# If you were fabulously wealthy, would you want a huge mansion? A smaller one? How about servants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705 "2012-09-24T20:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 24, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/1 "2012-09-24T20:20:26Z")
Let’s say that your long-lost Uncle Scrooge McDuck leaves you both his fortune (conservatively estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars) and his palatial estate with associated servants: maids, cooks, gardener, chauffeur, butler, and so forth. There’s no strings to the bequest. The money’s yours free & clear whether or not you live in the mansion; you can keep all the servants, fire them en masse and replace the lot of them, or pick & choose; you can buy or build elsewhere. Assuming that the estate is in a place you’d want to live in the first place, would you want to live there? If you prefer life on a more modest scale, do you want servants? Why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/2 "2012-09-24T20:22:31Z")
I’d sell the mansion, hire a cleaning service for our current house. I wouldn’t have to move, and the wife would be _thrilled_. Winning! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/3 "2012-09-24T20:28:19Z")
That’s what I’d rather do, too. I don’t want to live in a sprawling, ostentatious mansion. I like the staff idea, though, especially a dedicated litterbox-scooping servant. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/4 "2012-09-24T20:29:23Z")
I think if I inherited gazillions, I’d probably never own anything again. I’d probably just rent, wherever I went, to suit. ( So they’d all have to go, sorry!) Rooms, estates, vehicles, boats, whatever, all rented. I’m not a fan of huge, so I’d probably choose something modest. Servants would require a loss of privacy that would make me batty, I believe. Though I could see hiring someone to discreetly deliver preprepped meals every two days, maybe taking away dirty laundry at the same time. Add in a housecleaner who only comes in when I’m out, and I’m pretty much set. I like to think my needs are few. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/5 "2012-09-24T20:29:33Z")
I take estate to mean house with surrounding land. That’s a dream I’ve had for a long time: to have no neighbors to speak of. I’d probably keep the house, lay off most of the staff with a year’s salary, keeping only the gardener and someone to clean the parts of the house I actually occupy once a week or so and the rest of it twice a year. And hire a personal assistant. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/6 "2012-09-24T20:38:14Z")
I was going to say that I’d buy a small house, then hire a cleaning service a few times a year. But then I read this: > [@elbows](#): > > I think if I inherited gazillions, I’d probably never own anything again. I’d probably just rent, wherever I went, to suit. Hell yeah! ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/7 "2012-09-24T20:38:34Z")
No servants. I hate being fussed over; I always feel awkward when someone is waiting on me. I’d sell the house, lay off the staff with a year’s salary (thanks, **KneadToKnow**!), and probably buy a few modest houses in regions I liked. I’m not the kind of person who likes spending tons of money, but I like the freedom and security it brings. It would be nice to have a house in Austin, TX, another in Fairfax, VA, one somewhere in the Belgian countryside, etc. Not even counting the monetary inheritance, I could probably get nice houses in as many places as I’d want just with the proceeds from Maison McDuck. I also like the renting idea. I love the idea of being able to just pick up and go anywhere at a moment’s notice. It’d be great to just pop off to wherever on a whim and not have to worry about money. Of course, there’s still responsibilities to friends, family, and employer, but if I inherited so much money, I’d probably stop working and just tinker on electronics in my garage instead. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/8 "2012-09-24T20:40:16Z")
I’d be quite happy living the high life. Assuming the house is at least 25,000 square feet, then you need maids, housekeepers etc. just to keep up with the dusting. Of course I’d have a chauffeur. It’s so much easier to go out somewhere and not have to worry about who’s the designated driver, or how tired you get. Of course there would be a gardener. I’m not going to waste my time cutting several acres of grass when I could be, er, whatever it is really rich people do. In reality, I’d probably only use a small portion of the house on a regular basis, but having the extra space would eventually become necessary. Where else are the Swedish Bikini team going stay during their Winter retreat? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/9 "2012-09-24T20:49:25Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I take estate to mean house with surrounding land. That’s a dream I’ve had for a long time: to have no neighbors to speak of. I’d probably keep the house, lay off most of the staff with a year’s salary, keeping only the gardener and someone to clean the parts of the house I actually occupy once a week or so and the rest of it twice a year. And hire a personal assistant. You know, I’ve decided the more complex option is better for me: sell the mansion and estate, lay off the staff with a year’s salary, and build a small house on ~750 acres of land with a ~40-acre lake (these are roughly the dimensions of my undergrad college and its lake, and they seem about perfect for me). By building the house I can be sure to have the house of my dreams, and not more of one than I need. No gardener necessary (I don’t give a crap for lawns, etc., so won’t have them), cleaning service still employed, as is the personal assistant. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/10 "2012-09-24T20:52:08Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > You know, I’ve decided the more complex option is better for me: sell the mansion and estate, lay off the staff with a year’s salary, and build a small house on ~750 acres of land with a ~40-acre lake (these are roughly the dimensions of my undergrad college and its lake, and they seem about perfect for me). I pity you, as you have clearly never seen an episode of _Criminal Minds_ (and thus have missed the hotness that is Paget Brewster). Such a secluded location is _exactly_ what serial killers like their victims to have. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/11 "2012-09-24T20:56:39Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Where else are the Swedish Bikini team going stay during their Winter retreat? Winter? With that kind of money I’d pay to never see snow again. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/12 "2012-09-24T20:58:00Z")
I’d keep the mansion, if it had a good sized yard,\* and just have friends and family move in so I wouldn’t be lonely. I’d keep most of the staff and set up college funds for their kids. I’d probably buy a couple of RVs and go group traveling around. \*If it had no yard or wasn’t big enough I’d buy some land and build a new mansion on it. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/13 "2012-09-24T20:59:05Z")
I wouldn’t want a humongous house, but I’d like a comfy place on a big chunk of land somewhere along the Chesapeake Bay. I don’t want live-in help, but I’d be good with a staff to do the stuff I don’t like to do, like housework. I think it’d be cool to have a cook also. I like cooking, but I think I might enjoy being cooked for. Naturally, being on th Bay, we’d have a proper boat or three also. And a crew to keep 'em looking purdy! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/14 "2012-09-24T21:05:45Z")
Does the mansion already have a stable and indoor arena? StG ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/15 "2012-09-24T21:07:34Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I also like the renting idea. I love the idea of being able to just pick up and go anywhere at a moment’s notice. It’d be great to just pop off to wherever on a whim and not have to worry about money. Of course, there’s still responsibilities to friends, family, and employer, but if I inherited so much money, I’d probably stop working and just tinker on electronics in my garage instead. Renting is fine, but moving sucks. And wouldn’t you love to have the perfect tinkering space for your electronics? I would probably sell the house. I don’t need ballrooms and butlers and all the trappings of a usual mansion. I’ve given some thought to what I would like. With nearly unlimited resources, it would be really interesting to try to create the perfect place. I’ve joked that I need a one-bedroom house with a three-car garage. Give me hundreds of millions and I might splurge; put in a guest bedroom as well. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/16 "2012-09-24T21:10:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I pity you, as you have clearly never seen an episode of _Criminal Minds_ (and thus have missed the hotness that is Paget Brewster). Such a secluded location is _exactly_ what serial killers like their victims to have. 😉 I pity you, as you have clearly never seen _The Silence of the Lambs_: > [@Agent Starling](#): > > What he does with them takes privacy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/17 "2012-09-24T21:11:54Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Does the mansion already have a stable and indoor arena? > > StG I liked my original answer, but, you know… horses! So maybe I won’t keep the old place after all… ---
**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:** [September 24, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/18 "2012-09-24T21:12:56Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I pity you, as you have clearly never seen _The Silence of the Lambs_: > > 😉 I’ve seen _Silence_. I simply chose not to imply that _you_ might be a serial killer. Both points are valid, I think, if you’re paranoid anyway. That is, seclusion only seems to be a shield from the outside world; on that 400-acre estate you mention, once a bad guy has you alone in the house nobody’s gonna hear you screaming. Best have your primary residence be a Manhattan brownstone, I say. My god, it’s like Mandy Patinkin died for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/19 "2012-09-24T21:16:17Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve seen _Silence_. I simply chose not to imply that _you_ might be a serial killer. That’s the nicest thing anyone’s done for me all day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705/20 "2012-09-24T21:18:08Z")
I really hate trophy houses. Not only is it ostentatious, but the impact on the environment is substantial. To me they say: I’m very rich _and_ very stupid. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-fabulously-wealthy-would-you-want-a-huge-mansion-a-smaller-one-how-about-servants/635705.md?page=2)