Buy a house in a gated community, buy a cool ass car, let both my parents retire early and live comfortably. My sister on the other hand is a different story. She is a drug addict big time, I would offer to pay for rehab and make sure she took drug tests and maybe after she got a job and was clean for a year or two then and only then would I help her out but even then a small amount at a time with regular drug testing. I might help out a friend if they really needed it but money does not buy friendships. But of course I would pay for small stuff like going out to eat or ipods or something. I would buy a small cabin in some isolated woods for whenever I felt like being alone and catching up on my reading.
I’d be very stealth about the whole thing, as far as one can do. No photo ops, no interviews, etc. I’d take the cash option, as even a complete moron can make a gigantic amount of money cough up a munificent return per year. Then I’d hire a lawyer and an accountant to manage it for me, with their salaries dependent on how much they grow the money. They fuck it up, they don’t get paid, keeps 'em honest. Every member of my family and my close friends would wake up to find a new car in the driveway with a big old bow on it, and no card–just the title and keys (except for my friend who doesn’t drive–one of those cool electric powered mountain bikes the military uses and an account with a local car service instead.) Mortgages would end up mysteriously paid. I’d get the hundred acre farm in the Willamette valley, or maybe around the Rogue or Illinois river, haven’t quite decided–gotta get the beach house and the loft in the Pearl for when I’m in town… I’d travel a lot, do the bumming around on the Eurail pass vacation, but as Og is my witness I will never fly commercial again, chartered jet all the way, baby! When I need to look into something socially conscious I’ll start businesses and hire runaway teens and such to work for me to teach them some life skills and try to get them straightened out a bit. I’ve always thought an employee run co-op call center would be fun as hell to set up, I’d give that a try. A strip club for really inventive dancers with a thoroughly upscale environment–the kind of place couples would like to go to together. My personal businesses would alternate between the small bookstore and the roach coach–those would be the places I work myself, because the opportunities for social engineering are pretty high in both lines of work.
Many dogs and cats would find a nice place to live, some lucky bastard would land the job taking care of the ranch when I’m not around, no youngster in my family would ever lack for a college education, and quite a few people might find themselves surprised by my will after I die… I would have a lot of fun, I think!
Responsible & Boring
After taking care of the bills, ourselves and kids and the family first, I would set up accounts for all of our friends children for college and an IRA.
I would reinvest enough of the capital to insure that not only will I never have to work again;worry about health care and my Golden Years, but so that my great-great grandchildren never have to as well ( but never have them turn out like Paris Hilton.)
I would donate a chunk to their school(s) in exchange that the parents in the schools are never asked again to do fundraising of any kind during my children’s time there.
A huge chunk would go to MDA for support of caretakers.
I would donate loads to the arts and chess team in schools. Cause Nerds and Band Geeks are people too.
A Little More Interesting, yet still Bland
I would set up scholarships in our area for college and trade schools.
I would set up a national scholarship for college and trade schools for rural kids. ( The innercity kids seem to get all the grants, scholarships and attention . Farm kids need help too.)
I’d try to set up some kind of roving art exhibit in a semi or something to bring the culture to the smaller communities. Maybe something with music and orchestra stuff as well and successful real people ( not celebrities, CEO’s and whatnot) to do speaking engagements at high schools.) Cause, yanno, most of America is not in the hood.
I’d donate a huge chunk to my library & NPR. because without them my life would be sterile.
I would support a local organic co-op.
** Now We’re Getting Somewhere**
I’d buy myself a biodiesel truck/car (whatever is the largest to suit my needs and perverse desire to flaunt.)
Probably build a new house that is entirely solar powered, geo thermal, wind power. It would have an indoor pool too. With a slide.
Now We’re Cooking.
I’d get me some tummy tucking, liposuction and microdermabrasion. Maybe for all my friends too.
I’d get myself a cool dog ( American Mastiff is back in the #1 slot for what I would like as of today.) and donate a shitload to a variety of doggie rescues local as well as Noah’s Wish.
Bingo
I’d do loads of traveling and hire a tutor to come along so the kids won’t miss out on schooling while they get a real education.
Out There Like Farking Pluto
I would hire the Rolling Stones & U2 ( and a few others) for a personal concert for me and my inner circle.
Outside of all the regular pay off bills and stuff…
Home
I always liked the idea of converting an old missle silo into a home. sadly all the missle silos that have come for sale are in the middle of nowhere America. Yawn.
I’d find a piece of land not far away from a major city and build a fake missle silo. That or a geo-dome house. 
I’d also like a large greenhouse as my office and as a place for my parrot to live (perhaps he’ll get a mate).
work
I start a business or two. Perhaps a coffee shop, a club, a music store or a pet store that works with local animal shelters. I might consider opening another computer store.
music
I’d start a record label and music studio.
cars
I’d find a few old British sports cars and restore them. I’d like to convert an old Midget into a hybrid or full electric car - just because.
crazy shit
I’d build a monkey reserve. I’d take in monkeys that people thought would make good pets but needed to get rid of them when they realize they don’t.
Well, back to work I guess. Anyone here from Oregon? And feeling generous? 
:smack: Why did I think the top bracket was 39%? Just a pessimist, I suppose.
Okay, but don’t be like this guy.
There is an old factory site near here that had a massive clean up from generations of toxic sludge dumped all over.
I’ve always wanted to open a big ass bar; Mr. Goob’s Toxic Dump.
On site brewery, lots of dartboards, 50 different taps down the wall and an apartment upstairs for me to crash at. So what if it loses money it’d be damn fun.
Then I’d start talking about buying the Buffalo Bills after the 84 year old owner Mr. Wilson makes it possible…
I would put a hundred mil in the bank, let that collect interest (which should give me a good $3-$5 million a year depending on my strategy) and, after buying a modest house (I don’t want a mansion), and a cool car or two, I would simply do utterly insane, eccentric millionaire type stuff. What that stuff is right now, I don’t know, but you could have a lot of fun blowing through $50 or $60 million. Plus do some charitable work along the way, of course. I don’t see any reason to stockpile so much money.
However, I sometimes wonder if I would actually be able to handle such a life-changing event. I mean, to all of a sudden inherit a couple hundred million dollars in wealth would take some serious readjusting. I think everything would feel surreal for quite awhile, before my mind really begins coping with what just had happened. I’m not exactly sure whether I’d welcome such a sudden change of wealth. 'Course, I wouldn’t exactly refuse it.
Wow…all the possibilities.
First I’d set my parents up with a house and a couple boats down in the Caribbean somewhere (they are obsessed) and give them enough money so they don’t have to work. My brother gets a house and a couple cars wherever he wants too. And some money so he can buy a garage and start up a business like he wants. The rest of the family (lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) all get the same amount, like maybe 15K each or something. Grandma gets a new car and condo, even though she can easily afford it. Then she can use all her money for traveling like she likes.
Then I’d buy all my really close friends (like 5 people) a nice house and a new car (no Ferrari’s or million dollar mansions or anything, but things way out of our usual range, we’re all 19-21 so this would be waaay helpful, considering we are all broke college students). I’d give some other good friends (like 6-8 people) maybe like 10K each to help them with bills and stuff. And maybe buy some things. Whatever they want to do with it.
Then I’m donating millions to American Cancer Society, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Oxfam/Red Cross/whatever, my university, the list goes on.
Then I would buy a bunch of sweet electronics and stuff, and all the DVDs and CDs and records I’ve been wanting but never have any money to buy. New computer, new iPod, plasma TVs, everything.
Then my ass is off to buy a sweet flat in the ritzy part of London and a house with a huge dock in Grand Cayman or somewhere warm and pretty. Fill those houses with my toys, expensive linens and furnishings, the works. Maybe I’ll go back to school when I get bored. Or I’ll start a record label, own a record store, open a concert club and pay the bands I like good money to play there, open a sweet pizza place with my best friend like we’ve been wanting.
I would just do WHATEVER I WANTED and it would be AMAZING. And I’d feel good being able to set up and/or help my family and friends. And I know none of them would complain if I flew them out to one of my places a couple times a year…haha.
Shriek. Go giddy with glee. Dance around wildly like it’s nobody’s business.
Then realize I’m not an American citizen so I’m probably not entitled to any of the winnings. 
You got hockey back and you want to win Powerball too? My, isn’t someone greedy.
I’d hire a lawyer right away to draw up a trust to collect the winnings in order to shield my identity. Then I’d take about 5 M and put it in an irrevocable trust for my benefit where I can’t touch the principal.
Then I’d go visit some former girlfriends in my new Ferrari.
Well, you know the regular stuff…
I’d buy a club/lounge named, Paris Can’t Come In. It would have a fishtank floor and waterfall walls. DJ AM would spin and daily drinks would be concocted. Celebrity chefs would come in each Friday to spice up the night. Dancers would swing from the rafters and woman and men would swim in the walls behind the bar. (sounds pretty fiesty huh?)
Then I’d stand outside and laugh when Miss Hilton attempted to come in. I would point to the lounge’s nameplate, at which point a group of midgets would surround PH and begin pointing and laughing. Yes, that sight would be worth 300 million dollars.
Man, does she suck or what?
Besides that? I’d have to think about it a little bit.
Possibly, it is a phrase I have been known to use; a search on the key words skulls and blood with my username gives no results other than this thread, though.
I’d buy myself a nice brownstone in Park Slope, that’ll go for a cool $2-3 mil. Provide for my parents retirements, and my MIL’s too. All my nieces and nephews get trust funds and educations paid in full. Then it’s time for the fun stuff.
The Mrs. is involved in Broadway, so investing in a play or musical would be very interesting, and she’d get to work on it too, put her own stamp on the project. Vacation homes are a must, I may go for a place on Sunset Beach in NC.
I’d open up a store down the street from my house, maybe sell italian ices and other summery treats in warm weather, and hot chocolate and other wintery treats when it’s cold. Then I could work a few days a week dishing out sweets. It could be really fun and festive, with low prices for good quality stuff. I wouldn’t have to care about it being profitable, as long as it doesn’t completely tank.
I’d also spend as much time as possible on a cruise ship, I think the first one would be to the Galapagos, that would be awesome!