re: What would you do if you found $50 million: Serious Edition

Consider this: If you are not someone in show biz or a high profile business person, politician, etc, that can benefit from publicity, why would you want to own a bunch of flashy assets and attract attention?

What happens when you own flashy assets? People notice you, and although attention from the opposite sex might be an incentive (I am assuming your sexual preference to be the opposite sex) there are many disincentives. In addition, those of the opposite sex that might be attracted to you because of flashy assets might simply be gold diggers. They might satisfy a temporary urge but it could be at the cost of a disasterous outcome...maybe a paternity suit? Maybe you wake up with a hangover and a wife who's name you can't remember? Lots of bad things can happen, few good outcomes can be expected.

I have watched the 'new wealthy' from a business perspective. For most of them the result of an inheritence (or sudden success in business) is a big spending spree on luxury items that they really have no need for and subsequently sell for big losses. As an anecdotal observation; those that earned their money through a business venture wasted far less than those who inherited it.

Another problem for the new wealthy is that if they spend big they will invariably attract a lot of groupie buddies of both sexes.

Here is a scenerio that happend to a good friend: He is a biker, owns a large construction company near Chicago, has a large piece of property on the water, big home, lots of bikes, lots of biker friends including famous singers and some movie stars. He dicides to throw a big party for his friends. The first year all went well and several of us helped out at the party. Second year the friends brought friends that my buddy didn't know. Third year friends of friends of friends showed up and it was a disaster. My friend wound up in court defending against two law suits brought be people he did not know but were at the party and claimed injuries. Result: No more parties.

I am not trying to be a wet blanket but I do believe it's best to maintain a relatively low profile. No need to place a big bulls eye on your back.