If You Secretly Won the Lottery

Recently, the Powerball jackpot grew to one of its largest ever. The thought of actually winning such an ungodly amount of money doesn’t appeal much to me – I can easily see it creating problems I don’t want to have. But what about a reasonable amount, say, $20 million? Enough to be charitable, help out family, and live a comfortable life without completely going bonkers or carrying the burdens of the world. (Yeah, I kind of selfishly don’t want to win enough money to also win responsibility for solving systemic problems). I came up with a list of ways I would use my lottery winnings – a fun exercise I recommend you try!

 

Then I decided to add the constraint of keeping my $20 million win completely private. (Well, aside from my financial planner and/or attorney). How would that change things? Or rather, keep things from changing too much?

 

I realized that it would be a little difficult to purchase multiple homes and live in them if I wanted to keep my secret, but there are ways I could make life nicer for me and others while staying under the radar:

 

First, I’d find a part-time or flexible job, so I could continue to have the structure of working, which I really enjoy, but also the ability to do other things more easily.

 

I would pay for the following services:

-Personal shopper (and the clothes of course). I am not very high maintenance but I do like nice things and it would be nice to have someone tie together the look I want.

-Personal trainer. Exercise has always been a struggle for me, I just don’t stick with it or enjoy it. But maybe if I had someone really customizing a workout to my level and needs, it could work.

-Private chef or catering (by delivery, not in my house). Someone to make a variety of wholesome, flavorful, FUN breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners for me each week.

-Standing appointments at a hair salon for blowouts, or maybe a stylist can come to me.

-Regular massages. Twice a month?

-Hire a driver as needed! I HATE DRIVING. And don’t do it on highways. Or in Lakewood. Or many other places. This would be a big help.

 

I would also like to take some customized, thoughtfully-planned longer trips (with the assistance of someone on the ground to provide transportation to hard-to-reach locations, or arrange kosher food delivery, for example). I can vaguely cite credit card points if the need for explanations arises. And I am not that interested in luxury travel!

 

I could have my attorney arrange for some anonymous philanthropy. Based on my work experience, the needs I would most like to fill are honestly paying people’s utility and grocery bills and meeting other basic needs. That would mean so much to me. I would also like to anonymously fund something arts-related, I would need to explore this further.

 

The one thing it would be hard to do anonymously would be to give sizable gifts to family or friends. I am not sure how to go about doing that. But I would be able to give smaller amounts in the form of treating them to trips, meals, gifts etc.

 

Upon reviewing this list, it does occur to me that I don’t need $20 million for this, not really, and I could do many of these things on a smaller scale (perhaps on a rotation) starting now! Some things will have to wait until I have a higher income (or yes, win a reasonably-sized lottery jackpot), but it does seem that bits of these can become real relatively easily.

 

I need to add that I am so very grateful for that, and do not take that for granted!!

 

What would you do with your lottery winnings?

 

(Photo credit: Viviana Ceballos/Pexels)