I Wouldn’t Tell Anyone!
I don’t buy lottery tickets, but that fact has never stopped me from fantasizing how I would spend the money! When I was in my twenties, my wish list was succinct. If I won a million dollars, I’d…
- Pay off student loans.
- Pay for a passport and a good backpack and order enough Traveler Checks to last for a few months as I explored Europe.
- I’d put half of the million in savings.
- I wouldn’t tell anyone I won.
Of course, wishes change as one ages and my list evolved as I neared fifty. The popularity of winning the lottery generated more money over the years, so let’s say the winning ticket is worth (after taxes) thirty-four million. I’d…
- Pay off my mortgage.
- Donate my station wagon and pay cash for an Audi.
- Increase my, up to this point, meager stock portfolio.
- I wouldn’t tell anyone I won.
In the 21st century, a winning ticket can total billions, not millions and the list of “things” I want in my seventieth decade is virtually non-existent. Medical expenses would be my only concern, but I can’t foresee needing more than five million to cushion any hospital billing. I’d…
- Establish funds for my favorite charities. (They know who they are.)
- Make sure Dolly and Isabella are well cared for.
- Still travel but now in luxury, no backpack in sight.
- I wouldn’t tell anyone I won.
Hopefully, this exercise will trigger your thoughts. “What would I do if I won?”
The possibility of winning a billion dollars further triggered my curiosity. What satisfaction is gained by the ultra-wealthy in merely accumulating money, lots and lots of money? There are between 800 and 900 billionaires in the United States. They own private planes that cost anywhere between twenty and a hundred and eighty-five million dollars and they often own more than one. Most have multiple homes. It’s estimated the average billionaire (don’t let the ironic use of “average” in reference to the ultra-wealthy distract you) owns from three to ten homes. The latest trend is creating a personal compound, buying acres and acres of land or even an entire island.
You know who these people are and if you don’t you can easily Google a list.
But the most interesting data I uncovered of the ultra-rich is that every billionaire could easily donate one billion dollars to help hundreds, if not thousands of people. Because of how they’ve managed their investments, they could recoup that donated billion in months, if not weeks.
I worked with a young man in post-production years ago who saw his income rapidly increase from five figures to six figures and, eventually, to seven figures. His favorite saying was, “He who dies with the most toys wins!”
I think he was kidding. On second thought, is that what motivates the Musks and Bezos of the world to proudly proclaim their wealth?
Lottery winnings continue to rise and ticket sales continue to give the less fortunate hope for a change in their future.
I still haven’t bought a ticket, but if I happen to change my mind and put my dollar in the pot AND come up with the winning number, I wouldn’t tell anyone I won.