# Would you rather accept a billion dollars but you die in 5 years or continue living your life as it is now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800 "2020-10-24T22:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/1 "2020-10-24T22:39:10Z")
Would you rather accept a billion dollars tax free but you die instantly and painlessly in 5 years or continue living your life as it is now? I’d pick the billion primarily because I’d rather live in comfort and do immense good for my loved ones and family and those in need in 5 years then be a miserable wage slave in a sick and decaying society for another 40+ years. As an example 500 million dollars donated to charity could save more than 100,000 lives in the Third World. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/codinghorror/32/4242_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/2 "2020-10-24T23:06:31Z")
I’m with you. It would _suck_ for my family, but the amount of good you could do for the world (assuming you wanted to) with a billion dollars is pretty substantial and probably far outweighs what most people will make, and be able to effect change on the world with, over their lifetimes. On the other hand, not being able to see your kids grow up… that’s… not great. I’m reminded of this blog post, and that first video always hits me so very hard. Well, so does the rest of the post, but the video is an excellent TL;DR summary. > **[Somebody is to Blame for This](https://blog.codinghorror.com/somebody-is-to-blame-for-this/)** > > This is not a post about programming, or being a geek. In all likelihood, this > is not a post you will enjoy reading. Consider yourselves warned. > > I don't remember how I found this Moth video of comedian Anthony... ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/3 "2020-10-24T23:07:36Z")
I don’t need a billion dollars ---
**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 24, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/4 "2020-10-24T23:10:26Z")
I look forward to meeting my grandkids someday. 5 years is a very short time and a billion is less than you think. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/5 "2020-10-24T23:14:25Z")
I’m happy with what I have, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/6 "2020-10-24T23:16:02Z")
Give me 12 years and a billion, and I’m in ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/7 "2020-10-24T23:20:55Z")
Would there be a guarantee that I’d live another 5 years? I’d take that. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/8 "2020-10-24T23:24:29Z")
Yes, you’re guaranteed to live 5 years if you choose the billion dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/9 "2020-10-24T23:31:30Z")
No, 5 years is just too short. I might accept it if I were a septuagenarian or something. But not when I’m only 32. Something like fifteen years, though, and I might be tempted. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/10 "2020-10-24T23:32:43Z")
I’d accept a couple million to end my life right now. So…yes. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/11 "2020-10-24T23:33:51Z")
I’ll take the billion. I’m 52 and have no kids, so sign me up for a jam packed five years of incredible experiences and a foundation to live on after my death. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/12 "2020-10-24T23:35:38Z")
I’m getting old. I think my kid could do more with a billion than with an old parent, so I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/13 "2020-10-25T00:13:56Z")
At 83, my life expectancy is only about 6 years, so I am in. But if were more than a few years younger, my answer is no way. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/14 "2020-10-25T00:20:19Z")
I’m 38, have friends who love me, and my mother needs me, so no. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/15 "2020-10-25T00:53:18Z")
I’m 71 with metastasized cancer. I’ve been told 3-5 years is what I have. So I’d take the 5 years for a lot less than the billion. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/16 "2020-10-25T01:07:57Z")
I’ll take the deal. I can have a lot more fun with that money in 5 years than I can in the rest of my life no matter how long I live. And I could do plenty of good things for others as well. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/17 "2020-10-25T01:29:46Z")
5 years is too short. To really use the billion I’ll need a couple of years of set up and planning before I’d even get to enjoy it. Maybe with 20 years but no chance if its less than that. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/18 "2020-10-25T01:40:17Z")
Better to die a king than live as a pauper. I’m sure I stole this from someone, but can’t find who. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/19 "2020-10-25T01:48:08Z")
I’m 37. Longevity runs in my family and I’m in good health; I could easily see triple digits. I’m also in a good financial position, such that more money (even a lot more money) wouldn’t much improve my life. And I’m not selfless enough to kill myself in five years to save a bunch of orphans or whatever, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2020, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800/20 "2020-10-25T01:52:00Z")
Not sure I’d go so far as to say I’m waiting to die, but I’m not convinced that my life after 5 years will have much more to show me than it will between now and then (I’m 35). I could have a lot of fun with a billion dollars… maybe? Dunno. Can’t say I feel strongly one way or the other about this one at the moment. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-accept-a-billion-dollars-but-you-die-in-5-years-or-continue-living-your-life-as-it-is-now/923800.md?page=2)