What if you found out you were going to inherit one million dollars?

United States
July 1, 2007 6:22pm CST
What would you do if you found out that you would inherit one million dollars, but only if you married a specific person? Would you do it? If for instance your great grandfather put a clause in his will that said you would inherit the money when you married the grand daughter of his best friend. Would you marry that person? What would you do if you were already married to someone else at the time? Would you leave your current spouse for the other person and the promise of instant wealth?
2 people like this
20 responses
@molusk (857)
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
I surely cannot leave my spouse to marry that person because that will be against the law. In our country, there is still no divorce law. So, I am in no position to accept the offer. Otherwise, how can I enjoy the one million dollars inheritance if I will go to jail ?
@molusk (857)
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
I agree with you wholeheartedly, brautyqueen26, my friend. Cheers !
1 person likes this
@molusk (857)
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
so sorry for my error, beautyqueen26. Another one of my typo mistakes.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
That trumps my question, molusk! Points for you. I had not considered the idea that divorce might not be an option. In the US divorce is way more than an option when many couples consider marriage as a disposable item. Sometimes I think US couples would be better dating longer and postponing marriage until the far off future. That way they would know each other's quirks long before the deal is sealed.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
2 Jul 07
I think I'll ask my husband if this happens :) If he agrees then I will, but I doubt it. One million is a lot of money, but i we don't spend or invest it wisely, it will be gone easily in today's world. One billion is different, my husband might change his mind :) just kidding
1 person likes this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
3 Jul 07
you're right. there is a saying, money that you easily get, will easily leave you. we'll find our pots of gold one day, I'm very sure of that
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
I can just hear your husband now, "Do it! Do it! It's a billion dollars!" I'm joking of course. I'm sure your spouse wouldn't give you up for a mountain of gold coins! Mine wouldn't either. Best of luck to both of us on finding our pot of gold without having to marry for it.
1 person likes this
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Not unless I was in love and going to marry them anyway. No I wouldn't leave my spouse for promise of wealth. If I was that concerned about money I wouldn't have married my husband, lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
I am there with you on this one lucy02! I could never imagine leaving my sweetheart to go live with a man that I did not care about. Yes, we have our issues like any couple, but that is normal when two people bring their own needs and wants and beliefs into a relationship. Friction is bound to happen. But, we are seeking to find the right balance of give and take. Money has never been a big issue for us, but I do worry that it would be with another person. He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me!
@kming52 (280)
• China
2 Jul 07
money does not mean everything,i would not leave my current spouse for another just for some money.it is too unkind.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
No, I could never imagine leaving my spouse for something so trivial is money, either.
• Philippines
2 Jul 07
you mean without feelings? absolutely no is my answer, even i'm single.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
But, it is something people did regularly during Victorian times, is it not? Marry for money and prestige, that is. Even without love. In some parts of the world, arranged marriage is not uncommon to this day. Or, is this not common where you are from?
• United Arab Emirates
2 Jul 07
I am married and I would never leave my partner for anything. I believe that relationship should have a foundation of love and not money. Thanks for bringing up the discussion.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
Your response is both lovely and poetic! And, I do appreciate you for taking the time to drop by and speak with us. Love and marriage always mix, is that not right? But, often marriage and money don't. Look at how many marriages break up over money disagreements between the man and woman. She complains that he spends too much money on things for himself. And, he thinks she can't manage the bills. And, in the end they blow a fortune in divorce court trying to out talk the other spouse. Nothing is left for anyone. If a person can't even control their good success with money while they are married, what would make them think that a brand new spouse and a chunk of change would make them any more financially responsible?
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
1 Jul 07
One million dollars isnt that much these days really. So no I wouldnt want to do anything that I didnt want to do, money has no significance compared to your happiness.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
4 Jul 07
Money would not be enough of a reason for me to marry someone. I have been blessed enough to know that marrying for love is the only way. There is nothing in the world about another person that would ever make me leave my spouse to marry someone else. Besides, all the horror stories you hear these days about people coming into instant wealth...... usually ends in misery.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
2 Jul 07
Money is a very good thing, but I've only wanted as much as I needed to pay my bills and then a little left over for savings and small vacations. There might have been a time when the thought of coming into a great deal of money would have thrilled me, but not at the cost of having to fork over the rest of my life to a marriage based on anything, but love. A situation like that feels like a deal with the devil and it's not one worth taking. I know there are people out there with lots of money who would control their relatives that way. We had one uncle who was very wealthy and he wrote a few of his own kids out of his will because they disagreed with him about things over the years. It has been said that money is the root of all evil and I do believe that one some level, even with all the good that money can do, there is a grain of truth to that.
@mada9898 (193)
• United States
2 Jul 07
nope, I love my wife too much to divorce her for a million dollars. She would probably kick my butt for doing that as well. Now if I were single I would do it depending on how long it was. Once I was offer to marry a model for several million dollars but I didn't do it because there is more than love than underwear!!
1 person likes this
• United Arab Emirates
2 Jul 07
I like your thinking about love and marriage. :)
1 person likes this
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
2 Jul 07
If I was married, most likely no. I'd rather be with someone I love more than marry someone I don't love. It wouldn't work and it would make little to no sense. If I was single, which I am at this moment, and it was someone that I loved, then perhaps but for love purposes only. Money would not be my motivation in a marriage.
1 person likes this
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
2 Jul 07
That is a tough question. If I were not married, I think I might at least want to meet this grand daughter of his best friend and see if I could stand her. It might be worth it. If I were already married, then it would be out of the question. I would have to make a million on my own.
1 person likes this
2 Jul 07
Yea, 1 million US dollars is about £500,000. You then get taxed from inheritance tax as it is over the £300,000 threshold by up to 40%!? (Rip off eh). So lets say worst case scenario u get charged full amount. That leaves you £300,000. Then theres probably other fee's to deal with the will etc so say its bout £290,000. You then divorce, the partener is entitled to half - leaves u both with £145,000. Then theres divorcing proceedures to pay for so say another £5,000 costs which leaves you with your £140,000 which no doubt you will get taxed on anyway. So my answer is no, shoot them and take the money and save yourself a whole lot of fuss. :op (btw that is joking, don't try it, murder is bad, mkaayyy)
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jul 07
Let's pretend for a minute, that the funds would come out of a life insurance policy. I believe those funds would not be taxable. Is that right, Katesmama? It's called return of premium, I believe. You know more about the law on these subjects than I do. I was thinking before of a direct gift of one million dollars, but I suppose a very savvy financial person could make an arrangement where there would be no sticky taxxes involved for the person receiving the money through use of a life insurance policy.
• Philippines
4 Jul 07
beautyqueen26 if i'm still single at that time and un-attached i'd probably marry her, but if i'm already married i think i'l let somebody else get the inheritance. ;
@kevin117 (95)
• China
2 Jul 07
For me, I will think of that if i am not still married.but ,if i have been a girl's husband,i will never give up my wife cause my own lives are the most important.On earth,one million dollars are not so much.By working hard,it is possible for me to earn that much with my wife! LoL!
• Serbia And Montenegro
2 Jul 07
In same secund I will say I DO! What old wife?? Milion is a million
• Serbia And Montenegro
2 Jul 07
In same secund I will merrid that girl! And old wife and all children say BAY BAY :)))))
• Serbia And Montenegro
2 Jul 07
I will be drunk whole that year
• Sweden
2 Jul 07
No, I wouldn't. Like someone else said, one million is not that much and there's nothing saying if the person I'd have to marry is a decent person.
• United States
2 Jul 07
well that is a easy one for me, since i am single. But if i was married well it depends on how much i love my hubby. But since i no have a hubby, woo hoo i am paying off all my bills and saving up for a house of my own, that way if it doesnt work out and i dont learn to love that person, i am pretty much set to move somewhere else.