again. I've dreamed about having the wealth to fund the R & D projects that will make that happen. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to see her walk again.
Here's one company that's getting close:
http://www.invivotherapeutics.com/
When I hit the Mega tonight, that's exactly what I'll do, (Right after I Get my Bentley!)

I would bring back the Millionaire show from the 50's, buy a Rolls Royce and have Chewy be the butler. I would be in the back seat with a real nice suit. We would stop in front of the persons house that won the million dollar prize, Chewy would walk up in his Butler uniform and cap and hand them the Check. The person would ask Chewy, who was that masked man, I forgot to tell you, I bought the rights for the Lone Ranger, Chewy didn't want to play Tonto.........I hope I don't win, this is to much work...........signed the Lone Ranger & Chewy as Tonto

Since you asked about purchases rather than life strategies/investment plans...
 
1. My driver's license
2. a car (any car, really...as long as it gets good mileage and has a big enough back seat I can sleep in it when I have to for work)
3. insurance for said car
4. a nice house in a nice neighbourhood
5. a library/study and professional kitchen for said house
 
I don't really think big. No, I would NOT quit my job. I love my job. I would definitely get a LOT pickier about what shows I worked, but I wouldn't quit. I'd lose my mind if I didn't have something to do every day.

Pay off the house.
Finance retirement for us, my parents, and my in-laws.
Set up college funds for my kids, my nephews, and my cousins' kids (as long as they get the grades they get the money).
Donate generously to my alma mater and my high school in terms of scholarships and capital improvements.
 
OK, that's four and I've taken care of most things, so for my last item I'm buying a vacant lot in an industrial park and building a combination auto shop and darkroom to indulge my hobbies.
 
Of course, the list doesn't end at five and I can think of many worthwhile organizations deserving of some help.
 
Years ago there was a Hill Street Blues episode where Bobby Hill (Michael Warren) won $100,000 and eventually gave and frittered most of it away, and wound up being happier without the money.  I could see myself falling into a similar situation once everything had been covered on the home front.

Foodbme


Mosca,
I think you're making an erroneous assumption that wealth removes any reason for living and that an education for your daughter doesn't mean anything.
Enormous wealth can give you the flexibility to do a lot of things that add meaning to life.
You mentioned a philanthropic organization. That alone can give tremendous meaning to your existence.

For example, I have a Granddaughter, 20 years old, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair as the result of a diving accident. She has the will to walk again. I've dreamed about having the wealth to fund the R & D projects that will make that happen. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to see her walk again.
Here's one company that's getting close:
http://www.invivotherapeutics.com/
When I hit the Mega tonight, that's exactly what I'll do, (Right after I Get my Bentley!)

 
I think we're saying the same thing, Foodbme. I guess I mean that there's a danger of that happening. There's a chance that, without any reason to get up and contribute, life could degenerate into meaninglessness. I wouldn't do that, I couldn't live to acquire things for no reason, I couldn't be "idle rich".
 
Whatever I would do, it would be something that I would be in direct control of, in some way. I just don't have a clue what it would be.

New kitchen cabinets
Granite counters for the above mentioned cabinets
a Kayak
A house on a lake where I can store the kayak
  Double paned windows 
 
 

Chewey,  are you sure you want your home on the golf course?  People will be walking by your windows all day long.
 
Mine is a block west of Monterey and I don't have to deal with anyone.  

• A diversified portfolio of dividend-paying stocks in the energy and agricultural sectors.
• A Grand Cayman holding company.
• An AMEX Black Card billed to the holding company.
• Pied a terres in Paris & Carmel.
• Trusts for my children and grandchild.

 

A home for my sister who has been homeless at times.

Tell my boss to go pound sand.........

I'll host a big BBQ party and invite all my friends.

pnwchef


I would bring back the Millionaire show from the 50's, buy a Rolls Royce and have Chewy be the butler. I would be in the back seat with a real nice suit. We would stop in front of the persons house that won the million dollar prize, Chewy would walk up in his Butler uniform and cap and hand them the Check. The person would ask Chewy, who was that masked man, I forgot to tell you, I bought the rights for the Lone Ranger, Chewy didn't want to play Tonto.........I hope I don't win, this is to much work...........signed the Lone Ranger & Chewy as Tonto

LOL, for enough bucks this would work Bill, I would even kick in some cooking classes, call me, after the numbers!

Damn! I already have a new kitchen, four kayaks, triple pane windows, no boss to tell off or job to quit and I gave up golf and sold my boat a long time ago. What the heck would I do?

MetroplexJim

Pied a terres in Paris & Carmel. 

Even when you're a Mega-Zillionaire, Government is trying to rain on your parade.
Found this while looking up Pied a terrse, since my French is non-existent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/business/global/07rent.html?pagewanted=all

joerogo


Tell my boss to go pound sand.........

 
Okay, I'll play straight man...
 
Gee Joe, I thought you were self employed?

Foodbme

MetroplexJim

Pied a terres in Paris & Carmel. 

Even when you're a Mega-Zillionaire, Government is trying to rain on your parade.
Found this while looking up Pied a terrse, since my French is non-existent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/business/global/07rent.html?pagewanted=all

Even though the government "over there" is a bit*h, the food and ambiance are a wonder.

chewingthefat


First 5 purchases?
Me: a trophy home on a golf course in the Palm Desert area
A Ferrari Enzo
a Net Jet share in a G550
All the houses within 2 miles of mine
Buy the land and build 10 more locations for my restaurant
And you?

 
Heard on the news that there was a winner in Maryland.  As that is a relatively tiny state, it must have been you.  Congratulations!

Foodbme


Mosca,
I think you're making an erroneous assumption that wealth removes any reason for living and that an education for your daughter doesn't mean anything.
Enormous wealth can give you the flexibility to do a lot of things that add meaning to life.
You mentioned a philanthropic organization. That alone can give tremendous meaning to your existence.

For example, I have a Granddaughter, 20 years old, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair as the result of a diving accident. She has the will to walk again. I've dreamed about having the wealth to fund the R & D projects that will make that happen. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to see her walk again.
Here's one company that's getting close:
http://www.invivotherapeutics.com/
When I hit the Mega tonight, that's exactly what I'll do, (Right after I Get my Bentley!)

What an awesome sentiment! Hope it happens someday soon!

Three winning tickets - Kansas, Illinois and Maryland.

I had a winning ticket!
 
Unfortunately it was only worth $3. I am going to send it to JoeRogo so he can tell off his boss like he wants to.
 

mar52


Chewey,  are you sure you want your home on the golf course?  People will be walking by your windows all day long.

Mine is a block west of Monterey and I don't have to deal with anyone.  

I have a Timeshare at the Mariott Palm Desert Resort, Lord it's beautiful there and all the other areas, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, 6 months a year there would be just about right.

MetroplexJim

chewingthefat


First 5 purchases?
Me: a trophy home on a golf course in the Palm Desert area
A Ferrari Enzo
a Net Jet share in a G550
All the houses within 2 miles of mine
Buy the land and build 10 more locations for my restaurant
And you?

Heard on the news that there was a winner in Maryland.  As that is a relatively tiny state, it must have been you.  Congratulations!

Thanks Jim, yep it was me, but big deal, just another day at the office, plus there we're 2 other winners, damn!

Sucks, I didn`t win it, BUT, I didn`t buy a ticket. But if I did win, I understand you all of a sudden gets lots of new friends. BTW, I was going to fly the whole Road Food gang to Paris for a week if I won, sorry.

Chewey, now is the time to buy.  Our house is worth less than we paid for it after it quadrupled in price.
 
I'm not far from the Marriott and my Mom's place is down the block.
 
Used to love the Sunday buffet at the Marriott back in the '80s.

Davydd


Three winning tickets - Kansas, Illinois and Maryland.

First off, the states take 50%, so:
640 divided by 2 = 320M
320M divided by 3 winners = 107M
40% Taxes on 107 Million only leaves 64 Million
Those poor suckers are only 10% of the total amount!
God Bless America!

Tony Bad


I had a winning ticket!

Unfortunately it was only worth $3. I am going to send it to JoeRogo so he can tell off his boss like he wants to.

 
I've done worse for less