Ever since God invented women there has been an answer to the question: what can I spend my money on?
I would agree with Machine Elf. It’s so much money that you can’t spend it all, but there will be plenty of people offering to help you do just that. By and large, it would be really difficult to conceal your wealth unless you lived much as before - in which case why bother with the lottery anyway? A win that big makes you a target for kidnappers and the like, so all that money buys you bodyguards that hang around all the time and give you no peace. And then write snarky memoirs about you, later. Yes, a big win would really impact your social life, and most likely not for the better.
In short, the only way you could spend that much money (seriously) is to either go in for large-scale philanthropy or else buy up some businesses.
Anyway, if any Dopers do win, then send me just a tiny fraction of your new-found pelf. I’d be set up for life with just a few million. The quid pro quo? My undying gratitude, a warm inner glow from the satisfaction of having helped somebody, and my complete and utter silence as to your new status. I’d say it’s a fair deal.
Money can’t buy happiness, but it can sure rent it.
I realize that the OP didn’t want to do good, but for folks not opposed to that, here is a plan to live comfortably off the prize (for you and family), and have a shield against the friends/relatives begging cash.
And I’m guessing you wouldn’t have to do much good - it sounds like your foundation can fund pretty much anything legal, so breeding cats intelligent cats with thumbs is probably doable.
ETA: I might just set up the Howard Foundation and see how long before Woodrow shows up.
Sure!
“No.”
I like locked doors. I like locked doors a lot. If I was in a financial and residential circumstance that allowed it, I’d have steel-core doors now, and no windows at all.
And since I don’t plan to get all ostentatious about my new financial independence, I don’t anticipate much trouble on that front.
HELL YES I COULD RETIRE THIS INSTANT. I have enough hobbies and pasttimes to fill my life completely, around eight times over. And that’s just with what I already own and do!
I have no out-of-work interaction with my co-workers, so no loss there. And my current circle of family and friends will continue just fine, I’m confident. It might increase - they won’t want to come over to watch movies on my home theater any less than they currently do just because it includes better seats and a proper subwoofer.
I have no kids, and my nieces and nephews will be just fine getting nothing, because that’s what they’ll be used to. I don’t plan to act like I’m rich (aside from the steel-core doors and double-bolted shutters), so they probably won’t think anything about my wealth at all, except to know that I always give at least half-decent gifts at birthdays and christmas. Like, worth as much as $50 maybe! (Which they already are used to, from me at least.)
The only inevitable change is that I’ll retire immediately, and that some bank will be extremely happy to be holding my money in some simple savings account. As far as my associates are concerned I’ll still be the same guy - just slightly better off.
Whoever ends up inheriting from me will be in for quite a shock, though.