What would you do with a quarter of a billion dollars? / LJWorld.com

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Asked at Checkers Food Store, 23rd and Louisiana streets. on August 20, 2009

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“Buy a sports team.”

— Matt Hunter, business major, Charlotte, N.C.

“Buy my girls a house, buy me a house … and go to Cancun.”

— Cindy Wingebach, homemaker, Eudora

“Set my kids up a college fund.”

— Rachel Cheek, stay-at-home-mother, Lawrence

“Much of that would go to philanthropic endeavors … help make the world greener.”

— Pat Wakeman, teacher, Tonganoxie

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LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

H_Lecter (anonymous) says…

Space tourist
August 20, 2009 at 3:13 a.m.
asbury (anonymous) says…

Whatever I wanted....
August 20, 2009 at 5:37 a.m.
Informed (anonymous) says…

I'm with asbury!
August 20, 2009 at 5:41 a.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

Buy a top hat, a monocle, a cigar, a tuxedo and walk around all day laughing out the side of my mouth.

Oh and I might be able to afford a beer at Arrowhead.
August 20, 2009 at 6:39 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

World peace.
August 20, 2009 at 6:51 a.m.
grammaddy (anonymous) says…

Houses for the kids, college funds for the kids and grandkids,and then I'd invest in a wind farm.
August 20, 2009 at 7:15 a.m.
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…

I'd give every living American over the age of 18 a chainsaw to help them get ready for the zombie plague.
August 20, 2009 at 7:15 a.m.
tkeagleblog (anonymous) says…

Fix up my 69 GTO, and 72 Cutlass.
August 20, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

pay up tuition and fees for the princess all the way through law school...then go get some beer. Buy the Freestate and let prospector run it.
August 20, 2009 at 7:29 a.m.
canyon_wren (anonymous) says…

I would quit my part-time job and stay home all the time, but I doubt that I would change my lifestyle much--just not having to work would be the nice change. I would undertake some of the house improvements I have had to put off so far. I know I would take some interesting trips to Europe, but not be gone very long, as I like so much just to be home. I would probably take that Silver and Blue all-inclusive train trip across Canada.

I would try to figure out how to put it into some savings plan that wouldn't collapse, and then use it to do good things for people as I saw opportunities. I certainly would settle for far less than $250 million--I could accomplish everything I would like to do with about $250,000!
August 20, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.
alm77 (anonymous) says…

First things first, I'd take a nap. Probably one of the most peaceful naps ever because there would be no more tossing and turning with worry. THEN, I'd give to charity, do the college funds, buy a bigger house and we'd travel the world.
August 20, 2009 at 7:32 a.m.
ksdivakat (anonymous) says…

I would donate at least 10% to various charities and then after that, whatever I wanted!
August 20, 2009 at 7:34 a.m.
smitty (anonymous) says…

Quit counting my money when I enter my favorite restaurant to see how hungry I am.

Pay close attention to family and friends that are around now vs the week before. Do not donate to them.

Get a bigger coffee can to bury.
August 20, 2009 at 7:38 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Quarter of a billion dollars? Well, first, I'd try to give most of it away before charitable contributions are no longer tax deductable and then I'd go buy Prospector's fishing hole and associated land live like a king for life.
August 20, 2009 at 7:43 a.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

The lump sum payment would reduce the total to around $74 million. I would be able to go from full time to part time employment. Maybe be a Walmart greeter.... and a new paint job on the Focus....
August 20, 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
Clickker (anonymous) says…

Present value is 1/2 of the value, Obama takes the other half....so the question is what would I do with $60 million?
August 20, 2009 at 8 a.m.
trinity (anonymous) says…

vertigo would you be burgess meredith as the penguin, or mr. peanut? :) just wonderin'...
August 20, 2009 at 8:02 a.m.
artichokeheart (anonymous) says…

I don't have to think about it the people in my life will know exactly where it needs to be spent.
August 20, 2009 at 8:07 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

Bob, if you bought the fishing hole, would you also buy some fish to put in the hole? We need to give thing another whirl before the ice sets in...
August 20, 2009 at 8:12 a.m.
cthulhu_4_president (anonymous) says…

"What would you do with a quarter of a billion dollars?"
-------------------------------------------
Half as much as I would do with a half of a billion.
August 20, 2009 at 8:13 a.m.
HW (anonymous) says…

How could this have been asked on August 20, 2009. The first comment was at 3:13 a.m. and there is way too much sunlight in the photos to have been taken between midnight and 3:00 a.m. Just curious.
August 20, 2009 at 8:13 a.m.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

August 20, 2009 at 8:17 a.m.
zettapixel (anonymous) says…

I'd turn it into a billion dollars.
August 20, 2009 at 8:19 a.m.
Liberty_One (anonymous) says…

I would buy the ljworld and spread lies about my enemies....
August 20, 2009 at 8:25 a.m.
HW (anonymous) says…

Phog

One of the greatest movies ever. Priceless. Now I will be thinking of quotes from that movie all day.
August 20, 2009 at 8:25 a.m.
gphawk89 (anonymous) says…

Quit my job.

Give enough to my family that they'd be set for life.

Funny, I was just thinking about this part the other day. I'd grant a large amount to my hometown. Fix up the schools, the gym, the football field and track. Lots of houses and some businesses in general disrepair that could be cleaned up. And it would create a few jobs along the way. I guess it would be my own little economic stimulus package.

Invest the rest and enjoy life for a while.
August 20, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
salad (anonymous) says…

Cancun??? Seriously Cindy? You have $250 million and the best you can do is Cancun??? Wiskey Tango anyone?
August 20, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
riverat (Joe Hyde) says…

I'd make a list of relatives, best friends, plus favorite supervisors and co-workers from all the places I've ever worked in my life, then split my win with all of 'em equally.
August 20, 2009 at 8:38 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

A .50 cal Barrett and lots of ammo.

And a private gasoline stash.
August 20, 2009 at 8:40 a.m.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…

I actually was thinking about this last night, except it was only $25 million.
I would set up a college fund for my kids, and future grandkids. Also set up college funds for my nieces and nephews, and other members of my family. Give money to my retired folks and buy a new house in the country. Then I would donate my time to charity, and to my favorite pursuits. Buy season tickets for all KU teams. I could definitely go to school full time.
And I would buy a beach house somewhere.
August 20, 2009 at 8:41 a.m.
TheJokerObama (anonymous) says…

Fund a few more indian casinos to make more money off of the white man.
August 20, 2009 at 8:44 a.m.
igby (anonymous) says…

Leave this tax hungry welfare state of backwards thinking mutated half liberal-republican morons and look for a place where American, has moved too. Texas?
August 20, 2009 at 8:47 a.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

"Fund a few more indian casinos to make more money off of the white man" for the white men that manage those casinos.
August 20, 2009 at 8:52 a.m.
Practicality (anonymous) says…

I would buy up the 900 block of Mass. Street and put a Sams Club on one side and a Wal-Mart on the other, then sit back and listen to the whinning while at the same time revitalize the downtown district.

Oh, and I would also hire a security force like Marion, except mine would be the entire production of the Re-enactment of Gettysburg and have 30000 civil war era actors marching throughout Lawrence firing rifiles and cannon filled with blanks.
August 20, 2009 at 9:21 a.m.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…

I would buy some pimpin rims for the Lumina, man, then make it rain like Pac-man Jones.

In seriousness...I would hire a good lawyer before I let anyone know I won, then donate all but $10-20 million of it to worthy charities and to the Biology and History departments of my Alma Mater. I would then move to New Zealand.
August 20, 2009 at 9:22 a.m.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…

I would also buy billboard space on each side of all Wal-Marts reminding people to look at the label and buy American.
August 20, 2009 at 9:24 a.m.
mjwgoku (anonymous) says…

Buy out Lew Perkins contract
August 20, 2009 at 9:28 a.m.
sunshine_noise (anonymous) says…

Set up a college fund for my grandson. Buy a house and a new car. Quit my job and put enough money away to support me for the rest of my life so I don't ever have to work again. Then I'd take 1/2 and create a way to get the homeless off the street and rehabilitate them into society to function at whatever level they are capable. That has always been my dream.
August 20, 2009 at 9:43 a.m.
prospector (anonymous) says…

It would make it hard to find time to wet a line and drink Free State beer. A fall preparation meeting is in order very soon.

Fund a bunch of research and go on a perpetual road trip looking for places to leave it where I thought it would do some good. I would stay close enough to the trade routes to maintain my Free State supply.
August 20, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
coolmom (anonymous) says…

college/living funds for my family and friends, donate to kid charities and the special olympics and start an inclusive housing development for special needs people to live and work at so they have a community of peers. and have more dogs.
August 20, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
charliejohnson (anonymous) says…

Exactly how much is that? I can't even picture it in my mind. !st, I would be sitting on the front row at Allen Fieldhouse. I don't know about the rest. I kind of like the idea of traveling around and leaving money to people who made some kind of impact on me. I would go to France(cause ya know I'm French). College for my grandkids.
August 20, 2009 at 10:04 a.m.
CrazyDiamond (anonymous) says…

Phogfan86,
Is that about how much it would take to get 2 chicks to double up on a dude like you?
August 20, 2009 at 10:18 a.m.
Sagecasey (Troy Taylor) says…

Invest it and try to turn it into $250 million dollars
August 20, 2009 at 10:42 a.m.
thetagger (anonymous) says…

They got a special down at the Taco Mat. 250 million tacos for 250 million bucks. I'm gonna get that.
August 20, 2009 at 10:47 a.m.
75x55 (anonymous) says…

Since I'm not the government, I'd spend the rest of my life giving as much of it as possible away.

Or however long it took for the government to figure out a way to take it all first.
August 20, 2009 at 10:52 a.m.
riverdrifter (anonymous) says…

Villa near Rome; estate replete with grouse, pheasant & a salmon stream in Scotland. Large sailboat in the Greek Isles. Gulfstream 150 to get around to all.
Back to work...
August 20, 2009 at 11:04 a.m.
beatrice (anonymous) says…

I can tell you something I wouldn't do ever again -- dust and vacuum.
August 20, 2009 at 11:35 a.m.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…

Is the lotto this big or something? Do I need to buy a ticket?
August 20, 2009 at 12:15 p.m.
MaryKatesPillStash (anonymous) says…

The drawing was last night; someone in South Carolina won it.
August 20, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
Newell_Post (anonymous) says…

I'd probably just keep running my business until it was all gone...
August 20, 2009 at 1:51 p.m.
Sigmund (anonymous) says…

Wine, women, and song. The rest I would just squander.
August 20, 2009 at 1:52 p.m.
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

August 20, 2009 at 1:52 p.m.
misterlee (anonymous) says…

Buy a new house and some old cars, travel some, and then go back to school and finish my degree.
August 20, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.
kateku (anonymous) says…

First I'd call Dave Mattern (not even sure he's still in the investment biz) and make his career... then I'd pay off my student loans, give nice lump sums to my family and friends, buy a building at KU to be named after someone special and then semi-retire to Boston. I'm still pretty young (28) so full retirement just doesn't seem right, but it would be nice to go to work knowing that you were just there for the enjoyment and to accomplish things... maybe with that kind of money I could find a way aound office politics?!?
August 20, 2009 at 2:02 p.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

I'd make myself a bionic spine replacement.
August 20, 2009 at 2:18 p.m.
bswen (anonymous) says…

I'd keep a few million for my family and give the rest to the E.O. Wilson Biological Diversity foundation which needs 50 billion dollars to buy enough land to preserve at least 20% of the planet's species before they die out.

http://www.eowilson.org/
August 20, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
honeychild (Mel Briscoe) says…

i'd get the stuff i've always wanted for myself, my family and extended family. i would help alot of people, most of which would be anonymously. i would buy myself a fancy schmancy espresso machine and a new pair of sneakers.
August 20, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

Trinity-

A mixture of both. The Penguin is too evil and Mr Peanut is too nice. I'm thinking more along the lines of Futurama's Bender when Fry became rich.

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/esquire%2...

http://bendergetsmonocle.ytmnd.com/

Did I also mention that I will carry my money around in white cloth bags with the $ sign on it?
August 20, 2009 at 3:01 p.m.
Dazie (Aileen Dingus) says…

Pay off debt, donate to charity, buy family houses, finish my degree, put some away for kids' college, go to Fiji. I may come back from Fiji. Maybe. ;)
August 20, 2009 at 3:04 p.m.
trinity (anonymous) says…

put new siding on the trailer. maybe new windows too. build a big garage. buy up a case of marlboro lights.

LOL whiskey tango dreams! :)
August 20, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

"I'd keep a few million for my family and give the rest to the E.O. Wilson Biological Diversity foundation which needs 50 billion dollars to buy enough land to preserve at least 20% of the planet's species before they die out. "

Is that some sort of pyramid scam?
August 20, 2009 at 3:11 p.m.
denak (anonymous) says…

I would spread it out and roll around in it, laughing and crying hysterically.
August 20, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.
bswen (anonymous) says…

Original Bob: No.
August 20, 2009 at 3:37 p.m.
LarryNative (anonymous) says…

Invest in tax free muni's and live off the interest and pass the principle amount on to my children when I die.
August 20, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.
merrill (anonymous) says…

1. Replace older existing homes with Energy Star homes.

2. Open up store fronts downtown for :

*Medicare Insurance for All - HR 676

*Sierra Club,

*Greenpeace

*Union of Concerned Scientists

3. Open an account - " Lawrence Neighborhood Defense Fund"

4. Set up college fund accounts for children and grandchildren

5. Keep back a couple million for a never ending second honeymoon...on bicycles and trains.

6. Set up a Lawrence,Kansas Defense Fund to sponsor
green thinking fiscally responsible candidates for City and County commissions. Time to stop reckless spending, irresponsible user fee increases and irresponsible tax increases.
August 20, 2009 at 4:20 p.m.
kujayhawk (anonymous) says…

Quit work.

Set up college funds.

Buy a nicer house and a few more homes.

Buy nicer cars.

Buy a couple of toys.

Take care of some friends and family.

Donate a bunch of it to the humane society.

Travel.

And try to keep my kids from becoming spoiled brats.
August 20, 2009 at 4:47 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier today..but I would bail all my cousins, and Multi's cousins, and Roe's cousins, and TOB's cousins..out of jail. That alone would probably eat up half the net.
August 20, 2009 at 5:56 p.m.
Satirical (anonymous) says…

Buy a piece of bubble gum. Because after Obama's out of control spending on things like ObamaCare occurs and hyperinflation results, that is all 250 million will buy.
August 20, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…

buy the whole city of Lawrence and re enact Quantrill's raid
August 20, 2009 at 6:21 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

Autie - If you bust your cousins out, they'll just want a cut of your money. Leave them in the big house (and mine too).
August 20, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

Shoot fire Bob, that would blow my whole theory over on another thread...We'd get em out but just wouldn't tell them where we lived or go noodling.
August 20, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

plus, it would make grandma real happy.
August 20, 2009 at 6:44 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

You all keep talking about going somewhere....
If I had that kind of money and wanted Fiji, I'd just have it delivered....
August 20, 2009 at 7:29 p.m.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…

"Shoot fire Bob, that would blow my whole theory over on another thread…We'd get em out but just wouldn't tell them where we lived or go noodling."

Trust me, long lost cousins will always find you. One side of my family is from the Ozarks. Their tracking skills would put to shame the best DNA test.
August 20, 2009 at 7:50 p.m.
scott3460 (anonymous) says…

I'd buy lots and lots of land along the proposed SLT, stock it with endangered species and "No Tresspassing" signs, then spend my days driving up and down 23rd Street during rush hours
August 20, 2009 at 7:57 p.m.
mrjcg2 (anonymous) says…

Give my house and cars away, and travel the world with a very well stocked money card.
August 20, 2009 at 8:01 p.m.
George_Braziller (anonymous) says…

It's all rhetorical. It's not going to happen so why waste time wondering about it?
August 20, 2009 at 8:11 p.m.
smitty (anonymous) says…

Why not?

I'd buy George his happy medicine for life.
August 20, 2009 at 9:19 p.m.
pace (anonymous) says…

I would form a corporation to build and market accessible houses and apartments. It would include remodeling older stock. I also would start a clothing business where the stripes would be vertical and a furniture business where the chairs and sofas would have height and firm seats. I would probably buy a new mixer.
August 20, 2009 at 9:22 p.m.
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (anonymous) says…

Whirled piece.

( and spelling lessons for Ret )
August 20, 2009 at 10:34 p.m.
lctchr1 (anonymous) says…

We're being invaded by zombies? Holy Crap!
August 20, 2009 at 10:54 p.m.
gphawk89 (anonymous) says…

One of the 1969 ZL1 Corvettes. Heck, I'd buy both of them in case I wrecked one.

And a AAR Barracuda. And a '71 Hemi Cuda in case I wrecked the AAR.

And a '69 Yenko Camaro in case I wrecked my '68 SS396.

And a few others. And a big garage. And the biggest Snap-on tool set you've ever seen.
August 21, 2009 at 6:08 a.m.
Gootsie (anonymous) says…

First, I'd have to be a man for this to work.

I'd grow a big white beard and a funky tie-dye hat. Then I'd get front row seats to KU football and dance around the whole game, then get engaged to a young college girl and hang around campus all the time.

wait - that's taken. Never mind.
August 21, 2009 at 6:34 a.m.
Kris_H (anonymous) says…

I'd buy all the remaining undeveloped land in NE Kansas and make sure it stays undeveloped, except for the houses I'm going to build and maintain for myself and my friends. Nobody I know now would ever go unhoused and/or hungry again.
August 21, 2009 at 7:03 a.m.
BrianR (anonymous) says…

Probably give most of it away. Of course, giving this much money away would be time comsuming so I wouldn't continue to work either.
August 21, 2009 at 7:53 a.m.
bondmen (anonymous) says…

Counter the inordinate influence and power of George Soros and Warren Buffett and help elect an American President.
August 21, 2009 at 8:35 a.m.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…

I would not be posting on here.
August 21, 2009 at 8:35 a.m.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…

I'd buy a few of those front row tickets to allen fieldhouse.
what a deal!
August 22, 2009 at 2:07 a.m.
puddleglum (anonymous) says…

then i would buy up all of the wal-marts and close them
August 22, 2009 at 2:10 a.m.
JJE007 (anonymous) says…

I'd buy as much contiguous land as I could afford, some classic fire sticks and WMD!~)
August 22, 2009 at 8:14 a.m.
coolmom (anonymous) says…

iguanas and margaritas for the island in case anyone wanted to know the fantasy one lol.
August 22, 2009 at 10:15 a.m.