Another Entry for the "When You Have More More Money Than Sense" File

Just in case you want to see how the billionaires blow their wads: The world's most expensive homes, from (naturally) Forbes.com. See how you can blow through $155 million for a ski lodge in Aspen or $100 for a waterfront mansion in Istanbul. There are so many things I would do with $155 million, personally, none of which involve a ski lodge.

And what would I do with $155 million? Well, it'll cost you to find out. Can you guess how much?

Oh, all right. The majority of it would go to philanthropy. Maybe some of it would go to a hot tub filled with marshmallow creme. But as a percentage, that portion would be very small indeed.

Mmmmm... marshmallow creme.

So, here's a $155 million? You going to spend it on a ski lodge? I want to know.

Tags: Most Expensive Houses, Marshmallow Creme, I'm kidding about the hot tub thing incidentally

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 7 comments: (Add your own)

#7 Comment from mavarin
2/23/07 10:46 PM | Permalink

I'd start with a house outside London, a bigger house in Tucson, one in Manlius, NY, and maybe one in some other nice place such as Hawaii or NM. Pay off all debts, set up the funeral arrangements, set up some low-risk investment such as a money market account and another $2 million just to take time off working for a living, travel and mess around. That should still leave a good chunk to give St. Michael's (especially to upgrade this Tucson church with decent air conditioning). For the rest, I'd set up a Sam Beckett Foundation "to put right what once went wrong," and hire someone with the wisdom of Solomon to run the thing. - Karen
#6 Comment from dpoem
2/23/07 9:06 PM | Permalink

Hey! I just noticed your tags, John. Do you really think we believe you when you tell us you wouldn't jump into a hot tub full of marshmallow creme?

I mean, you can tell us you're kidding, but really, I don't think anyone here would be surprised if you told us you actually did jump into a tub of gooey marshmallow stuff. In fact, I'm willing to bet that a lot of us would just silently think "it was only a matter of time."

-Dan
http://journals.aol.com/dpoem/TheWisdomofaDistractedMind/
#5 Comment from briandunbarlpg
2/23/07 7:19 PM | Permalink

<i>So, here's a $155 million? You going to spend it on a ski lodge? I want to know.</i>

1. Pay off the house (memo BUY a house in the country, far from the beaten path).
2. Pay enough into a bank account so taxes are paid for for the next 40 years.
3. Do this in another bank account, same amount. Never underestimate the willingness of the government to tax.
4. Bank enough for 40 years of upkeep on the place.
5. Bank enough for the kids to go to college or trade school. Hell I've got enough I'll do my nieces and nephews while I'm at it.
6. Invest 50% of what is left in some of the more likely space-based ventures. Go for the orgs that are looking to support the gold rush not the miners panning for gold.
7. Invest the remaining capital in ultra-safe options - bonds and so on.
8. Hide a few kilos of gold in the basement. Just in case it all goes to hell.
#4 Comment from speakertomanager
2/23/07 4:29 PM | Permalink

Sure, I'd build a big house by the roadside, made out of rattlesnake hide, ... wait, it's not politically correct to build with animals. OK, I'd build a big house, then pay hundreds of artists and artisans to decorate it and otherwise make it beautiful. This makes the house more than just another hideously expensive McMansion, and also supports all those artists and artisans.

For a few months, back when we were younger (no, there weren't any dinosaurs, this was <i>after</i> the asteroid), my wife and I lived in a cottage on the estate of the man who supplied the concrete for the Empire State Building. He'd hired some artists, even paid one to reside on the estate and carve everything in sight. The garage doors had lead panels with pastoral carvings (grapes, foxes, that sort of thing). Now that's how to spend money!
#3 Comment from rickardfoghorn
2/23/07 10:39 AM | Permalink

Earlier on the news here in Ireland they were talking about that, the way million ares just like to spend money on things they dont even want just to annoy other celebrities
Helen

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Another Entry for the "When You Have More More Money Than Sense" File