The big money tease
June 12th, 2008 by ShaunaOoh, winning the lottery! Make that a $5 million lottery!
I always joke with my friends that when I’m in Vegas, I hope if I hit the jackpot, it’s the big one. I don’t want to win on the Wheel of Fortune slot machine with the top prize just hovering over $1 million (it’ll be WAY less once the taxes are taken out!). What a waste to win on Megabucks after someone just hit it!
So I stupidly treat the “smaller jackpot” machines as if it’s not good enough for me. In reality, the biggest amount I ever hit was the 1,000 quarters on the Wheel of Fortune bonus spin. And this was after years of dumping more than 1,000 quarters in hundreds of Wheel machines! Uh, doesn’t that mean I’m still down?
But I still greedily dream of what I would do IF I were to strike it rich. In reality, $1 million doesn’t go very far nowadays. Some Kakaako condos are going for that price and it’s not even the penthouse!
This next story from the New York Post drove that point home. Winning a $5 million lottery didn’t even come close for a doorman to get a unit in the building he works! (Well, only an 11-room unit was on the market, but that’s besides the point!)
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$5M not enough to get doorman own digs in his Park Avenue building
By David Riedel and Andy Geller
New York Post
A beloved Park Avenue doorman who won $5 million in the state lottery wants to move on up — and into the elegant, pre-war building where he works.
That way, "I'll have the doorman open the door for me," says Richie Randazzo, 44, a bachelor who lives in a two-story home in Brooklyn.
But the lucky winner will have to wait because the only apartment for sale in the building at 1021 Park Ave. at East 85th Street is out of his range.
So for now, Randazzo, who plans to continue working, will be a millionaire who opens the door and hails taxis for millionaires.
The only apartment on the market in his building is an 11-room beauty that is going for a cool $9.95 million. And even though $5 million is nothing to sneeze at, it just isn't enough scratch — even for a scratch-off millionaire.
Still, a fella can dream.
"After I hit the next lottery, I'll buy that one," Randazzo said yesterday at a ceremony announcing his good fortune.
The lucky doorman actually won the prize May 2, when he bought a $10 Set for Life instant ticket, which pays $5,000 a week for life and guarantees a minimum of $5 million. Winners get $65,000 every three months, or $41,926 after taxes.
That — minus tips — is more than the $40,000 the doorman earns in a year.
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So what would you do if you had a free $5,000 every week for life?
Any tips for wishful slot-machine players trying to hit it big? I do know that every time I read a story about some elderly person hitting the jackpot, I notice the machine hit on the first $20. So should you stop after playing a $20? Should you do a few pulls, withdraw your money and reinsert into the same machine?
And the bigger question, should Hawaii have a lottery?
Tags: jackpot, lottery, millions, slot machines, Vegas
June 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
YES! Hawaii should have a lottery.
But instead of one winner taking home some ridiculous amount of $100,000,000 (that's a hundred million), limit the payout to say, $20 million, and have 5 winners. That would make the odds of being a winner better. The higher the total, the more winners.
If you're one of the $20 million dollar winners, after taxes, let's say you have $10 million as take home. $10 million at 5% interest is $500,000 a year. After taxes, you'll have $250,000 a year - take home. And that's without even touching the $10 million!
You could have a $1000 a week allowance and still have $198,000 left over.
As for hitting it big on the slot machines, Shauna. If I knew the answer to that, I would be working...
Since you're still single, you're better off finding a K-drama star to marry
June 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
uh, make that - "If I knew the answer to that, wouldn't be working..."
June 12th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Lottery yes.
But wouldn't the lottery ticket be sold at places like gas stations too? And doesn't the winning store take a cut? Geez, no can win with the gas situation eh?
Anybody wanna invest with me in a station? Instant thousandaire!
June 12th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
hmmm, $5000/week? i guess i could afford to quit one of my jobs...maybe two if i feel like i can handle all that free time and money! hahaha.
it's always nice to day dream about winning the lottery...but i always chicken out when i go to vegas and i just can't seem to blow all my money in those $5 machines. i stick to the tables and win couple hundred here and there and hope for the best! hahahaha.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I once won $3500.00 on a progressive double diamond machine at the MGM while trying to kill some time. I went around a carousel of progressive machines with a twenty dollar bill trying one of them to take the dang bill. Finally one took my money and I began to play dollar slots which I think was three dollars per play. After about five minutes my machine locked up and lights started to flash and needless to say I was several thousand dollars richer. The best part was it was my last day in Vegas so I couldn’t lose the money.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I agree with Rodney on the lottery but disagree on the pay out.
June 12th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
What’s wrong with a lottery? I play the California Lottery all the time through an intermediary (don’t tell anybody). All that money could stay home if we had a lottery that was done right.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
You dont have to marry a K-drama man Shauna, you got a great man right in front of your eyes!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Hellz yah we should a lottery. I don't understand why the state doesn't do it. It seems to work well for other states. It would help generate funds for our schools, infrastructure, etc.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Yeah....let's put it on the ballot. What....all we need is 44,525 signatures right?
And I'm marrying Song Hye Gyo.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
opso: Song Hye Gyo, huh? I like her "brother" in "Autumm Story." But I think my chances are better winning a lottery...
June 13th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
heh Shauna.....don't sell yourself short. Get chance!
I never seen Autumn Story, dat's an old one yeah? Was it good or you was watching just for that guy.
Okay, I confess.....I watch certain dramas just for the beauties that act in them.
ooh....Scary Girl getting interesting.....gotta go.
and sorry for getting off topic here.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
it was only my second k-drama so i didn't even know who the stars were. (though i'll admit that i tend to gravitate toward the dramas with the hot stars!) but the first time SSH came on, i was like, oh my... wait, i'm getting off topic here.
i'm sooo behind in "scary girl." the episodes are piling up my dvr!! are you watching "on air"? it's my favorite live one now although "wanted: son in law" is also pretty good...
hey, i just noticed. is your emoticon blushing?? how did you do that?
June 13th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
So you must be watching "Wanted: Son in Law" right now eh? I no like boddah you.
I watch em all....when I get around to it. Sick yeah. Only the KBFD ones tho. If I watch the KBS ones too then....ai goo....totally no mo life.
My favs right now is "Happiness" and "Dear Heaven".....guess why.
Try mouse over the blushing emoticon and you can see the code.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Get these also:
June 14th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
unfortunately i have the night shift so i have to record all the shows. that's why i get so backed up in watching them! i saw a promo for "dear heaven" during "on air." it looked really good! but since it already started i figured no sense in watching it. i saw the first episode of "happiness" but didn't really care for it...
the codes don't show up when i mouse over them... thanks anyway though!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am
hey opso.....my boyfriend loves song hye gyo too! i would definitely prefer you to marry her though! =)
i wish hawaii had gambling, lottery and all that fun stuff! i think it would only increase our tourism in the islands!