If You Won The Lottery, How Would You Spend It?

[David In Indy]

New Jersey Couple Claims Half of Lottery Prize

By WAYNE PARRY (AP)


ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (March 20) - A New Jersey couple claimed half of the record $390 million Mega Millions jackpot on Monday and said they are retired - effective immediately.


A New Jersey couple claimed the other half of the prize on Monday.
They issued a statement through the lottery board.


Elaine and Harold Messner chose the cash option for the prize from the March 6 drawing in the multistate game. They will receive $116,557,083 before the 25 percent federal withholding tax.

The New Jersey Lottery identified them only as being from Cape May County, at the state's southern tip.

"We feel very fortunate and blessed," Harold Messner said in a statement issued by the Lottery. "This is that early retirement we've always dreamed of. Now we can do all those things we said we would do once we retired."

A truck driver in Georgia had the other winning ticket and claimed it within hours of the drawing.



Ed Nabors was the first person to step forward and claim
 part of the jackpot from the drawing earlier this month.


Messner said he and his wife didn't sleep for the rest of the night after they realized the ticket he had purchased at a liquor store in Woodbine had all the winning numbers.

The couple said they wanted to talk to a financial adviser before coming forward.



The winning numbers were 16-22-29-39-42, with the Mega Ball 20.


The previous largest U.S. lottery jackpot was $365 million in 2006, when eight workers at a Nebraska meatpacking plant won the Powerball drawing. The Big Game, the forerunner of Mega Millions, paid out a $363 million jackpot in 2000.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington state.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

[David In Indy]

I guess a better question would be "Do you even play the lottery?", because I don't. I haven't bought a lottery ticket in more than 5 years. And they always say "You can't win if you don't play", so this REALLY IS a pipe dream for me.

But if I did win, I would definately give some of it to friends and family (20%).

I would probably give 10% of it to a charity. Maybe to AIDS research, or some kind of safe haven or recreation center for young gay youth.

I would save half of whatever I had left and spend the other half.

I would love to buy a home somewhere in the English countryside and a vacation home in Hawaii or the Carribean the two of us. Then I would buy a Lear jet to shuttle us back and forth between our homes. Also, a personal pilot to fly the plane.

It would be really cool to own my own business too. Maybe a small camera shop, or a music store specializing in stringed instruments (violins, cellos, guitars, etc).

Then, I would live off the interest earned from the 50% I saved. I doubt I would quit my job though, or if I did I would probably continue to work. I think it would be really cool to work a normal job, but not have to. Then, if the boss started yelling at me, I could tell him to "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT"!! lol

What would you do if you won the lottery?

[j.U.d.E.]

I've never won, but then I never play... 

I would invest it though and give to charity.

j. U. d. E.

[nic]

I play on occasion & mostly think it is obscene that there are few prizes of stupid amounts when there should be more prizes of lower amounts. 

But if I won, as well as donating to charity & seeing friends & family alright, I'd start travelling - beginning with the most ancient site in the world & working my way chronologically all around the globe. All Brokies would be welcome to join me! 

[opinionista]

I play ocassionally. I didn't used to, now I buy a ticket from time to time. I've never won a big prize but I have won small ones, which isn't bad. But if I ever win a jackpot I'd pay off my bills, give about 20% to my family and friends, and would donate some for stem cells research, and to a shelter for abused women located near my place. There's something I always wanted to do, but I am not sure how I am going to do it, but I would like to pay for somebody's college education. Not just someone from my family, but someone I don't necessarily know that might be in need. It's so expensive to go to school, it's ridiculous. Sure there are Financial Aid but it doesn't pay for the the entire education and you always end up taking student loans. Education should be free, IMO or very cheap. That's what I like about Spain. College is cheap and it is good. People here get out from college with an education and ready to work, without the need to worry about having to pay off student loans.  If I had the money, I'd like to help somebody out, someone in America or in countries where college education costs more than your life.

[David]

I'd pay off my mortgage and then give my house away.   I have a cousin who needs it more than I do.

Then I'd put all my stuff into storage until I decided where I want to live.   Until then, I'd travel and stay at Top Hotels.       I'd buy my Mom a home or condo anywhere she'd want.    Plus put money in an account for her so she'd never worry about bills again.

I wouldn't work.   As much as people say they'd still work, who'd have the time to?    I might for a week or two.    Drive up to work in a new Bentley.   Tell the Bosses what I really think.   LOL.

I hear good things about Palm Springs California.   No snow!   No earthquakes.  No mudslides.    No Hurricanes.   No forest fires.    And you are half way between Las Vegas and the Pacific coast.     I could move there and have a nice house with a BIG garage!   

Of course,  I'd hire a hypnotist to put Jake Gyllenhaal under and tell him to fall in love with me.   LOL.   How much would that  cost?

[dot-matrix]

Retire, travel to all the places I've only dreamed of, raise and resuce Golden Retrievers to my hearts content make sure all my family was provided for and the children able to attend college, give money to feed, house and clothe those less fortunate than myself, buy 40 acre's in the mountains somewhere and build Bob's and my dream log home

[ednbarby]

I'd pay off the mortgages on both our houses (we own a second one as a rental unit) and then give one of them to each of my brothers.  If they didn't want to live mortgage-free in Boca Raton, FL for some reason, I'd give them to the first friends who wanted them - one very good friend who commutes an hour and a half to work each way and lives near one of them but can't afford to move unless she sells her house first would be a top candidate.

I'd give all our cars away, too - the two oldest to charity for the parts and the two newest to each of my brothers again (what the heck - they'd be down here anyway).

Then we'd travel all over the world.  What better education for Will would there be than that?  We'd have enough money to hire tutors for him everywhere we go, so he'd be kept up to speed on the three Rs and all that.  In a few years, when we were ready to chill out and settle down again, we'd buy places in Manhattan, London, and San Francisco and make one of them - probably New York - our home base.

I'd love to give a bunch of money to a few organizations that are near and dear to my heart, too, and that could benefit the most from it - like Hospice, some homeless shelters, and the local animal shelters.  It'd be lovely to give enough money to a large "kill" animal shelter down here so as to make it a non-kill shelter and to give enough money to a homeless shelter so that it could make a real, positive difference in those people's lives.

And I'd invest a good portion of it conservatively but heavily enough so that Will and his children and grandchildren would be set for life.

If I ever worked again, it'd just be something I'd really enjoy and always wanted to do, like starting my own dog-walking/sitting business in Manhattan or building and running a high-end drive-in theater that only shows movies *I* like - hey, I'd be ridiculously rich, so what would it matter if it made a boat load of money or not?

[Kerry]

What's that old saying? "Beware what you wish for, because you might get it!" If that's the case, look out World, 'cause this is what I wish for! 

* I would buy a vast rural estate in upstate New South Wales. It would encompass elements of river, shoreline, mountain, rainforest and waterfall. There is such acreage available now. I would name the property "Brokeback Mountain," so named after the mountain on the property, which I would legally rename "Brokeback Mountain." In the most private, secluded part of the estate, I would engage an architect to build a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house, organically in tune with the landscape. I would name the house "Cherry Cake Cottage."

* I would but a luxury, two-story, penthouse apartment in a skyscraper in Sydney, with spectacular harbour views.

* I would set-up a trust to award an annual prize to the best gay/lesbian artist in Australia. I would personally manage and administer this trust myself.

* I would open my own art dealership business, with accompanying galleries.

* I would give generous cash gifts to friends.

* I would make generous donations to my favourite charities, specifically AIDS charities.

* I would live happily ever after.

One can but dream!      

[Kelda]

I would ensure my family did well out of it, give some to charity, pay off all my bills and then I would travel travel travel - come see all of you guys weherever you live! I would give up my job and once my itchy feet had died down a bit I may well do some volunteering.

[Wishes]

Oh dear, I don't play the lottery either. I know I have heard of people who were broke two years later and/or it ruined their lives. Saw something on TV about this the other night.

I'd quit my job.
Buy a fabulous condo.
Give money to family. Put my nieces through college.
Donate to animal organizations.

Will never happen but I can dream..... 

[CellarDweller]

I'd pay off whatever debt my parents have, get myself someplace nice, and travel.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Tell you what, if it were as much as that kid from South Dakota won just last month, I'd quit my job and head for the mountain West, almost certainly Wyoming. The air is so much cleaner it would be so much better for my health. Even in Denver, on my recent trip, I noticed that when I wake up in the morning, my eyes aren't all gummed up  like they are every morning here at home. 

On the trip I was a little bothered in my nose because of the dryness of the air, but now I'm prepared for it, a little spray bottle of saline solution would take care of that. I could probably even learn to make my own.

[Kelda]

I'd pay off whatever debt my parents have, get myself someplace nice, and travel.

me too.

Plus my own debt!

[louisev]

Boesendorfer grand piano.  That is all.

[Shakesthecoffecan]

I would pay off all my bills and then I would pay for a tune up for Chuck's Purple Car.

[CellarDweller]

I would pay off all my bills and then I would pay for a tune up for Chuck's Purple Car.

i think you need to not worry about my car, and replace your current one.

[Kerry]

I would spend part of it to buy myself a cabin in the woods.   



This particular cabin can be found at Babcock State Park in Fayette County, West Virginia.  It isn't for sale, but you can rent it.

That would be bliss, Gary. 

[Monika]

I´d probably spend most of it on travel. Everywhere I went I would rent a nice car for months at the time and would spend the nights in B&Bs or secluded cabins.
I would also ask my parents if there is anything they want, and whatever it wold be, I´d buy it for them.

[Penthesilea]

Ah, one of my favorite games when bored: What would I do with 20 million Euros? I like to play it when I have to wait for a long time somewhere (and don't have a book), or can't sleep at night, which rarely ever happens, but spending 20 mios is sure more fun than tossing and turning in your bed and worrying about the hours ticking by. I always play it with 20 millions, don't know why, LOL.


I would give to friends and family, I would donate to charity, I would buy a new house (or let this one have a top-notch remodelling, including some modern amenities), I would carefully invest, and I would set some aside and save it in form of diamonds or gold, or something like that.

But the best thing: I would travel more. Later, when the kids are grown, I would really get into travelling. A road trip across Canada, from east to west, then fly down to California and travel from west to east across the US (and I'd visit Brokies along the way!). More road-trips through Scotland, nah, what the heck, I'm a f*cking millionaire, make that all of UK. Scandinavia, OZ and Kiwi-Country. And tours with the motorbike through Spain, France, the Alps, Italy.


Ahhh, sweet dreams .

[Kerry]

Thanks, Kerry.  If I'm ever lucky enough to live in a place like this, you can come over.  We can sit on the porch in rocking chairs and watch the squirrels play.   

That would be so lovely, Gary. I'd like that. 

[optom3]

I don't do the lottery but Nigel does sometimes.
 I would use $500,000 to in effect buy a green card via  the investor route. That would give me the security I want for my kids, and remove a very large amount of stress too.

I would pay to have James treated as an inpatient, so we could really get him stabilised.
I would get Matt back all his tennis lessons and more Gymnastics for Emma.I would buy Matt all the tennis racquet's and gear he wants and Emma a balance beam, floor mat and vault. I would buy James a new guitar the Gibson Les Paul he wants so badly, an acoustic one as well and keyboard.
I would give this house to Miss Betty my American mom, who has helped and loved me more than my own mum. Who is still there for me even though I am no longer working at the store. She meets me for brunch every Monday.

I would relieve some of her stress by giving her enough money so her daughter never needs to worry about medical bills again.

I would move to a house by the water and buy one in Carcasonne, France. I would also clear the mortgage on my Brothers house in the mountains in Japan and his apartment in Tokyo. I would pay for him to have his beloved violin restored, which is about 150 years old, but when he plays, it sounds like the angels have come out to sing.It moves me to tears, he is so talented.

My own little treats would be, have my beloved Bechstein, completely renovated and silly as it sounds I would buy back my watch, which is still in the shop we sold it to. I don't want a new one I would love to have mine back.

I would set Nigel up in whatever business he wants. I know that sounds mad and cruel, but the truth is he is going mad not working. He is like his father who still went into the city when he was in his 80"s. Nigel needs to work, he is lost without it. He would want to do something with cars. He was so fed up when we saw a car business for sale, which restored antique and vintage cars back to new. He badly wanted that business, but we could not afford it. I would also buy him the new Corvette he is after and a small boat, for the house by the water. It is Nigel's dream to live by water.

My parents, I would buy them a house in their beloved Crete, with swimming pool for my mum's hydrotherapy and all on one level so my mum would be O.K .

OMG I have just read my list, I would need a big lottery win. !!!
 

[Kelda]

and hardly anything for yourself there on that list!

[southendmd]

I really does happen to people. 

I have a friend who has been very down on his luck, unemployed for some time, etc.  He plays the odd scratch ticket, and, sure enough, one day he won a quarter million dollars.  Maybe not a huge fortune, but has made a huge difference in his life.  I see he has paid off many debts, but has yet to buy anything other than necessities for himself.  Oh, he bought me a stuffed elephant from FAO Schwartz. 

[Kelda]

Was it life size?! That shop amazed me when I was in NY!!!

[min]

Wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning but if by some miracle I did,  I'd see my friends and family right, invest enough for my retirement, and give the rest to charity.

[southendmd]

Was it life size?! That shop amazed me when I was in NY!!!

Funny you should ask.  My friend kept mentioning the life-sized one, and I suggested I would have to suspend it from the ceiling in order to fit in my apartment!  It's a manageable foot-long elephant. 

[Kelda]

Funny you should ask.  My friend kept mentioning the life-sized one, and I suggested I would have to suspend it from the ceiling in order to fit in my apartment!