Someone to follow you around all day with a bowl of soapy water and a washcloth. Nothing says you've made it like your own personal ball washer.

that's ballsy

"Gentlemen, please do not climb on the ball washers on the golf course."

Buy some land and open up a dog sanctuary.
build a cast concrete dome house with as much energy independence that I can put in it.
Become the Anti-Koch political funder.

is something I'd go for as well

and marry Kaley Cuoco.

Haven't seen Big Bang theory. Is it a comedy?

I'd ask for a ride in the Batmobile.

but it's fun daydreaming!

anymore.

dies in a shelter

and it warms my heart. That is a dream of mine as well. For all animals - including people!

i wish we could share them here and try to get as many out of the shelters as possible. an application on facebook called pet pardons works to help these animals i encourage as many as i can to share and network them to get them out of the shelters

I'd make sure my daughters, Howard Dean's DFA and the American Cancer Society were a LOT better off.

Then I'd go looking all over the place for people in need of health care they couldn't afford, and pay for it.

about a woman who opened a free clinic - I'd like to learn more about how to open one - and get rich people to pay for it!

Find some rich people to put up the money, and THEN open your free clinic!

It's a LOT more difficult the other way around.

Go to Paris.
Buy a beach house in NC.
Open an animal sanctuary.
Help my kids.
Create a trust for future grandchildren.
That should do it.

I could find throughout the country and make them into permanent food gardens.

I know someone who did something like that in Pennsylvania and he is loving it.

many great thoughts!

Give our UU congregation $2 million to build a new worship hall, classrooms and kitchen.
Buy my brother a condo or a house.
Ditto for my husband's brother.
Give the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee $1 million to help build wells and protect peoples' right to clean water
Give $1 million for spay-neuter programs
Get my teeth and my husband's teeth fixed
Pay off our daughters' student loans.
Give each of our daughters $1 million, but not all at once.
Fix up the lower level of our house.
Replace all the windows & doors.
Go back to school for a masters' degree.
Help out my struggling, unemployed next door neighbors with car repairs, house repairs, medical care.
Give money to the Occupy movement
Give money to elect progressive Democrats
Get acupuncture for my fibromyalgia
Set aside money for any possible future grandchildren's education.
Give money to our local food bank
Give money to Habitat for Humanity
Give my husband $25 million to donate to his favorite charities
Pay for college for any relatives that need financial assistance

and act locally

I'll drink Single malt scotch whiskey only from now on.

My house needs a new roof too.......

have someone else fix the roof!

on lottery tix'

That'd make a great headline!

And hire a virus-writing service.

Probably lots of private planes and yachts, lol

4 or 5 orphans. I think it is mostly in Africa. Get those kids an education and, most importantly, love and security.

very honorable and you'd really affect people's lives in a positive way!

there is with you around!

Call a lawyer. A good one.

Then, most likely, take it in a lump sum, and get only about 300 million. Pay about half in taxes, so 150 million actually makes it to me.

Marvel at the fact that while I am now the richest person I have ever personally known, each of the Koch brothers has exponentially more, and has in fact *given away* more than my total worth.

3 million would get blown on personal projects. Paying off student loans for me and mine(and prepaying education expenses for the younger). Paying off my mortgage, and those of certain others. Some travel. a trained pet squirrel. Health expenses. Presents and toys. Donate to politicians, go to concerts, eat tasty food, hire someone to follow me around providing thematic music for my life, That kinda thing.

2 million, set aside for Annuity type deals providing modest but reasonable lifelong income for me, wife, and sister.

3 million spent to buy and build a fairly independant homestead. Land enough to grow some food, building enough to live, solar, wind and water systems enough to be essentially off grid.

2 million for an unspecified project that would bring me great personal joy and help a lot of people.

20 million into buying some farm land land and a few empty commercial buildings in the area. It would be cool to open a commune/coop type deal. Local produce, maybe an abandoned pet sanctuary. Used as a teaching tool for eco-farming, a community housing for interested persons, and to bring life to an abandoned storefront or two. Set it up with enough of a reserve fund that it wouldn't need to be financially breaking even for a good few years, if ever.

20 million more into some sort of project, probably in Wyoming. All you would have to do is find a way to change the demographics of the state a bit, and you could turn it blue. I feel that alone would be enough to really rock the body politic of the entire nation. 20 million wouldn't do it, but it might be enough seed money to start something.

And the rest, I would sit on a bit. Think about exactly how I want to make my mark. A hundred million is all at once a hell of a lot, and yet not all that much. One big project build to last? smaller bits divided off to different good agencies that I want supported? Seeking out random individuals and making their lives a little better? Animals? People? The environment? Politics? Human rights?

I have many ideas. A huge program to provide interest free loans or even grants, to people to put solar on their rooftops. Here in Oregon a reasonable system can be put in for 14k, with about 7 back on your taxes over a few years. I cant help but think 7000 new rooftop solar systems would make a dent in our area's power usage, and with a 5 year break even, a 5 year payback seems reasonable. Which means in 5 years, you could do it again.

Or a program for domesticated animals. Either a shelter, or a free spay/neuter program, or both. Or a program to help kids. Or a program to legalize pot. Or to help abused women. Or to get more efficient cars on the road. or mental illness. or food. Or health care. or education. Or split it up and donate a smaller, but significant chunk to each of these causes. Or just wander around various cities, meeting people personally, learning their problems, and then throwing money at those problems that can be helped that way.

I dunno. I used to have a list, but I think it would likely hit a lot of snags if the hypothetical were to become reality.

and very well thought out. If I ever won lots of moolah, I'd consult with people like you before making any major decisions.

too!

I am up in years so I might do things differently than others...

Someone had written about buying a hotel and turning it into a battered women's shelter. I loved that idea and would like to do something like that to help people who were disadvantaged, abused and/or just down on their luck. Employ many people to assist in counseling, training, childcare, or other services which may be required.

I can hardly conceive of this much money anyway, but hopefully there would be enough to bring some businesses back to the states or start new companies with the goal of putting people to work. They would all receive good pay and benefits.

With that kind of money, much could be done.

Set up an organization which I would liberally fund and also welcome donations so others could participate in lobbying for causes near and dear to Democrats.

For friends and family, pay off their homes (including my friends here on DU!)

Set up a trust for my daughter and my grandson.
Buy her a nice home...nothing too fancy. Need to keep her grounded.

I wouldn't buy a fancy home either...just something comfortable with security.
My splurge would be a daily back massage.

I would die a happy woman if I could make a difference in many people's lives.
Hey, I am older and you can't take it with you.

and I think you'll die happy any way, because you have a great heart (and that's way more important than how much money you have, in my humble opinion)

to those that need.

Hell, my own wants are few but there are too many people that go to bed hungry, and too many kids that don't have

much to smile about.

I'd try to be the pebble in the pond that creates ripples throughout the country.


P.S. You guys got good hearts

and many good senses of humor too

as well as my friends.

Buy some property in several areas around the world. That way, when I travel, I'm always close to home.

Make sure those homes are environmentally friendly.

Maybe buy a presidential candidate.

Donate to several charities of my choice, as well as to somebody that can run anti-Republican attack ads (Move On or similar)

Put together a super cool D&D setup in my basement.

Hire a personal trainer so I can get back in good shape.

I'm trying to see what I can do that doesn't require money, and walking and exercise is high on the list. As soon as I finish these pop-tarts.

and mine would be two woman (or even one)

in the photo below?

and with the rest I'd set up a foundation to fund things like

Specialized schools for Asperger's kids (I'm Asperger's)
No-kill animal shelters/promoting pet adoption
Good liberal causes like DU, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and NARAL to name but a few
Cultural resources like orchestras and theaters
Alternative energy and farming (maybe I could do something with Al Gore along these lines)
College scholarships for underprivileged kids (with the proviso that they can't go to "business school" on my dime)
Alternative, TRUTHFUL media

As for myself, I'd pass out million-dollar checks to a handful of friends, buy a large luxury condo in my hometown, a medium-sized place in Beverly Hills, a summer house in New Zealand (all furnished in low-key, Japanese influenced good taste), a couple of Ferraris and a Porsche, two or three custom built Alembic bass guitars, and a few other things I've always wanted. I have a very finite set of things I truly want. I would hire an English butler/secretary to handle my logistics and household and maybe a superb Chinese or Vietnamese chef. I would travel a lot, especially in Europe and Asia and live exactly as I please while funding the most left-wing politicians I could find in this country.

Perchance to dream.....

I like dreaming about it.

I think 100 mil for myself would do it for me. On further reflection, I'd give million dollar checks to a lot of my friends. They are all pretty cool and would spread the money around to great things like protecting animals, coop farming, helping the needy, and other cool stuff. I'd love to get a nice car.

through whom all my business would be transacted and then disappear.

in the later part of his life. But don't grow your fingernails too long.

traveling around the country giving it to people in need.

with money!

I learned about him via Bob Dylan's music, and read 'Bound for Glory' when I was 11.

My mom tells me I wrapped a bandana around a stick and asked her to make me a sandwich because I was going to 'ride the rails'. She asked 'should I pack a few since you might be gone for a while?' I replied 'no, I'll be home by dinner'.

my one splurge thing for me would be to open a club for live music.

It would be mostly underground metal because that's my favorite thing but I would not rule out excellent country, pop, rock, hip-hop, etc...

Ideally, I would subsidize it to keep ticket prices low and make sure the bands got a good payday so they'd want to come to my club and there would be large audiences for them to play to. There would be lots of well lit parking and clean restrooms. I'd like to have the occasional festival (see Maryland Death Fest) on my property too so I'd need a lot of room for multiple stages and probably facilities for camping and such.

I'd make sure I hired top quality sound guys and buy state of the art equipment so nobody has bad sound and the audience gets a good show.

And I would get pictures with all my favorite musicians.

hanging around your favorite people! Maybe try hooking up with some people in your area and see how you could pull off the beginnings of it. Who knows where it could lead.

that, and buy a big ass European castle, of course.

win lottos and don't radically change their lives turn out happiest. And the castle is a great 'fall back' place.

Heck, I'd retire if I won $1 million.

work is overrated.

live the good life.

and say I'm from DU and you'd be like 'Who, what? Security - release the hounds.'

in context. Now I recognize it IS from Office Space.

Mike Judge friggin rocks.

so it's really fresh in my mind, but I did get the dialogue from IMDB, my memory is not that good.

I'm stealing it for facebook.

Is that also from Office Space?

my Swingline stapler?

I asked a bank teller today and he said the same.

Live in the lap of luxury for the rest of my life, traveling around the world.

totally rocks!

I'd put most of it away until was able to answer that question.

because you'd hear from a lot of long lost 'friends'!

My close friends and immediate family would get some really nice birthday gifts and I'd anonymously gift some sizable sums to certain teachers and other people who have had a big impact on my life.

But I would generally try to follow Warren Buffet's example of keeping your everyday surrounding's pretty modest, as that seems to be one of the keys to happiness with that kind of money. I'd stay in my current 2-bedroom apartment with my roommate because I love the place and love my roommate. I'd probably hire a decorator to spruce it up a bit. If I did buy a house, it would be a weekend getaway type of place. I may buy a new car, but probably just get some things on my current one fixed. I'd buy some new guitars and blow a lot of money on clothes (because I like clothes). I'd travel more and fly first class because, hey, might as well.

I might take a year off of work to pursue my musical interests, but maybe not.

However, at a certain point money starts to buy diminishing (if not negative) returns and if it's not something I want now, I wouldn't buy it just because I had the money. For example, if I want to go for a ride on a yacht, I'll buy a ticket to one of those dinner cruise thingies. No need to buy myself a yacht just because I can.

At the end of the day I doubt I'd end up spending a million dollars on myself off the bat. I know I wouldn't spend 2 million.

but ultimately you just don't need THAT much.

I'm going to go to a mineral springs soon. And live like a billionaire for a day.

I will happy

1. Make large donations to various charities, maybe look into trying to set up some programs to help the homeless, poor and disabled
(2) Make a large donation to my Church and in particular the soup kitchen-type program it has
(3) Make a large donation to institutions that are researching and seeking a cure for the rare disease that my mother died from. Also give some money to institutes and programs related to HIV and cancer treatment and research
(4) Invest a considerable bloc of my money for my long term future
(5) Set up individual trusts for my niece and my nephew and for some of the children of my respective cousins
(6) Set aside money for my dad, my sister and her husband and my aunts and uncles. Maybe treat one aunt in particular with a holiday somewhere
(7) Very extensive travel, flying first class and staying in some of the high-establishment luxury hotels
(8) Invest in a swimming pool so that I could do my water exercises everyday
(9) This is a far-fetched fantasy but I'd love to pay money to look into its feasibility. I'd like to construct an underwater hideaway where I could reside (a type of underwater holiday house) if you like) and entertain guests. Perhaps I'd even open it up to the public to rent for holidays. Of course anything of that sort would have to be constructed in a way that would have the least impact on marine life and habitat. If I can't do this, I'd buy my own private submarine. I've always dreamed of spending a long time underwater

and protecting their future is awesome.

So is the underwater plan.

and so are a lot of us here!

I'm also a notable wise ass.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101890788

I've never bought a lottery ticket.

no one will ever find it!

buy the company and fire the assholes!

I don't think I'd see 100 million.

build a castle (with a moat, of course) and a large wall around it.

Laugh my ass off in my island in the South Pacific knowing when the long-lost relatives finally got in they'd just find a note saying "FUCK YOU"!