brewsters millions an interesting scenario

[shootthebandit]

So i was watching this relatively old film called brewsters millions. im sure most of you have seen it but if you havent its basically about a man called monty brewster (richard pryor) and he is to inherit a 300 million dollar fortune. But in order to claim this inheritance he has to spend 30 million dollars in 30 days. Sounds simple doesnt it but heres the catch you are not allowed to own any new assests or any new possesions after this period. As this film is from 1985 we will round it up to 100 million to compensate for inflation for the purpose of this thread.

Do you think you could do it? what would you spend it on? and would you enjoy spending this way as opposed to buying a lot of assests and material goods?

Rules:
-you have to spend every penny within 30 days
-you can not own anything new after 30 days
-you are not allowed to give it away (you can buy presents for people within reason)
-you can donate 5% to charity and gamble 5% (for the purpose of the thread gambling is legal)

 

[Thaluikhain]

Er, does loaning it count?

But, really, bizarre idea. Why would you want to do something like that?

 

[shootthebandit]

Er, does loaning it count?

But, really, bizarre idea. Why would you want to do something like that?

I dont think loaning would count as people would owe you it back which would be considered an asset. You cant just give it away like i said you can buy presents for people but within reason

He is contracted to as part of the film. If he doesnt accomplish it the money goes to an evil law firm

 

[sanquin]

Didn't you read what he said? In order to win 300 million he first had to spend 30 million in 30 days and not have anything left afterwards. In this movie this was because he would inherit the 300 million from a family member. But before that the will stated that he had to first to the 30 million thing. This to make the spender so sick of spending money that he wouldn't go through the 300 million in a couple of years and waste the inheritance.

Anyway, these days it's easy to do so. Beat up a few people and let them sue you for the 100 million. Done. You might spend while in prison, but who cares? Friggin' 300 million to live off of after that.

 

[shootthebandit]

Didn't you read what he said? In order to win 300 million he first had to spend 30 million in 30 days and not have anything left afterwards. In this movie this was because he would inherit the 300 million from a family member. But before that the will stated that he had to first to the 30 million thing. This to make the spender so sick of spending money that he wouldn't go through the 300 million in a couple of years

What he said

Edit: i dont know what the rules are on drugs as that is a quick way to get rid of it although im sure he got into trouble for gambling as it was illegal

 

[Zhukov]

That's easy.

Go to a restaurant and tell the chef that you will pay 30 million dollars for a meal.

Presumably the chef would accept.

Eat meal.

You have now spent the 30 mil and have nothing to show for it.

 

[sanquin]

the whole idea is to make the person absolutely sick of money

there is the solution from the movie. renting things

i dont think i could do it. i could spend the money but to me its obscene waste, that 30 or 100 million would be going to charities. no one needs that much

Donating to charities would be seen as giving it away, which was not allowed according to the rules. And see it this way, you could still easily donate 100 million from the just over 1 billion you would inherit.

That's easy.

Go to a restaurant and tell the chef that you will pay 30 million dollars for a meal.

Presumably the chef would accept.

Eat meal.

You have now spent the 30 mil and have nothing to show for it.

That would be seen as giving it away, since the bill would realistically never be that high.

--Edit
Apparently in the movie the guy rented a room that cost 100,000 a week for 1,000,000 a week instead. So I guess if you follow the movie's logic, just naming a higher price for something is allowed. Movie plothole! xD

 

[Jayemsal]

Invest in a guaranteed failure stock and be done in 5 minutes.

 

[shootthebandit]

Invest in a guaranteed failure stock and be done in 5 minutes.

remember youd have to sell the stocks before 30 days as the stocks count as assests. By selling them you are still going to get money. you might have lost a bit but it wouldnt get rid of it all

I would still enjoy it and use it to spread happiness. Id probably eat at the most expensive restraunt every night, id buy some winos the most expensive wine i could get.

 

[sanquin]

Some idea's I've seen somewhere else:
Buying 'experiences'. Apparently taking flying lessons in very old airplanes is really expensive. Same for private space flights, though that might not be attainable within a month. Then there's buying stock options that expire before the month is over. You bought them legally, but they're worthless when they expire so you have no assets. Another to get rid of a large portion, is to buy things that cost millions and then sell them again for thousands. Or suing your country's government for where you think they broke the law, using a group of the most expensive lawyers in the world. (ThePirateBay blockage here in the Netherlands comes to mind. )

I myself would maybe go about it like this:
Rent a huge personal island to hold a huge party on for everyone you even remotely know. Bring them all there with like 50 yachts that also rent for tens of thousands a week. Organize a concert on said island with different bands each day and pay the bands hundreds of thousands, if not millions to come play at your party. Buy the most expensive foods there are for everyone to eat, prepared by the most expensive chefs there are. All of them also personally flown over in rented private jets and such of course. Then hire a group of photographers each for thousands of dollars a day to record it all. just over 10 million can be used for charity and gambling. (5% each)

With all that you're probably already through that 100 million. Since renting an island, separate yachts, private jets and all the wages for the bands, cooks and photographers will really rack up a huge bill.

And after the month I would probably send everyone a 5,000 dollar cheque with an apology and explanation of what had actually happened. (in the movie no one else could know what he was doing. Only that he had gotten 30 mil.) I bet they would understand considering you would then have just over 1 billion. (going by the increase of the first amount)

Gee, imagine what you could do with just over 1 billion dollars. Though that would be off topic. Maybe a different thread some time.

 

[shootthebandit]

--Edit
Apparently in the movie the guy rented a room that cost 100,000 a week for 1,000,000 a week instead. So I guess if you follow the movie's logic, just naming a higher price for something is allowed. Movie plothole! xD

He also spent a fortune renovating which seems like a good idea as the land lord would probably hit you with a massive lawsuit and that would get rid of even more

I think renting an olympic sized swimming pool for 30 days and filling it with really expensive brandy would probably waste a good chunk of your money

 

[Scarim Coral]

Easy (or maybe not), I take a round trip around the globe making this dream come true-


Ok that still isn't enough (including the ticket flight) since I would had to order hundred or thousand of them (or does given them away count?) but there are several expensive food out there to spend for my stomach! http://eater.com/archives/2013/01/29/most-expensive-dishes-and-drinks.php (Heh, ordering almost a hundred of that number 1 expensive food would do the trick.)

Also yes I wil regret for being a glutton about it!

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I'd go the "Mr Deeds" route and buy everyone in my city a new car. Pretty easy way to get rid of $100 million.

 

[Little Woodsman]

I'd swear we had this same thread a couple of weeks ago...yeah, I remember speculating in my reply if I could hire Nicola Bryant to French kiss me for $1 million.
Anyway, to me the route to go would be renting a hotel, paying the staff exorbitantly (there would probably be limits set on this by the people overseeing the deal) and hiring the most expensive entertainers/speakers to come perform/give presentations to myself & my friends. Many of the highest-paid entertainers/speakers get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a 1-2 hour performance/presentation in normal circumstances, I'd have to pay them significantly more to come on short notice. For some of those speakers, it would be well worth it.

 

[FalloutJack]

By assets, I'm going to assume you mean other things that will make you money, as opposed to just things that are valuable and good keepsakes like a diamond.

You know what? This is easy. I would pay ALL of that money to be allowed to record and say to the entire world exactly what I think of various parts of it, uncensored on television. If I ask some people if 100 million dollars is enough money to shoot the breeze for a while, the answer will probably be yes.

 

[Something Amyss]

This to make the spender so sick of spending money that he wouldn't go through the 300 million in a couple of years and waste the inheritance.

And that's the part of the whole deal that I thought was brilliant about the movie (possibly the book, which I never read).

This is primarily to teach the user a lesson, though in the movie it's derived from what could be considered a punishment.

Could I do it? I don't know, but I'd be interested to see if I could. Even 100 million might be doable, though I'm not so sure. Then again, we have so many opulent consumables....

 

[Something Amyss]

By assets, I'm going to assume you mean other things that will make you money, as opposed to just things that are valuable and good keepsakes like a diamond.

Nope. Monty had to end the month with nothing but the clothes he walked in with. He had to burn through ALL his assets. If you could just buy diamonds, this would be easy. You also can't DESTROY anything of value, though that's a little looser. In the movie, he uses a priceless stamp to mail a postcard.

 

[FalloutJack]

By assets, I'm going to assume you mean other things that will make you money, as opposed to just things that are valuable and good keepsakes like a diamond.

Nope. Monty had to end the month with nothing but the clothes he walked in with. He had to burn through ALL his assets. If you could just buy diamonds, this would be easy. You also can't DESTROY anything of value, though that's a little looser. In the movie, he uses a priceless stamp to mail a postcard.

Never saw the movie, but my answer still stands. All you need is something big, weird, and ridiculous.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

"Oh look I accidentally left this $30,000,000 on a park bench by complete accident. I did not in any way, shape or form intend to do this."

Done in one, son.