# How much is your life worth, or would you accept this bet **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 5, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489 "2006-08-05T20:50:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/21 "2006-08-06T04:54:12Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] How about revising the deal to get to the REAL answer of “what is your life worth?” What if the deal is “You drink poison and die, and I will give X dollars to the person or organization of your choice, in your name, or anonymously if you prefer not to have the money assiciated with your death”. Is there an X that you would take this deal for? For me, probably yes, though it doesn’t seem a billion would be enough. Maybe 10 billion. [/QUOTE] Yup, and a billion is plenty. Pay up and pass the hemlock. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/22 "2006-08-06T05:05:53Z")
Even if there was no poison, if I miss a 19 out 20 shot at $1 billion, I’d fucking kill myself. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/23 "2006-08-06T05:08:12Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] For me, probably yes, though it doesn’t seem a billion would be enough. Maybe 10 billion. [/QUOTE] What is a billion not enough for? I’m pretty sure it would make you richer then 99.9% of all Americans you need 10 billion? I guess if you need to make the top fifty richest people in the worlds list thats what it takes. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/24 "2006-08-06T05:37:39Z")
[QUOTE=boytyperanma] you need 10 billion? [/QUOTE] That’s why it would be like _Deal or No Deal_. After drinking 9 glasses of water and surviving, you decided to take one more chance. The odds are 10 to 1. Would you risk it? ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/25 "2006-08-06T08:21:05Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Not for any amount of money. I used to think that having shitloads of money was important to my happiness and then one day, when I was having a really great time - good food, good company and a good band, I realised that no matter how much more money I had in the bank I wouldn’t be any happier. [/QUOTE] Money may not buy happiness, but lack of money can really suck. It’s a lot easier to be happy when you have a healthy diet, good health care, a good job, and a decent place to live. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/26 "2006-08-06T08:40:36Z")
I live in Las Vegas and go to casinos weekly. Betting on my life? Uh, no. In a recent thread I mentioned how I recently (seriously) won $10,000 on a video keno machine and the odds were 1 in over 210,000…so I think I will pass on dying for odds of 1 in 20, no matter the amount. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/27 "2006-08-06T08:58:23Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] For example, you probably wouldn’t take that bet for a 50/50 chance of dying even if offered 100 billion. Yet you would almost certainly take a 1/100 chance of dying for 1 billion, and a 1/1000 chance for 100 million, all of which are identical in terms of risk/reward. [/QUOTE] Not really true. Only from an absolutely strict technical assessment of “risk/reward”. In reality, the risk is much different but as to the reward: in all cases, you’re still going to be filthy rich. Me? I wouldn’t do it for anything. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/28 "2006-08-06T09:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=Nic2004] As for me, I would consider it only if there would be an award sufficent to take good care of my family for the rest of their lives in the event I were to lose. [/QUOTE] Do you have a spouse & kids? Would you want your spouse to take this chance? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/29 "2006-08-06T10:15:41Z")
I’d do it. I have little money, and I’m not all that enthusiastic about life anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/30 "2006-08-06T10:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I’d do it. I have little money, and I’m not all that enthusiastic about life anyway. [/QUOTE] You will be amazed at how things can change suddenly. Life is kinda fun. The alternative is iffy. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/31 "2006-08-06T12:34:27Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] Even if there was no poison, if I miss a 19 out 20 shot at $1 billion, I’d fucking kill myself. [/QUOTE] 😃 As for the deal, I wouldn’t believe it anyway. Probably all the glasses are poisoned, or it’s a TV windup, or the guy is bankrupt. It’s certainly not legal. Assuming it’s true, I’d pass. I have a job and enough money to live on. Also I don’t play lotteries because I don’t like the 14 million to 1 odds. As a roleplayer, I know empirically how likely 1 in 20 is. I do fasten my seat belt and I eat too much. There you go! ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/32 "2006-08-06T15:31:08Z")
Hell yes. In a freakin’ HEARTBEAT. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/33 "2006-08-06T17:23:17Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] Do you have a spouse & kids? Would you want your spouse to take this chance? [/QUOTE] Yes I do. And no, I wouldn’t. But that was not the question. There is a 19 to 1 chance that I could proviede for their every need and we could all be together for this life-without-financial-stress and the opportunity to help others with their burden. Or all these things except for the together part. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/34 "2006-08-06T17:25:38Z")
[QUOTE=Nic2004] Yes I do. And no, I wouldn’t. But that was not the question. There is a 19 to 1 chance that I could proviede for their every need and we could all be together for this life-without-financial-stress and the opportunity to help others with their burden. Or all these things except for the together part. [/QUOTE] I know what the question was. My thing is, why is it acceptable for you to take a risk that is unacceptable for your spouse to take? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/35 "2006-08-06T18:12:28Z")
Mr. K and his buddy said they’d do it for a cool mil. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/36 "2006-08-06T18:13:47Z")
I would accept certain death to leave my family and loved ones 100 million or more. I would certainly take a 1 in 20 chance of dying for one billion dollars. I would not accept a 50/50 chance of dying without compensation for any amount of money if I survived. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/37 "2006-08-06T18:42:24Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] I would accept certain death to leave my family and loved ones 100 million or more. [/QUOTE] Would your family think that was a good trade? ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/38 "2006-08-06T19:54:22Z")
I’d do it in a New York minute. Where is this guy?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/39 "2006-08-06T22:12:50Z")
I wouldn’t do it. Money just isn’t that important to me. I mean, I’m poor but I’m happy now, and so is my family. I’m pretty sure they’d agree. I hope. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489/40 "2006-08-06T22:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=Rushgeekgirl] I wouldn’t do it. Money just isn’t that important to me. I mean, I’m poor but I’m happy now, and so is my family. I’m pretty sure they’d agree. I hope. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Money certainly isn’t that important to me either, but comfort and security are. As I saod above, if I could assure those things for me, or mine even if I die, I’d go for the money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-your-life-worth-or-would-you-accept-this-bet/367489.md?page=3)