How would you live if you had $53,000 a week?

@dragon54u (31636)
United States
March 19, 2009 7:28am CST
The wife of George David, a U.S. executive, says she can't live on the $43 settlement offered to her in a prospective divorce settlement. She says she has expenses of $53K a week! See story here: http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2009-03-18-divorce-expensive_N.htm What if you had $53,000 a week, what would you be doing? Can you even conceive of living a life that is that expensive? I can't. That's more than most families have per year to live on. What in the world is she spending her money on?! Even if I indulged in a few movies or theatre tickets--which I love but can't afford--I couldn't even hope to approach spending that much. What would you do with that money? Would you live high on the hog or would you continue as you are? Would you save most of it?
2 people like this
20 responses
@ahslack (484)
• Singapore
19 Mar 09
i can't believe that one week i can earn $53k a week.I think i cannot spend all the money during a week,at most i can do is to put it in the bank or do some investment with it.i will still live normally as if more and more people know that you are rich,you may be the target of being rob.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
You are right, and many people will want to "borrow" money from you! She's not earning it, she's divorcing her husband--they were both unfaithful and are ending the marriage. I have no idea how I could spend that much money unless I gave a lot to charity!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Mar 09
For that amount of money I would be able to buy a home cash, get a care do grocories , and re invest that money so it can grow. I would treat myself and maybe give myself a budget of 2,000 of spending money. I would get a 1000 to spend however I want and my husband would have the same. Other then those things I would change I would try to live a relatively normal way of life. If she's spending that much money in a week for someone to be spending, most of those things she's probably spending her money on are just over price materialistic things.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
It's too bad her life is so wrapped up in "stuff". No wonder the marriage is broken, they're probably both like that.
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I cant imagine that either!! From what I have heard, more money just makes you broke at a different level! I will probably never know so I dont have to put much thought into it! LOL!
• United States
20 Mar 09
So true LOL many people with money often times they show how much they love you with purchases of expensive items. You are probably right that could have been the reason for the marriage to fall apart
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
geez that's way too much! 53k a week! most probably, if ever i get that 53k per week, i'll just take the 53k and invest with it and live a comfy life. and i'll just give the next batch of 53k per week to different charities that need funds. i'll donate it to unicef and other organizations. i wonder what she'll be doing with that much money though...
1 person likes this
• Philippines
21 Mar 09
yeah you're right. i'd read the whole news and everyone's condemning her for spending like that in times of global crisis. geez, surely, that girl is sooooo materialistic.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I would hope that she gives a part of it to charity but with an attitude like that I seriously doubt it. If you look at the replies here, most people mention giving significant sums to charity. There are some good folks here, people I'd like to see have money like that because they'd be using it for good as well as their own financial health.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Mar 09
She only got a $43 settlement. I should push for $53 dollars a week before the $53,000! That's more money than I could sensible use. $2,000 a week would be plenty and would allow me to budget in visiting friends in places like the USA. Right now I make do on about $15 in respect of personal expenses. I sometimes don't even spend that.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
You sound like a sensible person with a lot of respect for financial matters. I can't imagine how I could spend $53K per week!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
19 Mar 09
I learned the hard way about money. I do splurge occasionally and have been known to pay off my credit card in two months rather than one, but it is the ONLY thing that keeps me awake at night. Live within your means is my motto now.
@GreenMoo (11834)
20 Mar 09
Faced with that much actual money in my hand, it's always possible that I'd have a total personality change and turn into a free spending gadabout! However, I can't imagine that it would change my style of living an awful lot. I've got everything I need, and most of my pleasures are cheap ones. I think my luxury would probably be paying someone to do some of the work I currently do myself though, to allow me more time to just chill out. It would be nice to have a vehicle which could be relied upon to start when required as well! I currecntly have which has to be parked at the top of a hill each night, just to ensure I can roll it down in the morning if need be.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Have you ever thought that your life would make an interesting tv show? I'd watch it! The part about the car is priceless, I've had vehicles like that!
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
24 Mar 09
If I told you all the stories about some of our peculiar guests you'd die laughing :-) Honestly, you couldn't make it up! I write my sister a newsy email occassionally telling her what's going on at the farm and she describes it as having her very own River Cottage in her inbox. I don't know whether River Cottage will mean anything to the Americans, but the UK myLotters will know the series.
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
20 Mar 09
Her sense of entitlement is amazing. She does not even work. If she put the 43 million in the bank at a modest 2.5% you can get over a million dollars in interest. This woman is a leech with a sense of entitlement. It seems her and AIG executives are birds of a feather. At least the AIG executives have a job even though the suck at it. No wonder other countries hate us. How can you have 4 residences? Think of the carbon footprint this woman is creating. Limosines and private jets. Multiple residences. While the rest of us are trying to save energy they are lighting up thousands of square foot mansions.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Greed always amazes me. Nothing is ever enough. I don't resent her for having money but I do resent her greed. 43 million, properly managed, would allow her to live in a LOT of comfort for the rest of her life!
• Canada
21 Mar 09
I read another of these spoiled entitled women in another article a year or so ago and she spent more on flowers for her home each month than most people have to live on. Thousand each month for flowers, I think she had fresh flowers in every room or something extravagant like that. I don't think she had a job either. Paul McCartney found out the hard way how these spoiled entitled women think. It cost him 63 million dollars. What did she bring to the marriage? He was such a fool and she was such a lying *****.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
19 Mar 09
Greed is greed, some people have never enough. Bad thing is that media is teasing general public with such numbers, because most families have to live one year for less than she is asking for one week....
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
It really does serve to fuel the wealth envy, doesn't it? I don't resent anyone for having money, I'm glad for them. But the way they use it is what I resent or admire.
• Philippines
20 Mar 09
Maybe she spends too much money on designer clothes, shoes, vacation, accessories and bags, jewelries...Maybe she also lives in a 5-star hotel as well I would rather be happy with the amount of that money and save it for the rainy days you know
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
Yes, saving for a rainy day is very comforting. For the first time in my life I've squirreled away enough to tide me over for a few months. When I see someone like that who says $53,000 a week is not enough to live on, I just can't comprehend such a mind that would think they need so much when I've struggled and pinched pennies to put a little away.
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
20 Mar 09
The $53,000 she is wanting for a week would set me up just fine - wih one weeks pay I would be totally debt free and have mone in the bank. I wouldn't want any more than one weeks pay. She needs to do the ultimate thing - GET OFF HER PAMPERED LAZY BUTT & get a job if she wants more money. She could then put her $43 million in investments and draw the interest. That would amount to quite a tidy sum. She's disgusting and greedy. It would be nice if the courts threw out the pre-nuptual agreement and gave her nothing. Let her sell her places in Sweden and wherever else she owns property.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I've always felt sad for people like that. Nothing is ever enough for them. Their image of themselves is all tied up in the things they own, not what they can contribute to others, and they'll never be happy.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
20 Mar 09
In my country India that is a colossal amount of money and if i were to get it i would buy land in the country and build a farmhouse and live a very simple life away from the hustle and bustle of city urban life. I am not addicted to parties or socializing or spending and wasting money on unneccessary things. Simple living and high thinking is my motto and i would use the excess money on helping those who are in need. I will also save the money since we Indians are in the habit of saving which is why the downslide in global economy has not hit us as hard as it has people in your country.we still have our own resources to back us up.I do not like such people ,the lady in question, who are simply selfish and just think of themselves withouth a thought or care for others.Such people should be taught a stiff lesson and they should learn to live below their means.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I agree with you and I'm glad that your people don't have the financial troubles that we do. One of the things this financial disaster might do for us is to teach us to go back to the way we used to be-working hard, saving money, rejecting credit and buying only what we can afford. I live below my means and save my money so I'll probably be alright whatever happens but I know of many people who are drowning in debt just so they could take vacations and have nice things. This woman is very foolish and I doubt she's a happy person.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
19 Mar 09
That's over a two million dollars a year on frivolous spending. Being who I am, if I had that much money I would definitely help out my parents and siblings and my son. I would donate money to children and animal foundations, and probably open an animal shelter. Of course, I would get a better place to live and a better car, but nothing over the top. I would be so thankful that I wouldn't have to worry about paying my bills. That money would give me the opportunity to go out to dine once in a while.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
That's about what I would do with it! I'd love to have a couple million a year to spend helping people, saving animals, educating and sheltering the homeless and a hundred other things.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
20 Mar 09
It is really great that people have the guts to spend so much money. I have never got so much money to spend and so I don’t know that how will I spend so much money. I think if I get so much money every week I will definitely save a lot in the beginning and then spend a lot later on.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I think it's foolish to "need" that much to live on. She must have a very opulent lifestyle.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
20 Mar 09
I cannot even begin to think how anyone can possibly need that much money in one week's time. That is down-right crazy! If I had that kind of money, my lifestyle wouldn't change too much. I would own my home and a good vehicle, but not much more than that. The majority would end up in trust funds for my kids' futures, and into retirement funds for my husband and me.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Mar 09
You are a wise person. I think this woman doesn't have the sense God gave a flea.
• United States
19 Mar 09
id live like a queen she should try living on 300 a week for a while many in this country do!
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I think she might kill herself rather than do that. A lot of wealthy people can't deal with not having money. Of course, maybe she's a very nice person that wants most of that for her charitable foundation or other good works but I doubt it. I read somewhere she needs $40K per month just for travel.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
19 Mar 09
This is quite common amongst celebrities and the high society. The article tells you how she spend it. Douglas-David has filed court papers saying she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including maintaining a Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden. Also among her weekly expenses: $700 for limousine service, $4,500 for clothes, $1,000 for hair and skin treatments, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, and $8,000 for travel. Those people have an enormous staff looking after everything. When you have to start paying wages to people... money goes fast. Furthermore... maintening an image amongst the high society does come at a price. Why do people need such a life style to be happy? Beats me! Bet you that she is still not happy. lol I think her divorce is the prove of it. lol Quite frankly... those people are not worth talking about. They are not living on the same planet that we do. She only ask for that amount of money because she knows her husband can afford to pay it. And he is the silly man who has taught her to live that expensive lifestyle.
@SangsTurks (1444)
• India
19 Mar 09
Wow! the thought of it makes me smile. Oh, how i wish i had that much of money to spend per week!!! I am sure that my lifestyle would have definately changed if i had that much of money per week. Well, for the first few weeks i would love to spend the money on me, my son, my husband and my mom and then probably when i am done spending i would save some for my son and donte some to the actually needy people who i know cannot earn due to some problems. i would also like to help the physically challenged (if that is the right word to say) to learn whatever intrests them.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
That's a wonderful way to spend that much money! I doubt whether the woman helps anyone with the money she says she needs, otherwise she wouldn't be asking for so much. She must have a very extravagant lifestyle!
@tschu8 (136)
• United States
19 Mar 09
That has got to be about the most rediculous thing I have ever heard. I can not believe that anyone should need that kind of money to live with WEEKLY and she has got to be the most greedy person there is. When there are so many families that struggle to bring that kind of money in in a year. It is sad to think that she needs money like that to bring happiness in her life. If I had to think of what I would do with it I would have to say that I would have a nicer home then I do now but can not imagine wanting anything too extravagant. I would definately put most of it away and make sure that my kids went to college and learned that you do have to work for what you have. Yes there would be family vacations here and there but 8000 a week for travel is rediculous. It is sadly an unbelievable story.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I agree. I think she would be happier-and maybe their marriage wouldn't have broken up-if they both spent more of their money on doing good things and not on greed.
@kellyjeanne (1576)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I think if you need that amount of money a week to survive is the most atrocious thing I've ever heard of. What in the world would justify needing that much money every week? Absurd! Purrs, Catwoman=^..^= & Mija
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I can think of a LOT of things I could use that money for but few of them are for me. Can you imagine all the good we could do with that much money?!
• United States
19 Mar 09
To me that is more than enough funds to live on. If I had that kinda of money I think I would be sharing a lot with my family and I would own a house. I know some people are just so ungreatful about the things that they have. I mean to me that is too much money really. I mean dont get me wrong I would love to be rich but I think I would like to help other people and so forth if I had that kinda of money. Like charity and stuff like that. Anyway thanks for sharing this and happy mylotting to you.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
There are a lot of people, apparently, that would share it with others. I doubt she does, her life must be very empty for her to need to fill it with money.
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
19 Mar 09
The concept of "needing" $53000 for one week is absurd. But, I can't say that's the first time I've heard a crazy thing like that. I didn't look at the article, but maybe she should go out and get a job, so she doesn't have time to spend that much in one week. I wish i ccould write more in response to this, but it has actually left me dumbfounded.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I had to think about it a bit before I posted it. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that someone could claim to need thousands a week in order to live!