If you had Billions of Pounds - what would you do?

I've always loved the story of this couple - who gave away most of their winnings to small charities that made a huge difference (like paying for an electric wheelchair, or prosthetic legs for a child). Wouldn't it be great to wake up every day knowing that you were going to change someone's life for the better..! 😍
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/barbara-wragg-funeral-death-national-lottery-winner-lotto-angel-sheffield-ray-a8373961.html

After all the good deeds and charities mentioned here, I would love to waste time interrogating some of the authors of the begging letters one apparently receives. It may be that quite a few would really need some help, which I could provide, and the rest would get a flea in the proverbial!

Not tell anyone how much I had.
Buy a sensible house, easy to heat and maintain, pay an amount to my kids, for them to use as they wish, hopefully sensibly and pay off mortgagee, also same for my sister. Support the great charity that I got my dog from and other small charities that struggle.
And hopefully other charities home and abroad, then I'd have to chill out and have a think how wisely the rest should be used.
No real need for me to worry about this as it's never going to happen 😜

Firstly, we would take an extended holiday.

On that trip, we would think about what we would do for a 2nd roof top apartment in Spain - as to where, a donation or two to our favourite charities in the medical field and our twin daughters - to provide university savings for the grandchildren and to save the rest, for ourselves so when we retire, and approach the topic at that point.

Totally agree!

Feel very grateful that I'd never again have to choose between electricity or a loaf of bread. As others have said, ensure immediate family are well taken care of, and yes, I think it would be lovely to be able to peruse the newspapers every morning over a cuppa and find small but to the people concerned life changing things to assist with, both here and abroad, theres a little girl in Afkhanistan I think it was, sufferd 3rd degree burns, but no money for hospital treatment so they just send her home barely clinging on. That sort of thing along with local and national sneaky good deeds. That would really make me smile to be able to help others a bit

If I could find a way, I would try and set up a system to educate as many people in developing and developed countries - especially young people and children - in tolerance for each other and how to care for the environment.

If this could reduce fighting and destruction in future generations it would help both the economies and the planet as well as reducing hunger, poverty, crime and bloodshed.

Apart from making sure myself and my family were secure (and happy!) for the rest of our lives, I would set up a foundation or charitable trust with the help of experts. Grants could be applied for and given after the scrutiny and involvement of a panel of experts and consultants who would be expected to donate their services for the common good. New initiatives could be undertaken and my favourite charities wouldn’t go short either. I would also help private individuals who are in need at my own and my family’s discretion. My family would certainly be expected to ‘sing for their supper’ and get involved! Billions could do so much good if properly used!

I would give anonymously to animal charities both here and abroad. And you could do an awful lot of good with that kind of money! I would also see that my family were looked after too.

First I would get a financial advisor to do it all for me!

Tt would enable me to move to the right flat easily no worry about chains and mortgages and then I'd make sure my and my family's futures were secure.

Then - oh where to begin? I know some would go to ease, somehow, the lives of people in Africa.

My current charities of choice are MIND nationally and Medicin Sans Frontiere internationally. But then, in our own country....I think decent care for the most vulnerable would be high on my list.

After family, I would go around the South West Coast buying properties and selling them (at a loss probably) to locals who can't afford to live in their hometown.

I know that, if I had millions, I'd start by funding a regeneration trust for my run down but potentially fabulous home city. And if I had billions, I'd extend that to other places in the UK that could recover their lost glory. Lots of Northern cities and quite a few Southern ones could use a decent whack of investment and energy. All people deserve to live in good locations, and I'd love to raise standards everywhere.

Firstly I would look after my family and friends. Then I would set up a foundation to research into ME. My lovely daughter has been severely disabled by this terrible illness for 28 years. There is currently no understanding of the cause or any treatment available. There are thousands of people like her in the UK.

Saggi

Clean water for all the peoples of the earth would seem a good place to start. I wonder why god hasn’t though of it?🤔

Oh, it is entirely possible Saggi!

We can put pipelines for oil and gas across continents, under the sea but not for water
Desalination plants could be built around coasts. There just isn't the will to do it because it wouldn't make companies a fortune.

After giving chunks of it to family and friends I would set about giving the rest away to lots of charities - home and abroad. I think that would be the most wonderful thing.

Clean water for all the peoples of the earth would seem a good place to start. I wonder why god hasn’t though of it?🤔

FIRST POST HERE!

New house.....Car with driver (Can't drive)........Family...Friends....Local Charities......National Charities ( smaller ones particularly)....Smile Train definitely...Salvation Army...British Legion...Lifeboats...Air Ambulance.....Battersea...and many others! Have a Care/Nursing Home built for my attendance and others with staff well-paid and supervised.

After securing my family`s future. I would build accommodation for the homeless, staffed with professionals to assist.

I would give lots and lots of it to Sunderland Royal Infirmary and the RVI in Newcastle. Both have neo natal intensive care departments that were instrumental in saving my baby Granddaughter's life 16 years ago.

Indeed, some used their money for altruistic purposes - others for vanity projects. Others, not only mine owners, paid wages in tokens which was legal until the passing of the Truck Acts.

Some wealthy Victorians built decent housing for the people who worked for them, others spent their money helping the poor, trying to reform prison conditions. They established schools, hospitals and infirmaries.

However, some (mine owners) exploited them even further by paying them in tokens which they could only spend in the mine owner's shop.

I’m afraid I don’t admire the wealthy Victorians who built museums whilst children were starving.

I look back in admiration at the very wealthy Victorians who used their money to create such amazing lasting legacies such as museums and art galleries and even whole (healthy) towns for their workers. What wonderful people. Do we have such men and women today? Maybe/ maybe not- Dolly Parton and her free books for all children might be one. Perhaps you know of other incredibly rich folk whose deeds will resonate through the years or maybe our thinking just became smaller.

Buy houses for my kids and lovely new cars.
As we are talking billions I would then open several homes for dementia patients as my Mum suffered with alzheimers.

They would be very different from homes already running as they would be cost free. Staff would be very carefully vetted because I want them to encourage people to go outside, to sing and listen to music, to record their memories with assistance. I know some homes touch on these things but only in a small way.

There are so many people to help.,When you saw a need to give anonymously to fund it. I would give all my family money, but not enough that they wouldn't need to work again, just perhaps pay off the mortgage and a car. I would sell my house and buy an apartment and not worry about maintenance charges, then give the rest away. Too much money and tge live if it changes people. It’s a curse. Help others and causes that matter to you.