So you win the lottery.

[indecks]

But it's a 'modest' lottery. After taxes and whatnot, you get something like 5 million bucks. What would you do with it?

I like to think I'd be modest about it. I'd pay off my house, right off the bat. Not even an option for discussion. Boom. Paid. I'd probably get a new car, mine is 12 years old but still kicking along. I would like something newer though, but I would probably stick with Honda. Maybe get a little truck too.

I'd also maybe build a new house, because I'd finally love to have an actual dedicated "man cave" or even just a standard game room. But one way I would kinda go all out is - a home theater. A real, awesome friends-come-over-and-watch-movies home theater with all the bells and whistles. It would be awesome.

[Jmustang1968]

Pay off all debt.
Set up college fund for my daughter, niece and nephews.
Pay for my brothers college.
Aggressively invest some of it and conservatively invest another portion.
Help family with debts/housing
Buy a new house.
Buy a daily driver vehicle so I can keep the roush as a weekend car
Fully restore my 68
Probably buy a few more classic muscle cars
Do some traveling.

[Luke]

Pay off the house, put the rest in an aggressive savings account. Dumb math says $5Millionusd in the right account would payoff around $150Kusd (before taxes) in interest alone per year.

After a few years I would consider investments, and also would purchase a George Washington signed document for my Father. And of course, I would go nuts with my philanthropy efforts; you spend it, you get almost all of it back.

I know it's been said before by a bunch of liars, but I would live the same life I already live. No stupid show off cars, no change in attire (I would purchase more cuff links, I admit), no change in personality, no waste of my winnings.

[fastbilly1]

.5 mil split to our four churches (well our two and my wife's parents two - the latter two are small country churches [30ish in attendance on most Sundays]).
1 mil to the bank
1 mil to pay off my immediate family's houses, cars, debts. The bulk of which would go to rebuying the inlaws farm which was sold years ago.

That leaves me with 2.5 mil to piss away. So I would buy the nearby abandoned Penske plant and convert it into a production house. That way I can have a job I enjoy, and not live to far away from it, and wouldnt have to worry about money if it flops.

[indecks]

@JMustang -

I know this is probably a dumb question: But you have a 68 Mustang?

Is it a Fastback?! My dad rebuilt a 68 Fastback and I got to drive it to school for a couple of months. Candyapple red, originally had a 351 Windsor in it, but the pistons were cracked so my pops replaced it with a standard 302. It was a SWEET car for a 17 year old kid. I had THE slickest car in school for two months, I got so much attention from girls but that was it. Just attention, lol. He ended up selling it to pay off some property taxes.

[Phades]

I'd set aside $1 mil for paying off my house and having some fun. The remaining $4mil I'd invest and live off the returns. That would allow me to retire and start my hobby store to keep me busy.

[MrPopo]

Pay off the house, put the rest in an aggressive savings account. Dumb math says $5Millionusd in the right account would payoff around $150Kusd (before taxes) in interest alone per year.

This. I'd use the interest "salary" to support myself at my current standard of living and retire. Then I can spend my days playing video games and hanging with my kitties.

[Hobie-wan]

Mostly the same. Some nicety for my parents. Some nicety for an old friend that helped me out when I needed it. Get myself into a house. Have a nice vacation, throw a big party for friends, or some combination of the two. Get a nice Meyers Manx and a 70s Honda CB in the 300-400 cc range. Then invest and find something I'd much rather be doing with my time.

[indecks]

Been waiting for the obligatory "Two chicks at the same time." from Office Space.

[Luke]

This. I'd use the interest "salary" to support myself at my current standard of living and retire. Then I can spend my days playing video games and hanging with my kitties.

I'll never understand why people who win the lottery don't just stay put for ONE year. And I low balled the interest figure. Pay your taxes, and let your money make you money. Don't be an idiot and you and your family's lives will be set.