I need to interupt the trip down Flea Market Lane here to let you know that one of the biggest loto (lottery) wins in European lottery history happened here in tiny Venelles last week.
15 of our 8,000 villageois pooled together to buy the winning ticket in our little tabac and won 100 million euros. That’s 147 million dollars, give or take a million depending on the day’s exchange rate.
Rumors are flying left and right about who it is. Since it was 15 people (as reported on the national news) the candidates would have to work in a larger company or business, which are not that numerous here. My mischeivous antique dealer buddy Colette told me it was the butchers. But then the green grocer told me it was the gendarmes.
Since the news, I have been trying to think of what I would do with my share of it, 10 mill, or even if I won the whole thing myself. It’s a good exercise, but not that easy to do, actually. I think I need to meditate on it some more.
Meanwhile, I stumbled upon this image and it made me think of my musings. I’d have to get myself one of these:
I don’t know exactly where this is, but a guess is Italy. A link to the fellow responsible for getting it online is all I can provide.
So, what would you do with 147 million dollars?
I would buy a property in Provence and open a bed and breakfast.
And go on a wild shopping spree.
I would first, pay the taxes on the money so I could sleep at night, second, carve out an endowment for those charities I consider valuable to society so that a gift could be ongoing, not just one shot, and third, learn enough about large scale investing to grow the money to continue the ability to share and pay for my family’s lifestyle and have a capital investment for future generations. Oh ya, and what she said about the house in Provence for sure!! : >
The first two comments nailed it on the head. I might add this:
I’d pay off all my family’s morgages, and take my three daughters with me to a fat farm for two weeks. Then a stop at our favorite dress shops.
Have fun,
cindy@stitches
I would buy properties in: Paris, Provence, and San Francisco. I would help out family and treat my friends to some fabulous experiences. And I would spend a lot of my time working for people in dire need and some causes dear to my heart. Maybe I would make a short movie or a documentary. And I would have the most fabulous life. I should also mention that my wardrobe would be phenomenal. And I would have a private cook, and definitely an assistant. And I would do a rockin’ yoga class at least three times a week.