# If You Had $1 Billion Dollars That You Couldn't Use For Yourself, What Would You Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043 "2008-10-01T19:05:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/41 "2008-10-02T18:16:26Z")
I’d round up 1,000 strangers and buy them each a green dress. (But not a real green dress. That’s cruel.) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/42 "2008-10-02T18:17:31Z")
I’d actually do pretty much what **Creaky** wants to do - give money to veterans and animal charities. I’d also like to help build up the Cleveland area, first with better schools (Cleveland schools are SO bad) and then work on a plan to help bring more jobs back to the area. I love Cleveland a lot but it’s got a lot of “flight” - people don’t stick around to work here. I would really be happy if I could help make it a place to come to and not a place to up and leave. ---
**Author:** ![ming\_the\_merciless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@ming\_the\_merciless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ming_the_merciless)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/43 "2008-10-02T18:28:37Z")
solfy i’d buy your love …if you are female 🙂 if not hell …for a billion dollars you could buy mine 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/44 "2008-10-02T18:51:05Z")
> [@Solfy](#): > > I’d round up 1,000 strangers and buy them each a green dress. (But not a real green dress. That’s cruel.) I suspect there is a joke in here, but I don’t know what it is. Could you please explain? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/45 "2008-10-02T19:06:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I suspect there is a joke in here, but I don’t know what it is. Could you please explain? It comes from a song called “If I Had a Million Dollars” by the Bare Naked Ladies from Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/46 "2008-10-02T19:11:23Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I would spend it fixing up and improving my hometown… More or less the same. I come from a poor rural county in north Georgia. I’d spruce up the county seat (which is run-down but has potential). I’d also build a nice new high school, fund some teaching positions (particularly science and mathematics), and fund some scholarships. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/47 "2008-10-02T19:11:32Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It comes from a song called “If I Had a Million Dollars” by the Bare Naked Ladies from Canada. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/48 "2008-10-02T19:29:44Z")
I would do the same as Shagnasty and the others who would spruce up their town or a past town they lived in. I live in San Diego now so it’s good enough but the town I grew up in could use some help. It is a small town, Chickasha Oklahoma, of under 20,000 people. I’d put a lot of money into business to help the town grow and a lot into the college to encourage students from other places to go there. I would also put a lot into fun stuff as there is not much to do there entertainment wise. Also I would buy homes for a lot of my poorer relatives and pay for any of them to go to college if they wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/49 "2008-10-02T19:44:03Z")
I would help dedicated organisations saving from extinction as many endangered species as possible. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/50 "2008-10-02T20:38:04Z")
$250,000,000 each to: The National Association to PROTECT Children The ChildTrauma Academy Gun Owners of America and ASPCA Since I disagree with a couple of ASPCA’s campaigns, they’d be the only organization I attached stipulations to. They could only use the money for pet-based spay/neuter, resuce and adoption-related efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/51 "2008-10-02T20:52:47Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Hmm, a billion dollars dollars. What would I do with a billion dollars dollars? Donate it to the World Pedantic Foundation? ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/52 "2008-10-02T21:25:22Z")
I’d give it to the American Diabetes Foundation. Type I Diabetes has devastated my family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/53 "2008-10-02T22:00:46Z")
I notice nobody has decided to check the box on their tax form stating you’d like to make a donation to reduce the national debt. I always thought it’s strange that people say the taxman doesn’t have a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/54 "2008-10-03T03:34:09Z")
> [@Creaky](#): > > I also especially like the cat one. I always wanted a great big housecat. And yeah, hopefully it wouldn’t eat me. I have this particular discussion a lot with friends about what if I had a really big gigantic cat. They’re convinced that no matter how well the cat and I loved each other the cat’s instinct would kick in eventually and he’d eat me. It would be like, “Buddy, sweetie, good Buddy cat… Buddy? Kitty? Buddy, what are you doing?! Not my arm! No, kitty, NO! NOOOOOOOO…!!!” Heh, yeah, I have a feeling that would happen. [This music video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE) (see 3:20) was what made me think of that. > [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Donate it to the World Pedantic Foundation? Yeah! Screw the roller disco! This is where all the money is going. ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/55 "2008-10-03T03:54:38Z")
[quote=“Shagnasty, post:1, topic:466043”] You have five years to spend $1 billion dollars and you absolutely cannot spend it on yourself, family or friends, what would you do? I’d divide it three ways. The first would go to the Easter Michigan Food Bank, to feed the local homeless. The second would go to the YWCA Safehouse, to help local abused women & children. The third would go to the local Humane Society. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/56 "2008-10-03T14:46:37Z")
Of course, there is the obvious answer: New SDMB servers. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/57 "2008-10-03T19:50:07Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Of course, there is the obvious answer: New SDMB servers. An excellent idea, but it might count as spending it on yourself and your friends. Shagnasty, can we get a ruling on this? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/58 "2008-10-03T19:53:09Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > An excellent idea, but it might count as spending it on yourself and your friends. Shagnasty, can we get a ruling on this? Indirect benefits like this are OK. For example, you could watch a huge fireworks display that you paid for. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/59 "2008-10-03T21:30:25Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Heh, yeah, I have a feeling that would happen. [This music video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE) (see 3:20) was what made me think of that. That kitty in the video is really cute. I wish there were more footage of the guy riding him. Gidd’up, Li’l kitties! Yah! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Borderline\_Blonde](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borderline_blonde/32/6479_2.png) [@Borderline\_Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borderline_Blonde)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043/60 "2008-10-05T18:33:50Z")
I’d donate it all to the SPCA, with the same stipulation as **FallenAngel** : They could only use it for “pet based spay/neuter, rescue and adoption-related efforts.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-1-billion-dollars-that-you-couldnt-use-for-yourself-what-would-you-do/466043.md?page=4)