What would you do with $50M?

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Prototype

I would build a Scandia in Calgary, with a retractable roof for the outside course.

You sir, would be a hero.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Lame as it sounds, it has always been my dream. I wouldn't donate any money to charities, but go directly to the source and give the people food and money.

I bet that would create more problems for the people. Education, electricity, clean water etc. would probably help them more; however, there is so much corruption in those poor countries you would need the help/experieince of established charities to do anything meaningful. Bad things would happen if you just came by with handfuls of money.

Nice thought, though.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

It's never that simple. Assuming you weren't kidnapped, the police would come after you left and "confiscate" the money.

With 50 million dollars everything is simple!!!!!!

Seriously though, I'd take that risk. 50 million does buy some nice guns and I could probably hire some pretty good body guards.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Lame as it sounds, it has always been my dream. I wouldn't donate any money to charities, but go directly to the source and give the people food and money.

That sounds really naive. Why don't you just find an organization with a solid record and donate to them? They have mechanisms to make sure they money actually helps people, and isn't spread on human trafficking or the drug trade or something.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I bet that would create more problems for the people. Education, electricity, clean water etc. would probably help them more; however, there is so much corruption in those poor countries you would need the help/experieince of established charities to do anything meaningful. Bad things would happen if you just came by with handfuls of money.

Nice thought, though.

Yah I understamd that, but even the whole 50 million wouldn't do anything for all that stuff.

There is even more corruption in charities so I wouldn't know who to trust. I'd only trust myself, and my dream has always been to personally help less fortunate people.

[Yeah_Baby]

I'd invent a flux capacitor.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

That sounds really naive. Why don't you just find an organization with a solid record and donate to them? They have mechanisms to make sure they money actually helps people, and isn't spread on human trafficking or the drug trade or something.

How is it naive? I've always wanted to help people personally, and if I ever won enough money then I'd live out my dream.

I still donate money to charities, but if I ever won a lot of money I'd donate right to the people that need it. No middle man.

I remember reading a article somewhere ( I think it was on CP) that charities have a lot of salaries to pay that only a fraction of the money you donate ends up with people who need it.

[You Need a Thneed]

I'd buy a nice plot of land somewhere outside the city ( I don't know which city), build myself a really cool, but still modestly sized house. Pay off all my debts, donate a large chunk of the rest, and invest enough to live off the interest, and icould spend my time volunteering, and travelling.

[cKy]

I'd build the best damn bowling alley in Victoria.. which would be easy, cause they dont fricken have any.

[GreenLantern]

Besides the obvious set up close family/friends etc..

$50 million would involve me going back to school, becoming some type of medical researcher and working hard to cure MS.

It has affected my life profoundly and it has always been somewhat of a dream of mine to work on a research team for a cure.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by puckluck

How is it naive? I've always wanted to help people personally, and if I ever won enough money then I'd live out my dream.

I still donate money to charities, but if I ever won a lot of money I'd donate right to the people that need it. No middle man.

I remember reading a article somewhere ( I think it was on CP) that charities have a lot of salaries to pay that only a fraction of the money you donate ends up with people who need it.

How do you know they'll actually be using the money you give them to help themselves?

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

How do you know they'll actually be using the money you give them to help themselves?

What else would they do with it? Build a fire?

[nik-]

A nice house in Mount Royal or a downtown penthouse. A nice house in Spain. A Maserati, a Range Rover, education funds for my nieces and close friend's children. Pay off the Mortgages of my friends. Buy my mom a place in Kelowna and uncle a place in cottage country in Ontario and give them enough to retire.

Sit on 25 million and live off the interest ... extremely well.

[CaptainCrunch]

The Chechen: What are you going to do with all your money?
The Joker: See, I'm a man of simple tastes. I like dynamite, and gunpowder...
[the Chechen watches, appalled, as Joker's thugs pour gasoline on his mountain of cash]
The Joker: And gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They're cheap!

[BlackEleven]

I'd see some financial advisors and tell them to invest it in a way so I don't ever have to work another day in my life again if I don't want to. Then I'd sell everything I own and spend a year or two traveling the world. After that I'd pick my favourite place and move there.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Every one kinda says this. I remember reading a book called fools gold about lottery winners. They win the lottery and promise to be frugal, charitable, don't get hooked into fancy luxuries.

But a lot of money is a funny thing, it completely corrupts you, beyond the fact that you get every pitiful story that you can hear from friends and family that come out of the woodwork.

Hey that porche doesn't cost much, I have 50 mil, that house doesn't cost much, I can buy it for cash.

Next thing you know, its two years later, you have nothing left and your sleeping on your moms couch in the basement.

ya, i hear those stories too. bu ti am sick of the north american culture and the consuming that goes with it. i would be one of the people who buck that trend.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by puckluck

I'd visit a bunch of poor countries and donate money and food right to the people. I'd probably donate about 10 million. 20 million to friends and family and keep the rest just to live a relaxing life. Big house and a lot of beetches.

There's a really good David Eggars novel (You Shall Know Our Velocity) about a guy who gets a bunch of money and decides to travel around the world with his best friend finding people to give the money to. Basically, the two guys end up becoming judgemental s and are unable to give their money to anyone.

[squiggs96]

Here's my list:
-Brand new house on an episode of Cribs
-Bathroom I can play baseball in
-King size tub big enough for ten plus me
-Credit card that's got no limit
-Big black jet with a bedroom in it
-New tour bus full of old guitars
-My own star on Hollywoof Boulevard

That's in addition to two chicks at once.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

I'd see some financial advisors and tell them to invest it in a way so I don't ever have to work another day in my life again if I don't want to.

With 50 mil the interest from a bank account alone would allow you not to work another day in your life.

I'd pay off our house, parents, in-laws, etc. Buy a winter home down in Fernie or Invermere (or both).

Take one winter and see a game in every NHL city.
Take the next year and ski as many weeks as possible all over the world.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Here's my list:
-Brand new house on an episode of Cribs
-Bathroom I can play baseball in
-King size tub big enough for ten plus me
-Credit card that's got no limit
-Big black jet with a bedroom in it
-New tour bus full of old guitars
-My own star on Hollywoof Boulevard

That's in addition to two chicks at once.