Lump sum.

Put the balance in mainly cash-type investments.

Give some money to charities that I believe in.

Get out of town and put the house up for sale.
Get a new cell phone and number.

Spend the next year or two traveling all over the world.

first dh and i have decided if that ever happened we wouldn't tell a soul...not the kids or grands, but make payments to help out...money changes family. he would however, want to buy a family coumpound, with 5 homes, lol..

next, halve the amount, then refigure. after taxes is what you're looking at. we have a financal advisor thru our credit union, and i'd rather have him help manage my money than give the state interest!

get a lawyer. no matter what anyone says, you need someone who knows the law.

as for giving to nieces and nephews i'd take that 20 grand each, put the lump sum into an account for college...it's drawing interst and they don't blow it all, which kids will do. (and then lets hit uncle for more)

58 is farily young..my mother didn't pass until she was 89...and had serious health issues for the last 5 years...she ended up having to move in with us...we were very lucky she was able to cover her prescriptions, and dr visits...she could't pay her rent and do both. you always have to prepare for the unknown...

i guess reading thru, this sounds selfish, but you asked, lol...

Like you, charity contributions would come off the top. Church, community.

Pay off the kids' mortgage & buy each a new vehicle. Any monthly allotments I set up for my children or g'children would be established in such a way that it would be monthly payments. The g'kids are young enough I'd probably attach a higher learning stipulation (trade school if not college - something above HS). And, because one is already throwing college to the winds (play, not study), I'd add a GPA requirement. Controlling? Maybe....but I wouldn't be willing to unwrite beer parties.

Friends, definitely, would be added to the list. And a few trips, a comfortable retirement.

It's nice to dream from time to time, isn't it?

Good ideas, so far. I didn't specify GK's because I don't have any yet. They'd be taken care of.

For starters, we'd take the lump sum. :-)

The rest would depend (to some degree) on whether the $100 million is the lump sum amount or not. Let's say it was cut in half because of the lump sum and that taxes ate up another half. We'd be down to $25 million.

I would take a million and divide it among friends and family members. Beyond that, we already have a revocable trust set up, which would remain unchanged (it divides our estate by percentages rather than by fixed dollar amounts).

The rest would be for us to retire on. We would buy an RV and travel, I would fish, and DH would farm or build furniture or whatever he wanted to do. Somehow, I think I'd keep working, as I truly love what I do---and I can do it from anywhere!

I forgot to say that we'd give our church 10%. They are in the trust for 20%.

I'd take installments. I'd buy a large new house on property and also a small cottage in a different state (for a get-away). We'd get new vehicles.

DD would get a house and a new car. Siblings would get their homes paid off. Not sure how we could help either of our parents as they are pretty well set up with paid off mortages. Maybe move my Mom and Dad's house to higher ground (they are in a flood plain). My friends would get a amount of about $20,000 each. Not sure about neices/nephews and other relatives. I do have a cousin who could use some financial help.

I'd send large amounts to my favorite charities. I'd also build and fund a no-kill shelter for dogs and cats in my county (there isn't one now).

Last, but not least - I'd rent a big house for a long weekend with my KT pals and we'd have a big party!

At our ages, we'd take the lump sum, contact our lawyer and choose to remain anonymous....no publicity. Only our daughter would know. We'd pay off our mortgage and our daughter's, get her, her hubby and our grandkids new vehicles, pay off the grandkids houses too, then put money in trust funds for the grands and greatgrands. We'd hire a live-in animal sitter when we wanted to travel. Might hire a chauffer too and lawn care. Remaining money would go into bonds most likely.

I don't think you can choose to remain anonymous when you win a large lottery like that. I believe that agreeing to the publicity is a condition of receiving the money.

I'd take the lump sum, and probably buy a new house and new cars. I would help the kids out, and some of the relatives. I would make charitable donations to causes that have meaning to me.

Take the lump sum.
Hire an attorney and financial advisor.
We've actually talked about this at length just for fun.
I have 5 siblings, he has 3. We would take the highest mortgage of all and pay it off...the rest would get theirs paid and be given the balance in cash.
DD would get a brand new house and we would learn to live strictly on the interest: giving ourselves a paycheck.
I would have the attorney write up the account so that both DH & I would have to sign withdrawal slip in order to take out more than the agreed on "paycheck".
I would still live a relatively normal life. (I hope) I have been pretty lucky overall financially. I really don't like "lifestyles of the rich and famous".
Of course charitable donations would be increased as well as my volunteer time.
It sure is fun to dream...Christmas would be a blast!

I would take the lump sum. If you do the installments and you die before it is all paid the balance isn't passed on to survivors.I may be wrong about that but I think it is the way they do it.
Tithes to my Church would come off the top,then I would give to a couple of charities.I would also help out a couple of relatives.
Assuming I am getting the full 100 million.I would give each of my children (4) 1 million and set up a trust for all of my grandchildren (9 of them) with 1 million each. I would build a smaller house (my dream house) in this city for DH and myself with one guest room.I would buy a new vehicle and a motor home (and hire someone to drive it) so that we could visit our kids in OK and NM and still have our own space while there.Maybe do a little traveling to see some places we have always talked about going to.
I would put the balance in investments that could be passed on to my kids without them having to pay too much inheritance taxes when we are gone.

I'd take the annuity. I want the state to support me for the rest of my life.
I'd buy my aunt and uncle's share of the family farm and use some money to fix it up. New fences, corrals, a nice horse barn and arena, etc. I might buy out my meth cooking neighbors just because they annoy me and I'd like them out of the neighborhood.
I'd hire a full time hired man to do the heavy work around the farm. Maybe a family or couple. The wife could clean my mom's and my houses and the husband could do the farm work.
Pay off my parent's and my sister's bills. Set up trust funds for my DD and the nephews and great niece and nephews' college. This may sound mean but brother would have to get rid of his white trash wife and niece her loser boyfriend before I'd help them. I don't mind helping my kin but I'm not supporting a bunch of worthless, trashy losers. I'd help my other niece and her husband buy a house and my nephew and his wife to build a house.
Go on the haunted castle horseback tour of Scotland with DD and her BFF.
Build an nice house
Buy a fancy horse trailer with living quarters and a big truck to pull it. Buy a nice horse to go in said trailer. Take DD and go "See America by Horseback"
Quit my job! Although I'd occasionally volunteer so I could see my friends.
Take DD and see some places around the world.
Send my mom and dad on a Hawaian cruise, something my mom's always wanted to do.

It was in todays Seattle paper. Someone won the lottery in August and formed a private corporation. They sent their attorney to pick up the check. (remaining anonymous)
I would probably do the same thing, you see on TV how the winners are deluged with strangers asking for money.

I would buy everyone in the family a home ( there are a lot of us) pay for all the grandkids to go to college and have trusts made for them as well.

Taxes are going to take at least half of it no doubt, so we'd invest wisely. We'd donate to charities we believe do the best humanitarian thing.

After that .. we would buy huge motor home,a boat,and a cabin in the woods,. We sure would enjoy our remaining years. Not that we haven't ever thought about this LOL! Kathy

I'd give my immediate notice at work. Buy a small farm in the country and build a nice, little house on it with an inground indoor-outdoor pool (after I make sure there is someone in the area that will come and take are of it for me-lol). I'd have a Japanese garden put in the front yard and a large patio/grilling/eating place out back.

This house would have a large kitchen with a little sitting area with an electric or gas stone fireplace where I can sit and read. It would also have a little mini library and office. It would also have a basement to go in stormy weather. Ok, so maybe I want a little bit bigger than a "little" house...

I'd give $1 million to my dad, brothers and three of my closest friends. Put some aside in some type of trust fund for the kids for when they're older. Pay for the college.

I'd give some to certain charities I like and trust. The little town I'm in has been without a swimming pool for a few years now so I'd offer the money to build a simple pool, not the extravagant water park thing they have decided to build and not been able to get the money for.

In the summer while the kids were out of school I'd take them all over the world including Japan to find my mom's family. I would also visit friends and family. I'd also have a huge garden and spend most of my free time working in it. Plant some dwarf fruit trees, maybe open a vegetable/fruit stand on the property.

I'd also invest the majority of it so I wouldn't just waste it all.

I'd probably end up with $50,000,000 - I would take the lump sum.

I'd get my 90 yo mother household help...she is still able to live alone, and still drives a car. I would buy her a new car of her choice.

I'd buy a long-time friend a home of his own and pay off his debts from a failed business.

Donate $1,000,000 to my fire department and the same amount to the HS where I worked 33 years.

Be extremely generous to my many friends and family members.

Donate large sums of money to various charities and to my community.

Finally, something for DH and I...buy that dream home either on Oahu or Maui - right on the ocean.

Also, DH and I would also be traveling - alot!

~Carol~

It looks as though all our dreams are similar. In a way, you're all helping out others and in my opinion aren't the least bit selfish. Everyone is either helping out family, friends, a charity or all three.

As for me, I'd also remain anonymous, hire and attorney and a financial planner/advisor.

I'd take the lump sum. I'd probably go to my pastor and ask how much is left on the mortgage for the sanctuary.

Then I'd talk to my brother about his desire to stay at home with his kids. His wife loves working (she works at a large Methodist church) and would remain doing it, but I think DB would like to be home with the kids until the youngest goes off to college.

I'd also pay for three newphews' college educations and probably reliable cars for those who drive.

I'd then hire assistance for my mother - she can no longer do the daily basics and someone around to assist her would give me peace of mind.

As for me? I'd love to go back to college and finish my master's degree. So, I'd quit my job, volunteer when and where I want and go get my advanced degree.

The rest... invest!

I would pay for college for my kids and all their friends.
Then.......I would find out where the biggest slum lord in the city lived, buy the house next door to him and let the scankiest people I could find live there for free.

I would take the lump sum, pay taxes on it and be down by half at that point and set aside money to pay taxes in the future. I would be sure my children had a nice house close to work that would allow plenty of room for their eventual children. I would pay off son's student loans, our mortgage and buy myself my own car that I don't have to share with anyone and redo our yard and patio. I'd buy my kids a nicer car. No house or car would be overly luxurious, but I might include a maintenance allowance for upkeep of the houses. College tuition would be set aside for each eventual grandchild, including graduate school.

My siblings are all doing well, but I would be sure none of them has any financial needs.

Charitable donations would be something to study. Probably Heart Association and American Cancer Society for starters.

I'd let DH enjoy investing a lot of it unless it became a burden or worry for him to handle. Mostly, I'd keep quiet about it and expect my children to pursue their careers and contribute their time to their communities.

I would study how best to leave money to them in a will or trust, and where else to donate money. I'd have fun helping anonymously where I see need.

I really don't think I'd change much in how I live.

I'd take the lump sum, hire an attorney and accountant. I would buy myself a bigger home here in Ames, a lake house in MN, a small home in Ashland, OR and a condo in Maui. I would give money to my church and various charities here in Ames. I would buy DS a house, car and truck. I would set up a scholarship at the university where I worked in CA and one here at ISU. I wouldn't share with any of my first cousins and I am an only child. My friends and I would have a blast traveling. I would also buy a motor home to travel around in.

I'd do the same as most of you-

Take the lump sum
Build a bigger dream home
Pay off families mortgages
Set up college fund/trust fund for my 2 kids, 2 niece/nephew, 2 godchildren
Have fun picking charities to surprise!

Then after some traveling, shopping, hiring a private masseuse etc...what is next?

I wouldn't know how to deal with all my friends. I'd want to help them all out, but it wouldn't be possible or practical to give them all your money. How much would be enough? And I have a few good friends, but lots of occassional friends and neighbors etc.

That would stress me out too much!

Wow, a lot of us have the same thoughts.

I have greedy rrelatives so I wobder how that would play out. I think too if you "gift" someone with more than $10K they have to pay taxes on it. I would want to make sure all my nieces and nephews could go to college or somehow further their education if needed/wanted. Church, immediate family would be tops to help, but not sure how controlling I want to be (some days VERY dictatorish, others not so much). All I know is "spending" the money mentally is a fun way to fall asleep when I have a slight case of insomnia!!

Vickey-MN

Would definitely take the annuity so that would be in the neighborhood of 3.8 mill a year.

With a good accountant, you should be able to keep at least 80% of that (about 3 mill).

What would I do with that?

1.5 mill would go into long-term, untouchable investments
.75 would go into shorter term savings

that would leave me $750,000 for the year to play around with. Since I love my house and car, I probably would put even most of that money into the bank. Would buy my husband a new vehicle. And might do a few things in the house (stainless steel counters in the kitchen, new shower in the downstairs basement, maybe a screened in porch).

But mostly, my life is very satisfactory just the way it is, I wouldn't be in any kind of rush to make changes. Eventually, I might open a little shop that sold kid's cookbooks, kid-sized cooking utensils, and offered kids cooking classes, but I wouldn't be concerned about making any money at it--just sharing my love of cooking with kids in the area.

Let's see.....

Lump Sum and depending on what was left over after taxes:

I would give a generous donation to the Anti Cruelty Society, Animal Welfare League and to our local zoos.

Then I would give some to family and friends.

Then DH and I would retire.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

I would first figure out just how much money I would have to deal with. I would donate some and then help my children and grandkids. I would pay off my kids homes and set up college accounts for my grandkids. Here in Indiana you can get each family member $10,000 a year without paying taxes on the money. I would do it so Uncle Sam wouldn't get anymore then is necessary. I might set up extra accounts for the grandkids but they would not receive it until later after college. I believe handing a young kid over with a bundle of money is looking for trouble. They would in all likelyhood blow most of it. I want them to be able to appreciate it. Also I would probably help some family members (not all due to them being loosers and would blow it).

We have a wonderful small park that has a water park for kids. I would set up a fund to help keep it up and running along with a fund for paying the water bill each month. I love seeing young kids having a blast..

I would do a few things to our home and hire a yard guy. I strugge with keeping it like I would like it to be. This would be a luxury to me. I would not change alot from what it is now. We are retired and do have it pretty easy due to preparing for these years.. A little extra would always be nice.

There are so many wonderful small things that can be done to help so many. I would do alot that people would not be aware off. You just never know when you yourself will need help...

Susie

I don't think you can choose to remain anonymous when you win a large lottery like that. I believe that agreeing to the publicity is a condition of receiving the money.

It depends on the state that you live in. California, for example, allows you to claim your lottery winnings anonymously. It's one of the few states that allows it, though.

I have 8 siblings -- if I gave each of them 1 or 2 million apiece, I wouldn't have much money left (after taking the lump sum choice, and taxes were taken out). So I'd probably invest the money, and give everyone a yearly gift amount instead out of whatever I'm living off of.

I'd buy a new house.

I'd quit my job in a heartbeat. Probably do some volunteer work one or two days a week to stay busy.

I'd donate money to various charities that I support. And probably set up some scholarships or similar type things of my own.

And I'd travel. A lot.

We'd take the lump sum because who knows how long we would be around. Then we would move to Hawaii. Maybe keep the CA place and go back and forth. At least DS with Autism would be taken care of with a trust of some kind. Forget the family,except my Mom who I would give anything to. Ever since DS was diagnosed the family on both sides have made it clear they want nothing to do with him. One even has his own web page and has pictures of everyone in the family but DS and us. So they wouldn't get a cent. I also would donate to legit organizations that are doing research on Autism and OCD.
Clare