What if You Became a Mega-Millionaire?

On the first day of the California lottery back in the mid-1980s, I bought one ticket and won $12. As a college student, that was good for four meals.

I hadn't bought a ticket since then. I figured I was ahead of the game.

Today, just for shoots & giggles, I bought three of them.

What prompted me? For starters, I heard about the Mill Valley group that just won $300,000 earlier this week. Then I couldn't avoid the media coverage of the whopping payoff coming Friday night in the multistate Mega Millions lottery.

With something north of $540 million in the jackpot, or even a faction that after taxes, I think I could pay off the house and handle the college bills for two daughters. I believe I'd have enough left to restore my clunker of a classic car, although my wife would suggest I'd still need a loan.

Then I got to thinking: What else would I do with that kind of windfall? What local nonprofits would I support? How about our schools? Would I make a donation to our city government to try and get more police officers on the street? Truly, how much would my ethics direct my philanthropy?

So I pose the question to you: How would winning more than $500 million change your life and how generous would you be?

Share your answers below and let's see where this goes. Just for shoots & giggles.

The multistate Mega Millions jackpot began in 1996 as the Big Game, and California joined up in 2005. It is now played in 42 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The biggest jackpot was $390 million in 2007, but there was a $380 payout last year. To follow on the official website, click here.