This is When Things Get a Little Crazy

@porwest (111864)
United States
December 23, 2025 7:28am CST
Well, here we are again, facing a massive, and I mean massive, jackpot for the Powerball multi-state lottery. It's currently sitting at $1.7 billion. And as things generally go, when it strikes, it's likely going to go to a single winner. My estimation is that after taxes and taking the lump sum, someone is going to take home a cool $510 million. It used to be that I'd sit down and figure out (just for kicks and grins, of course) what I would do with that money. How I'd invest it and budget it out. But I'm 52 now. I'll be 53 in June. I might have a good 10 years of spending life, maybe 15, and so, when I consider that I could spend $34 million a year before I'd run out of money, plus couple that with even the idea that if I took $34 million in the first year, I'd still be earning $28.6 million from interest and dividends alone on the rest... It changes one's concept of what they would do with the money hands down. Because this would mean I could likely spend $62.6 million a year comfortably. To be honest, I think spending that amount of money is impossible. Sure, it can be done. But why? What would I even buy with that? I'd still invest and get what I could. But my thoughts about how I'd manage or spend the money certainly have changed the older I become. When the timeline is shorter, it seems natural to handle money in a different way. What says you? How would you spend the money?
10 people like this
9 responses
@lovebuglena (49476)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
I wouldn’t mind even a few million. If I won that money I’d move out of this house into a spacious apartment. I don’t want or need a house when I live alone. I’d buy it so it’s mine. It’s better than renting.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (49476)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Dec
@porwest Maybe I’ll hit it big in AC tomorrow.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
@lovebuglena AC? Oh wait...probably Atlantic City. Yes...good luck on that.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
With money like this, you'd not be without many, many options. lol
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (39588)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Dec
Get out debt first, buy a nice car , take a trip, give to family and give to charity.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (39588)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Dec
@porwest Yes, very easy.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
I think, with this kind of money, getting out of debt would be REALLY easy. lol
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (203646)
• United States
23 Dec
New house, investments, donation, traveling..whatever I wanted to really.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (203646)
• United States
24 Dec
@porwest I forgot first on the list. new car
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
@snowy22315 You could buy an entire dealership. Probably several of them. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
Yeah. I mean, this is no small change. You'd have plenty of options for sure.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (94796)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Dec
Tell you what, I will pray you win the big jackpot, and then we will discuss you sending me just enough to make all my dreams come true and all will be right with the world
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (94796)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Dec
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
This is something I can live with, I think. lol. Onward and upward and fingers crossed it happens.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (372823)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Dec
I'd buy our son a house.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
With this kind of money, you could probably buy an island to put it on. Maybe several of them. lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (372823)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Dec
@porwest In that case, I'd buy an island each.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (215159)
• United States
23 Dec
I'd give a lot to my favorite charities, dog shelter and Humane Society locally. I would get a few things fixed around the house, new deck, redo the guest and main bathrooms...they are both in need. I don't want or need any luxury items. I doubt I would spend much on myself.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
24 Dec
It's a lot of money. Lots could be done with it. In so many ways, it's not even possible to imagine exactly how much money this actually is.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (215159)
• United States
25 Dec
@porwest Someone in Arkansas received a big Christmas present of $1.817 billion. Now PowerBall is back down to $20 million.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111864)
• United States
25 Dec
@LindaOHio Yep. I saw that this morning. I can't even imagine what that must feel like to see the numbers on the screen matching the ones in your hand.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (167912)
• United States
24 Dec
I do not play so I cannot win. Of course I would probably renovate this place. Hire a groundsman or something. That would take such a tiny amount. I would pay off all my daughter's and son in law's debts. Set the grandkids up with trusts. Still would have a ton of money to give away. I would sponsor libraries and hospitals, I think.
@LadyDuck (494354)
• Italy
23 Dec
At my age I will go for a life annuity pension that can cover at least the double of what I usually spend during one year. I will invest part of the money and I will donate part to charities.
@dgobucks226 (37433)
23 Dec
Man, those lottery jackpots keep getting higher and higher. I remember when it first started as just the millionaire lottery. Thinking off the top of my head, just take care of the necessities first like paying off my mortgage. Then donate to causes I like, take care of family, and travel a bit.