$700 Million PowerBall... first three things you would do if you won?

[Puupi]

I think it's rather awkward and hilarious that 99% of people say that the first two things they'd do after winning would be 1. buy a house 2. travel.

[Rudkobing]

Finally, get all the porn dvd's I want and swim in it.

[Deleted]

I play the UK lottery which is just peanuts compared to these US figures, it's £2 a week and I always feel like it is throwing my money away really but I like to think that even the smallest chance is still a chance.

The first 3 things I would do with it:
Buy a house with some land on it (stables for horses etc.) Not a big house, 2-3 bedrooms would be fine, but houses with land here that aren't a million miles from the city (where I work, and would continue working) are way out of the budget I'll ever achieve by working.
Pay off the mortgages and debts of family and friends and give them all enough cash to buy something nice, go on holiday etc.
Buy a new car. Not something big and flashy but we're driving a car with 150k miles on the clock that is falling apart so something that runs better would be nice!

Then... Buy a new property for my business and renovate it. It would be so nice not to have to pay rent and to have full ability to change things structurally, and not worry about having my lease renewed. I work with reptiles/exotic animals, so it's the type of thing where it is quite hard to find the right property for. Hire more staff. Raise the wages of my current staff significantly. This would probably take up the bulk of the cash anyway but I'd consider this a good investment for the future.

[Osoroshii]

Finally, get all the porn dvd's I want and swim in it.

With as much money as its up to, you could just buy your favorite porn stars or at least easily rent their company for a bit.

[therealbowser]

1. Invest.

2. Save.

3. Take a small amount of it and cover expenses I currently have, and buy some things I've been wanting.

[ranzino]

In their fine print, the 25% cited is the required withholding by the state for federal taxes. It is not meant to represent final amount that is taxable.

Ok, but 25 % is nothing next to real taxation. Better count on 30 %+x ?

For the record: "1,3bn annuity/806mn cash" advertising is BS because you cannot avoid taxation. brace yourself for a loss of ~half billion during annuity and rejoyce about the remaining 800+mn. cash option is 806m, but will shrink to ~ 500mn easily.

Still a lot of a heap of money though, but "wow, i'm a billionaire" ? BWAHAHAHAHA if that's the goal you have to wait a bit longer.

[Orlong]

i hope somebody wins when the prizes get this high its nothing but more stress for the people who work for the lottery

What makes me so angry is big jackpots are usually won either by some really old person who wont have more than a couple years to enjoy it, or its won by someone on welfare that shouldnt be spending money on lottery tickets to begin with.

If I win Im going to spend as much of it as I can to lobby for a law making it illegal for anyone on welfare to claim lottery money. If they can waste money on gambling, then they dont deserve any of my money to pay for food. They couldve bought food with the money they waste on gambling

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I'm actually waiting to see the responses from our posters who make comments about how those in poverty are jealous of the rich and how the ultra wealthy earned their money when a CEO or Hedge Fund Manager wins this power ball.

If only 1 person wins this now thats its at least 1.3 billion dollars. They will instantly be a member of the .1% and will have more money than most CEOs

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I think it's rather awkward and hilarious that 99% of people say that the first two things they'd do after winning would be 1. buy a house 2. travel.

Me too. Id just quit my job, buy a new couch, and never get off of it. Hire a maid and personal chef

[Dontrike]

1) Buy sex by the pound.
2) Doesn't matter had sex.
3) Do nothing different.

[Deleted]

1.) Get the hell out of Europe.
2.) Try to keep anyone from realizing I have this money.
3.) Invest some of the money into real estate and such aswell as hiding away as much as possible.

This. I'd probably spend my money learning new skills that I consider hobbies. But nothing over the top.