A stupid fast car. I’d drive it like a maniac until I got enough tickets to lose my license, then hire a chauffeur. And a big ass penthouse condo on Lake Shore Drive.
My stupid purchase, if I made one, would be an honest to God tiara.
Diamonds and pearls, probably, with maybe a few colored gems inset
And of course a parure of other jewelry pieces to match. I’d have my picture taken looking like a monarch at her coronation ball.
I’d enjoy them for a while, the sell them and donate the money to charity.
I would fund a local theater to do a year’s worth of shows that no one does. Not lavish Broadway level but dinner-theater-style productions of:
King of Hearts
Working
Goodtime Charley
Sunday in the Park With George
Whistle Down the Wind
The Pirate Queen
That’s six shows, seven week run each with a week turnover. I’d work out a deal with the theater they can keep all profits until they cover costs and make the same profit they did last year at the end of the year. Any additional profit we split 25-75 their way. If there’s a loss (more likely) then I cover it. I could do that for less than a million, I’m sure.
I would hire someone to fix every goddam thing that is not working quite right with my house, then check it periodically for things that don’t work… and fix them. That would be cheap, for someone with $200M.
Several pinball machines.
I might eventually get around to a new car, but first I’d find a speed shop with some talented and creative people. I’d pay to have an old car striped down tho the bones and rebuilt as an amazing monster of a mountain racer.
I’d have them take it area by area for the rebuild: rip everything out that has even partial rust, add a heavy duty custom rear suspension, modified exhaust, rebuild the engine to push out the performance, modify the clutch, custom heavy duty brakes.
I’d want the steering to be modified and if possible made more durable. I’d yank the radio and the antenna wire so they both would be replaced new, possibly with an antenna booster. I’d tint the glass.
I’d have the interior modified; everything from the seats to the center console to the door panels to the dash. I’d have the rear windows modified so they could go all the way down. I’d have the paint stripped, 3 coats of primer added, 3 coats of paint added,
and then 3 coats of clear seal added on top of that. I’d get new rims and new rubber for it.
In short, I’d make it the very fastest and the most maneuverable that it could be, given the make and the model car that it is.
“impractical/stupid/selfish”? The SDMB. Then I could ban anyone I damn well please.
I’d be very tempted to buy a Corsair. Of course I couldn’t jump right into it, so I’de have to get an SNJ too.
And to get those, I’d have to pay off The Wife.
I would hire a professional announcer to herald my arrival and every activity.
“Chefguy is now entering Fred Meyer! Chefguy is perusing the avocados! Rejected!”
It would probably get old fairly quickly, especially in the bathroom.
What a beauty. Always liked that plane.
:snicker: Condition - Used.
I’ll bet.
A big house and hire staff to take care of it, me and my wife.
I’d travel the world first class. I’m talking laydown flat beds.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Mille Miglia Spyder, once I get Ralph Lauren to let it go. And a damn big racetrack to fool around on. (Or an Italian passport and a letter from the Pope that says “Let this man drive as fast as he wants”.)
I’d buy a second citizenship, because two passports are better than one, and there is at least one EU country that offers citizenship for sale, which would then enable free access to the entire EU without all that nonsense like being forced to leave after 90 days.
Then I’d buy a couple of modest houses, and the rest is going in some sort of interest bearing account so that I can permanently leave the rat race. Employment is the biggest waste of life that there is, so priority number one is ensuring that I never have to punch a time clock again.
I’d make my existing 2-car garage into a commercial kitchen, complete with all sorts of fancy modernist equipment like a centrifuge. Then I’d build another 2-car garage in front of it so I’d still have a place to park my cars.
I’d then spend my time (well, my time in-between travelling the world) cooking up anything I can think of and having my friends over for experimental dinners.
I’d also hire some staff so I didn’t have to clean up after all that cooking.
Or the bedroom. “Rejected!”
Luxury yacht with crew for round the world trip.
A 1980’a era video arcade room. Though to be honest there would be some classics from the 90’s and 2k epochs as well.
Radio station. Play my musical tastes and prop up opinions I support. Reserve a couple hours a week for myself.
I’d fund a classical music radio station, in the largest U.S. city that doesn’t already have one.