Powerball at $1.3 Billion...dreaming gets bigger

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

Not that I will have this to worry with, but can you give the unsigned ticket to a charity? Would they get the full untaxed amount? Then does it fall under the state laws of where it was bought or residence of winner?
Just getting ready if I do win!

 

[NW-Bound]

Like W2R, I'd probably end up giving most of it away to relatives, to charities, and maybe taking a luxury round-the-world cruise. That last one might be hard to talk DW into because she hates the idea of being on a cruise ship but perhaps if she's pampered enough...

I have been on only 3 cruises, so do not know as much as other travelers, but the pampering I got was plenty for me.

I don't think I would be able to handle the attention that they may lavish on people who book their luxurious suites, the like you would get if you win that jackpot. I would have to tell them to leave me alone, and if I need anything I will let them know.

 

[aja8888]

If I won it, I would do this:

1. Immediately get a 900 phone number and charge callers $5.00/minute to call me and try to talk me into believing they are due some of the winnings. I would hire a stand in to take the calls, or just robotize it with *Rachel*.

2. I would buy the firm that has been trying to sell me annuities and fire all the salesmen.

3. I would buy an original 1965 Corvette Stingray like I had once upon a time.

4. I would buy my daughter a pony.

5. I would not buy a boat (had one once).

6. The remaining cash would be spent on hot cars and fast women (or is it the other way around?).

 

[JoeWras]

As I believe most of us a normal people, no one has mentioned personal security. If you are now worth $500 mil and the whole world knows it, that's a lot of potential ransom money, no matter where you go. First thing, on the to do list, hire a team of trustworthy and expensive bodyguards.

Amen. I know EastWestGal mentioned lawsuits. Well, $500 mil will cover them. This is so much, lawsuits can be bought off no problem.

I'm worried about my life. About my kid's life. About my niece's life. Etc.

I'm not buying a ticket. I don't need this complication. I have a good life without that kind of target.

 

[GrayHare]

Wouldn't that be a hoot! They'd know a winning number was drawn, and no one steps forward to claim it. Everyone would be talking about that. Meanwhile, you sit back and smile to yourself, happy your life was not ruined.

The Feds and state probably want you to file and pay taxes on the winnings, even if you don't convert your winning ticket into cash.

 

[NW-Bound]

The Feds and state probably want you to file and pay taxes on the winnings, even if you don't convert your winning ticket into cash.

OMG! My earlier suggestion to W2R to hold on to her unclaimed winning ticket as proof would hurt her big time. She would just throw it away.

Better to destroy all evidence. She should send it to me to safeguard it instead.

PS. W2R never said why she would have a ticket on hand in the first place, if she would just throw it away. Oh no, she's throwing away Frank's tickets.

 

[splitwdw]

If I won it, I would do this:

1. Immediately get a 900 phone number and charge callers $5.00/minute to call me and try to talk me into believing they are due some of the winnings. I would hire a stand in to take the calls, or just robotize it with *Rachel*.

This is priceless!

 

[Independent]

For this type of money, I think I'd have to give most of it away. I'd probably discover that the greatest need isn't in the US.

I expect the Gates Foundation would take the time to talk to me. Yes, I know the'd prefer to talk to the 400 Americans who have at least $1.7 billion, but I think I'd be worth a little of their time, even if I've only got $480 million after tax. I'd ask about the Buffett approach, just give the money to them. But, I think I'd rather be more involved. How about some projects that are small enough I could fund them directly?

And, of course, that's after I've bought my NetJets card that will get me to warm weather on short notice when lows are -2 and -6, which are the predictions for my Iowa location for tomorrow and Wednesday.

 

[aja8888]

And, of course, that's after I've bought my NetJets card that will get me to warm weather on short notice when lows are -2 and -6, which are the predictions for my Iowa location for tomorrow and Wednesday.

Heck, with that much money, you could buy the Jets franchise!

 

[Independent]

Heck, with that much money, you could buy the Jets franchise!

I assume you're talking about the NFL team. Forbes has it at $2.6 billion, so way out of my league at only $0.5 billion.

 

[aja8888]

I assume you're talking about the NFL team. Forbes has it at $2.6 billion, so way out of my league at only $0.5 billion.

Hmmm, didn't realize it was that overpriced. Maybe you could finance the balance?

 

[powerplay]

Bought a couple tickets tonight and the screen on the lotto ticket machine said $1.4 billion! I'm betting it will go even higher by Wednesday drawing time.

 

[aja8888]

Our ROMEO Burger King group bought 54 tickets (6 apiece) this morning. Imagine a bunch of 9 overweight, bald headed, out of shape old men splitting up $1.5 B?

We would have to move the morning coffee group to Starbucks!

 

[Texas Proud]

Like W2R, I'd probably end up giving most of it away to relatives, to charities, and maybe taking a luxury round-the-world cruise. That last one might be hard to talk DW into because she hates the idea of being on a cruise ship but perhaps if she's pampered enough.

Get my truck detailed for sure. Everything works on it so can't see buying a new one just for the sake of spending.

It's kind of hard to get my head wrapped around spending that much so I'm not sure what I'd do.

Oh, and new socks and underwear.

Why the heck would you be on a cruise ship You could rent a big yacht and do it on your own....


BTW, I think they do have some big rooms to rent... so it is not like you are down below in the inside....

 

[Texas Proud]

Amen. I know EastWestGal mentioned lawsuits. Well, $500 mil will cover them. This is so much, lawsuits can be bought off no problem.

I'm worried about my life. About my kid's life. About my niece's life. Etc.

I'm not buying a ticket. I don't need this complication. I have a good life without that kind of target.

From what I understand, Warren Buffet does not have a bodyguard.... if he does not need one then why would you?

 

[splitwdw]

From what I understand, Warren Buffet does not have a bodyguard.... if he does not need one then why would you?

Unless he fired them, the security company that watches over Buffett is Clark International. I googled that cause I couldn't imagine Buffett wouldn't have some kind of security.

 

[Totoro]

Would set up a basic income foundation.

Awardees get a monthly stipend for life, no questions asked.

Would structure it so that there is moral pressure for awardees to help the foundation grow if they get rich themselves, hoping to grow the room for more awardees slowly but steadily.

 

[kombat]

I would never play a lottery that permitted winners to remain anonymous. Too much corruption and shady behaviour in the lottery world. Credible lotteries publish winners' names to prove that a) real people are winning the money, and b) they're not employees of the lottery corporation.


I also think it's a bit of a scam that they dole out the winnings over 3 decades, or substantially reduce it if you actually want your winnings now. And finally, it's shameful that the government takes a quarter of the money in taxes, when they've already gotten a huge piece of the pie in taking their "cut" of the pot, before the numbers are even drawn.


In those respects, I actually like the lotteries here in Ontario. If the jackpot is $20 million, you win $20 million, not a $12 million "lump sum." You bring your ticket to the head office and they cut you a cheque for $20 million, in full. And lottery winnings are completely untaxed in Canada. So you get the full $20 million, and you keep every penny. They also publish the names and photos of winners, so it's credible.


All that said, if I had a convenient way to buy a Powerball ticket, I probably would. But it's a 45 minute drive to the border from where I am currently, and I don't really care that much.

 

[wrigley]

I think I might get a boat if I win this one.


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Get a lawyer first!

Mike

 

[RunningBum]

Get a lawyer first!

Mike

What does a lawyer know about boats? ;-)

 

[Fermion]

Anyone who thinks Bill does not have bodyguards evidently has not taken their little 17 foot sailboat too close to the shore of his Medina home on Lake Washington.

 

[mickeyd]

I think the odds are 292,000,000/1.

If I keep my $2 that's 1/1.

I like my odds better.

 

[Dash man]

Get a lawyer first!

Mike

Lawyer first, beach house in gated community, security team second, boat third. I saw a place like this in Kennebunkport! I wonder if it's for sale?


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[HFWR]

From what I understand, Warren Buffet does not have a bodyguard.... if he does not need one then why would you?

But you have to live in Omaha...

 

[tinlizzy]

Hugh Hefner is selling the Playboy Mansion for 200 million. The only problem is that it's really an open market reverse mortgage of sorts because it stipulates that he stays in the house until death!


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