640 effing million

Re: Five hundred effing million

I would call Mitt Romney and find out which bank in the Cayman Islands has the highest interest rate.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

"Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women and Irish whiskey. The other 10 percent I'll probably waste."

--Tug McGraw

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

Agreed. I'd want to freelance some, but that's about it. I'd give two weeks notice, but that's it. I know my wife would have no problem quitting her job.

I'd want to take care of the basics first. Pay off the mortgage. Move my family into a larger house. Replace my car with something bigger and safer (I drive my 8-year-old around in that thing, dammit).

I honestly don't see any problem keeping busy. My first priority would be my health. Hit the gym every day. Get myself on a healthier diet. If I've got that kind of money and free time, I'm making damn sure I am around to enjoy it for a long time.

I'd definitely spend a chunk helping out my family. My daughter's college fund would improve dramatically. Once all that is out of the way and I get my out-of-shape ass into better condition, then I worry about what happens next.

Oh, and no question, I take the lump sum.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

I've given it a little thought.

I'd make sure my daughter and her husband were set for life. Then my sister and brother and their families. A couple of close friends.

With that kind of money, one of the first things I'd do would be to set up a philanthropic organization for out-of-work journalists.

And then I'd build the best place I could either on Sanibel Island in Florida or Key West and live the good life. Immediately.

Oh, almost forgot ... I'd hire a personal trainer and nutritionist to help ensure that I'd be able to enjoy that good life for a long time.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

totally would. buy the paper, fire the publisher, give the ME a much needed raise and all-expenses-paid vacation, then hire back as many of the people who have been laid off as are willing to come back


Then comes the beach front property in Florida with a membership to the best golf course I can find and hire Hank Haney to work on my swing

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

The biggest problem I would have is how to handle my kids. That would be a big trick to maintain a sense of ambition and a work ethic.

I suppose you'd have to lean on the old saying -- Buffett was the one I heard use it most effectively when describing the relatively limited inheritance his children will receive -- that "they will have enough that they can do anything, but not so much that they can do nothing."

I'll let you know Saturday how it's working out.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

Great quote.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

I've often thought that if I came into a lifetime-sustaining fortune that I kind of owed it to society to step aside and leave a job for someone that needed to work. Along those lines, I've also had the thought of telling my employer I'd work part-time for minimum wage, allowing them to hire someone else full-time.

I've spent way too much time pondering this subject, as some of you might have deduced.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

Only trouble with that, n_w, is that at many newspapers, they'd take you up on the offer and then NOT hire someone else full-time.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million



Agreed. With a payout this big you could set up every branch of your family for ten lifetimes with just a small portion of the money, and use the rest to endow a really substantial charitable foundation.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

I'm surprised that some of you would use the money to settle scores.

Living well's the best revenge.

 

Re: Five hundred effing million

Two chicks at the same time.