Question to the successful guys amongst you: Did you find out what to do with the Money?<p>I run a successful startup. I dont make a fortune, but all of a sudden I have a lot more money then ever before. And guess what - I have not clue what to do with it.<p>Today, I read this:<p>www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/27/DIME.TMP<p>And there is a sentence: "The person who sold the dime is Oakland businessman Daniel Rosenthal, who was unavailable for comment, perhaps because a person newly in possession of $1.9 million has got better things to do than answer a lot of questions."<p>I really would like to know: What are these "better things"?<p>What are those better things I could do then chillin on my sofa and reading ycombinator and stuff?
Many startup founders are people who like to make things. So often the kind of work they do after they have the freedom to do what they they want is to make things where they're not constrained by the need to make money.<p>Oddly enough, YC itself is an example. We may make money eventually, but our main motive for doing it was that it was a cool idea.
There's no requirement that you have to immediately spend lots of money just because you have it. It's a very normal reaction to not know what to do with a large amount of extra dough. You want to avoid the consumerist trap of retail therapy -- buying <i>things</i> to make you happy, which wears off 5 minutes later. Go ahead and hold on to what you've got and keep on doing what you're doing to make more -- you'll figure out good applications for money over time.<p>This TED talk says that the key to fulfillment is to grow, so you have more to contribute to others:
<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5625548517080716077" rel="nofollow">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5625548517080716077</a>
"If I had a million dollars I'd do 2 chicks at the same time!"<p>Seriously, I don't see the issue. Do you have any friends? If you're lacking in the friends department then don't read any further and work on companionship as your number one goal. I find a lot of joy organizing events, outings or exciting weekends for my friends. Make sure the trip has a baseline that everyone can afford and then maybe cover a tab or two while you're out. Ideas don't have to be grandiose they are just excuses to hang out and enjoy life together. I thought of a few things I enjoy and listed them below. Have fun planning these events on your own. Research destinations fully and be prepared to promote your trips so others will join you! Its time consuming (and fun) to figure out the 'best' places to go. Does the outing require that you buy any gear? Research the equipment and then buy it! <p>Go Camping<p>Hiking<p>Deep Sea fishing<p>Host a wine party / plan a trip to a winery <p>Trip to another City for the Weekend<p>Trip to another Country <p>Get a boat<p>Attend a music festival (Jazz Fest for example)<p>Take up a sport like Biking (Road or Mountain)<p>
Hopefully this helps you out somewhat. If you wish to be as happy as me, I'll require $5 to share 'the secret'.<p>
Enjoy :)
You make software?<p>If yes, build/help to make open source (and free) software better and more "commercial" looking so open source+free software can be used widely.<p>Basically be a disruptor. <p>Make the next Perforce (either support git or make a new one). <p>Make the next IDE (a complete one like Visual Studio) for Python so that Python can become the main language for enterprise.<p>One example of disruptor in this area that is starting to rise is Ubuntu.
Invest some and put the rest to good use to make sure you contribute to making the world a better place: research to find cures, charity to help those in need, or whatever good cause you believe in.
Figure out what you want to have, do and be. The have part is easy, most people can work that out on their own. What do you want to do? Do you want to learn something new (foreign language, to tango, a new programming language, etc)? Do you want to do something physical (run a marathon, achieve weight lifting goals, swim the English channel,etc). Do you want to be a philanthropist? Do you want to run a non-profit organization? Figure out 3-5 things you want to do.<p>Be is harder IMO. Do you want to be a husband? father? grand father (you need help on this one obvious)? Do you want to a champion whatever? These are the questions I would ask myself. With the answers, you can start taking concrete steps.
Purchase an your own personal airplane and realize just how freaking cool it is that a trip from wherever you are to 3 states away is just 3 hours away, no airport hassles & wait times included. It makes the world feel a lot more closer. All of a sudden, a trip to LA from Seattle is just like a trip from LA to Fresno. Except your flying, in an airplane , inside a 180 degree view angle canopy.<p>Purchase time with your money in hiring other people to do the chores in your work & life. <p>(This may not apply for you) Purchasing real estate close to your work, reducing commute times to 10 minutes from maybe the hour or two you have already.
Have fun!! Invest in yourself. Go back to school and major in something that you were slightly curious about but never got around to learning -- I'm sure there'll be a startup idea buried there somewhere...
With enough money, you could stage a coup and take over Equatorial Guinea. It's ripe for the takeover, just take care not to fuck it up like Margaret Thatcher's son did.
If you are asking for things to do,then it is clear that you are now unchallenged by your company. By some land near the city and staret building a house. I personaly like prefabs that you can put together.Then stuff that bad boy with books from the earliest centuries to the latest "the world is flat". Read about topics other than "javascript". Subscribe to newspapers. I like FT,NYT,WSJ,USAtoday and some magazines like DWELL.
A very comfortable yearly income is $100K-$200K. Immediately put the necessary base in an interest bearing account (~5%) to earn your comfy yearly income off the interest. $200K/0.05 = $4M.<p>Then you'd really never need to work again, and you can focus on making interesting things.<p>There is plenty of life automation that you can do. Laundry, grocery delivery, maid services, restaurants, financial planner. <p>You can easily spend $1M on travel for months, building a dream house, etc.
Buy a Ferrari F430! Actually I'd probably invest in another business first if I had the money. Donating to charities is also a good call, or perhaps helping out your local (young) entrepreneurs who are in need of some financial support.<p>Don't forget the Ferrari though. ;)
Usually the problem is the other way around. You have an interesting scenario :). My suggestions:<p>Start another.<p>or <p>Spend a year in Argentina reading and building a boat. This is my plan upon retiring (2.5 years to go!)
I think you should secure your future and that of your future family. So invest the money. You can use some of it to pursue or fund projects that you like.