In reply to Ranger50 :
Or found another Koenigsegg, private test strip and all
Come up with a competitor to Jay Leno's Garage, but focus on weird cars nobody really likes. Bugatti? Pshhh, have you heard of the Mercury LN7? WAY more rare.
I bought a ticket on Friday- it was my first lottery purchase, ever. I understand the odds, but that sum of money has gotten so big I started thinking about all of the stuff I could build with it.
I have so many build ideas that I'm viewing it as a sort of "Stop Browsing Craigslist" tax. If I win, I'll build probably none of the ideas I have. I'll pay somebody else to do it.
The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
I'd rather take a bullet. In the groin.
The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
President of what? That is the question...
In reply to The0retical :
Eh I'd settle for mayor of Baltimore, where I could buy low on the west side, purchase Pamlico, convert it into a outdoor concert venue, rallycross (both scca and euro) and autocross venue with restaurant pads, casino and parking. I'd manage to get funding approved by the state for a new rail line.
secretariata said:The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
President of what? That is the question...
Personally I'm running for benevolent dictator of the universe. Then I can start by sorting out Earth one country at a time.
Adrian_Thompson said:secretariata said:The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
President of what? That is the question...
Personally I'm running for benevolent dictator of the universe. Then I can start by sorting out Earth one country at a time.
How are you going to start? America first? Highest population first? Most offensive first? Ladies first, men first?
Come on let me know, otherwise I’ll win and run for benevolent Dictator myself.
frenchyd said:Adrian_Thompson said:secretariata said:The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
President of what? That is the question...
Personally I'm running for benevolent dictator of the universe. Then I can start by sorting out Earth one country at a time.
How are you going to start? America first? Highest population first? Most offensive first? Ladies first, men first?
Come on let me know, otherwise I’ll win and run for benevolent Dictator myself.
I'm going to do it by the people, organizations and programs that piss me off the most. Don't worry, we are pretty close on political outlook so I'm sure you'll be in agreement with my agenda. I will soon be interviewing for both henchmen and minions so sharpen up your crayons and get to work on your CV.
I had the thought last night (not for the first time but verbalized to a couple of car buddies who were over) that I'd want to keep most all of the old junk I drive but have it gone over mechanically to be utterly ridiculous. Beater '98 Altima on steelies? Looks the same but swapped in GTR drivetrain. Hulking Suburban? What will it take for it to run 10's in the 1/4? Meotter gets shipped to FM for some truly ridiculous attention. Passat? I saw an episode of the smoking tire where a dude had a GTI with that VR6 running twin turbos and was conservatively tuned to 700 hp.
Except the hateful Suzuki, it gets crushed.
I was thinking of the flipside of this. With a run-up like this, and people who never play the lotto throwing money at it.... where exactly does the flipside of this go? Presumably some public accounts coffers are going to see a big surplus.
I'm guessing something like this was originally supposed to fund one thing (like education perhaps), but is more likely or not to have been redistributed to 50 other pet projects and who knows what expenditures with their hand out.
It's not like it's a return of principle of everybody's lottery purchases right? What percentage goes to the government (not counting taxes on the winnings)? I'm guessing it's not as profitable for the government as a 50/50 raffle (or is it)?
xflowgolf said:I was thinking of the flipside of this. With a run-up like this, and people who never play the lotto throwing money at it.... where exactly does the flipside of this go? Presumably some public accounts coffers are going to see a big surplus.
I'm guessing something like this was originally supposed to fund one thing (like education perhaps), but is more likely or not to have been redistributed to 50 other pet projects and who knows what expenditures with their hand out.
It's not like it's a return of principle of everybody's lottery purchases right? What percentage goes to the government (not counting taxes on the winnings)? I'm guessing it's not as profitable for the government as a 50/50 raffle (or is it)?
How this usually works is exactly as one would expect from the government. "Lottery profits fund schools" That doesn't mean the schools get (or even should get) more money over and above (or below) whatever budget is set forth. It means the money from whatever gambling is used to fund the schools and thus frees up the general fund for whatever other pet projects might come up.
No idea on what the profit margins are on the lottery, but I assure you this tax on people who are really bad at math (most often the poor) pays plenty to the government and those who operate it.
In reply to Adrian_Thompson :
I for one look forward to our new overlord. I hope you will consider me for the position of henchman if you win.
In reply to Adrian_Thompson :
I’m personally thinking about becoming an evil villain. It sounds so much more freeing.
I think you guys are confusing "billion" with "trillion".
Our government spend $700 Billion per year on ways to destroy other countries, err "defense", that's almost $2 billion a day. $1 billion won't even buy a nation without any natural resources( aka safe from invasion), let alone anything worth while.
Don't get me wrong, I get it. I used to think with lottery money I'd buy a small resource rich nation somewhere, arm it to the teeth, and start taking over other nations, but the bills on fighter jets and defense batteries add up QUICK.
Besides, why take on all the responsibility? It's not like it's Walton, Musk, or Bezos money, money like that could make a difference on a global scale.
It will, on the other hand, buy a couple Narco cocaine submarines and some cruise ships full of hookers.
I do have a challenge related question though, is the $2018 classifieds section considered a "public offering space"? One intrepid lottery winner could buy an assload of fancy high power cars and unload them at challenge prices. Sure it would destroy the spirit of the event, but imagine what some of you crazy fools could do with a ready to run koeniggsegegegeg, a free set of tires, and $1000 left in budget.
In reply to RevRico :
You're thinking about it from the wrong angle, but you're on the right track.
Invest in heavily defense contractor stocks, purchase a small nation with zero national resources, announce in 3-4 years that your country has discovered oil.
Profit...
xflowgolf said:I was thinking of the flipside of this. With a run-up like this, and people who never play the lotto throwing money at it.... where exactly does the flipside of this go? Presumably some public accounts coffers are going to see a big surplus.
I'm guessing something like this was originally supposed to fund one thing (like education perhaps), but is more likely or not to have been redistributed to 50 other pet projects and who knows what expenditures with their hand out.
It's not like it's a return of principle of everybody's lottery purchases right? What percentage goes to the government (not counting taxes on the winnings)? I'm guessing it's not as profitable for the government as a 50/50 raffle (or is it)?
Probably the same thing that always happens when they have any surplus money. Pay Raise.
I'd try to fund the production of a time machine so that I could go back to 1988 and bet the executives at NBC that they won't believe what will happen to their stars Bill Cosby, OJ Simpson and Marv Albert, Then I'd invest the profits from my bets with NBC executives into Apple, Verizon and Comcast stock. I'd also have a rich real estate mogul from NY go hunting with the vice president during the W Bush adminstration.
In reply to captdownshift :
I'd bet you even money the NBC executives already knew all about their fallen stars and were covering for them.
Adrian_Thompson said:frenchyd said:Adrian_Thompson said:secretariata said:The0retical said:Two beers in, cash like that could easily fund a presidential run.
President of what? That is the question...
Personally I'm running for benevolent dictator of the universe. Then I can start by sorting out Earth one country at a time.
How are you going to start? America first? Highest population first? Most offensive first? Ladies first, men first?
Come on let me know, otherwise I’ll win and run for benevolent Dictator myself.
I'm going to do it by the people, organizations and programs that piss me off the most. Don't worry, we are pretty close on political outlook so I'm sure you'll be in agreement with my agenda. I will soon be interviewing for both henchmen and minions so sharpen up your crayons and get to work on your CV.
So assuming you win and I don’t does being your minion pay more than driving school kids around?
<political comment removed by moderator>
ronholm said:xflowgolf said:I was thinking of the flipside of this. With a run-up like this, and people who never play the lotto throwing money at it.... where exactly does the flipside of this go? Presumably some public accounts coffers are going to see a big surplus.
I'm guessing something like this was originally supposed to fund one thing (like education perhaps), but is more likely or not to have been redistributed to 50 other pet projects and who knows what expenditures with their hand out.
It's not like it's a return of principle of everybody's lottery purchases right? What percentage goes to the government (not counting taxes on the winnings)? I'm guessing it's not as profitable for the government as a 50/50 raffle (or is it)?
How this usually works is exactly as one would expect from the government. "Lottery profits fund schools" That doesn't mean the schools get (or even should get) more money over and above (or below) whatever budget is set forth. It means the money from whatever gambling is used to fund the schools and thus frees up the general fund for whatever other pet projects might come up.
No idea on what the profit margins are on the lottery, but I assure you this tax on people who are really bad at math (most often the poor) pays plenty to the government and those who operate it.
Depending on the state, somewhere between 11% to 50% of the sales proceeds go to funding various programs…let’s shoot for the middle and call it 30.5%.
The Fed takes 37% of everything over 500K (600K for married couples filing jointly) and then there’ll most likely be state and local taxes, say 6.5% total so that’s 42% (0.37+(0.63 X 0.065)). Most people don’t report small winnings so the tax revenue will be less…how about 35%.
Adding the two together gets us 65.5% making its way to the government one way or another.
Where Does the Power Ball Money Go?
captdownshift said:I'd try to fund the production of a time machine so that I could go back to 1988 and bet the executives at NBC that they won't believe what will happen to their stars Bill Cosby, OJ Simpson and Marv Albert, Then I'd invest the profits from my bets with NBC executives into Apple, Verizon and Comcast stock. I'd also have a rich real estate mogul from NY go hunting with the vice president during the W Bush adminstration.
The idea of winning 1.6 billion and having to spend or donate all those millions in a honestly worthwhile fashion makes me sick to my stomach.
That would quickly turn into serious work!
Investing it? Why on earth would you want more? As it is you likely will ruin your children’s and family members lives. Who really has experience dealing with that sort of income?
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