This is When Things Get a Little Crazy

@porwest (111595)
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
10 responses
@LeaPea2417 (39308)
• Toccoa, Georgia
7h
Get out debt first, buy a nice car , take a trip, give to family and give to charity.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (166861)
• United States
1h
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.
@RasmaSandra (92086)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5h
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
@JudyEv (367838)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
I'd buy our son a house.
@lovebuglena (48426)
• Staten Island, New York
10h
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.
• United States
10h
Lots and lots of donations to charity; lots of handing out money to friends and restaurant servers, a little indulgence, but definitely no way in the world I could ever spend that much money.
@snowy22315 (200426)
• United States
10h
New house, investments, donation, traveling..whatever I wanted to really.
@LadyDuck (489361)
• Italy
12h
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.
@LindaOHio (208907)
• United States
14h
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.
@dgobucks226 (37118)
10h
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.