Could you use $640 million?

So do you have your ticket? You KNOW what I'm talking about. Of course, it's tonight's Mega Millions jackpot worth $640 million. I love to play the lottery when the jackpot gets big like this. I play for one reason only....to FANTASIZE about what I would do if I won. I guess I also play to win the darn thing too, so that's two reasons. But the fantasy aspect is WORTH $5 to me.

The fantasy includes where I would like to travel first, because traveling is my true love in life. It also includes helping out my family and friends as well as setting up a charitable giving trust to help people in need. I don't think I'd want to go out and buy a bunch of houses. Naw...if I want to go somewhere, it makes more sense to rent. Then you can just walk away when you want. Don't get me wrong, I WOULD buy a nice house and maybe a condo in Florida.

What else...quit my job? Believe it or not, no. At least not right away. I have too much fun doing this. What I hate reading are those people who say, "I'm not going to change my life at all if I win." I say, then WHY play?

Another thing I would do, is hire SEVERAL financial money managers and accountants. Definitely not just one. You need a few so they can keep an eye on each other. How many stories have you read about a money manager defrauding a client out of a lot of money. Lots. Plus, they could set things up so that I wouldn't even touch the principle of the money, and just live off the interest income.

If you know me, you know one extravagance I simply would HAVE to buy. A really fast sports car. Possibly a Ferrari, or a really fast Mercedes coupe. But I would not buy a fleet of cars. Again, there are places to rent exotic cars, so why buy?

One really cool thing would be to walk around and surprise people. Like the guy asking for money at the side of the road. Give him a couple of hundred bucks. Or the lady with four screaming kids at the grocery store checkout...pay for her groceries. It would be fantastic to see the smiles after doing things like that...unexpectedly.

Good luck if you are playing. I'm thinking one person won't win. I'm thinking it's going to be several winners tonight and probably at least one or two of the winners will be people who pooled their money together to buy tickets. We'll know tomorrow morning. Have a great weekend.

Will Johnson

[photo courtesy of yomanimus]