$337 million goes to -- a dork

by **SouthernFriedInfidel** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:08 pm

So this one guy, a railroad engineer in Michigan, wins the $337 million jackpot all by himself the other week. At his press conference, he says he'll do the usual lottery winner stuff: retire, take care of all his close family, get a new house, travel... ya-da ya-da ya-da.

Then this guy -- who had NO reason to think he'd ever have more money than a normal person could spend in a lifetime comes out with this gem:

Donald Lawson wrote:You all think it’s tremendous amount, but I’m kind of pissed at Uncle Sam … you know?

Fer REAL, dude? Even after the income tax, you'll have more money than you could have earned in FIFTY lifetimes on the f-ing rails. How about you just pay your share and go into the sunset happily ever after without whining about paying a big honking tax bill? None of us who still have to work for our bread CARE.

Idiot. :roll:

by **Liv** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 10:12 pm

That's how a lot of lotto winners end up back broke. They don't understand how quickly it can be spent and taxed.

by **SouthernFriedInfidel** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 1:35 am

Liv wrote:That's how a lot of lotto winners end up back broke. They don't understand how quickly it can be spent and taxed.

On a one-time payout, it's only taxed once. After that, it's all your responsibility.

by **Liv** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:16 am

Yes, but you start buying houses, and cars, and there is property tax, car taxes, etc.

Just the sales tax alone on high amount purchases is enough to make my head spin.

Stuff adds up quick...

Don't forget the leaching friends and family.

My plan... win, then move somewhere where no one will find me.

by **SouthernFriedInfidel** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:22 am

Well there you go. If you want MONEY, then you don't BUY a lot of STUFF. Tax problem solved. Duh... :mrgreen:

I had this discussion once with a company director (the one that outsourced me to a couple of Indians, BTW). He said, "So what if you move to Florida to avoid state income tax? The property taxes on a mansion are HUGE there."

I said, "Which is why I would only buy a small condo to live in comfortably. Why would I be stupid enough to put my wealth at risk on such frivolous things as a house with more rooms than I'll ever use, cars I'd be afraid to drive in city traffic and other useless stuff?"

He honestly hadn't thought of it that way. See, this is why I will never win the lottery. God only gives enormous unearned riches to idiots. Part of that "ineffable plan" we keep hearing about, I reckon.

by **Liv** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 11:38 am

I'd buy a nice condo in Cardiff, etc.... as a homebase, then just travel on the rest of it, stopping and settling short-term as seen fit.

by **banzaibob** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:46 am

Sheesh - If I won that kind of money (It'd be in the BILLIONS in my local currency!!!!

), I'd pay my taxes with a whistle and a smile!!!!

by **SouthernFriedInfidel** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:50 pm

I know, right? What is the harm to you in paying taxes on unexpected income? So you don't get the full amount they say you won... Big deal. You still end up richer than you'd ever have any right to dream of.

by **SouthernFriedInfidel** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 3:54 pm

Liv wrote:I'd buy a nice condo in Cardiff, etc.... as a homebase, then just travel on the rest of it, stopping and settling short-term as seen fit.

In this case, I would do a fair number of selfish things, true. But I'd still have millions left over. And in that case, I would definitely look into doing things that would help my community... Set up educational funds to help needy groups, boost funding at forgotten schools, that sort of thing. A world of possibilities open up when you have that sort of cash at hand.