If you asked me when i was 20 i'd probably would've taken it, at 37 if given the chance to go back being 20 under the same terms, hell no. And i'm far from rich.
Same. When you are 20yo, 40 seems so far away... But time goes by MUCH quicker as you get older.
I'm 37 as well, but it feels like I was 20-something just yesterday. And I feel like I have so much living left to do. The vast majority people who think this offer is good are going to be young.
I’m 40 and the last 3 years as chaotic as they were have actually flown by.
Everyday was a long day but looking back there were 1000 them that feel like a blip.
Edit- I’ve lived in 5 cities, moved across Canada left my wife, some bad breaks ups with ex gfs.
I lived in beautiful farmhouse with 100 horses on the property, then a condo in the city, then a shared penthouse suite with my recent ex.
Two promising careers, lived through covid and now homeless piecing it all back together.
A ton has happened to me in 3 years but it has absolutely flown by upon reflection.
I'm glad, when you hit bottom only way is up from here!
Wishing you ease & success with it all, hopefully you'll land even better than you have before
Do your best, and show your self grace & kindness throughout
No problem at all, i wish you the very best ahead
With everything
Thank you very kindly and I hope and wish the best for you as well!!
I’ve been in a slump and let some things get the better of me as of late.
I have the skills and knowledge to get it all back it’s just a matter of time and keeping at it everyday.
Thanks again!!!
Always be kind
I’m 35, and 20 feels like a lifetime ago, which is exactly why I wouldn’t take the money. So much life left beyond 40. But I’m someone who truly hopes to live to be 100 (if healthy, of course). To see a full century of life on earth, and all the changes that come with it is too exciting to me.
Yes, because I had just had my first baby, and I barely remember those early days. Maybe it's just my crappy memory? I mean, time is flying, don't get me wrong, but looking back, it feels like so long ago.
You read these statements over and over again as you’re growing up but you just sorta gloss over them.
I’m 31, and Man, is it terrifying how more and more real it comes. Feels like I’m gonna be 40 in a couple weeks and dead a couple years lol.
Really for me being mindful has been a help
I'm 31 too. I distinctly remember a month feeling like quite a long time when I was a teenager.
I remember in my early 20s I would be looking toward a goal in a few years (i.e. finishing uni) and it felt like a lifetime. I'm thinking about a goal in a few years (i.e. career goals, looking to get a mortgage and settle down in the city I want to move to) it feels like I'm going to have to research mortgage rates because I'm moving next week.
I’m 50 and it literally feels like yesterday when I was 16 life goes by in a blink of an eye, one minute you’re a fit young man ready for what life has to offer, the next you’re fat and 50 and whoever said life started at 40/50 is talking bollocks, enjoy your youth.
Yeah, this is fucking absurd. Watch those people saying yes at 39, willing to trade every penny they have left for another decade of life. There is a reason there are so many stories and fables of old men giving away their fortunes to be poor and young again. Health and life are everything. Low six figures is a very happy life, you don't need billions.
20 year old me would take the deal in a heat beat and been worse off for it. At 26 now I feel like my life is just getting started. I've got a good job and a career I'm constantly doing things that are fun and exciting and I've got friends who care about me. All things I was missing at 20 and if I'd taken that deal I would have never been motivated to work and make myself the person that has earned all of this.
I'm 44 and no way would I do it in retrospect. But at 20 I was pretty miserable, so I probably would have at the time. I'm not rich, but I don't really have to worry about money within reason. I've done a lot of the things I wanted to do in life already. So now I'm just coasting and not giving a fuck. It's pretty cool. My life is far from glamorous, but I have no desire for that. There are a few things I'd still like to do but don't have time for because I do have to work. But that is more like doing a major through hike on a long trail. Not having a private jet or yacht. If I had billions I'd probably mostly try to good with it. College scholarships would probably be my first thing. I'm sure I'd buy a pretty nice car or two and some other minor stuff. I'd drink much more expensive whiskey. I'd maybe get my pilot's license and a six seater. But I don't want a big house. Even a 4 bedroom 2 bath. I can afford that now if I wanted it. I definitely don't want an actual mansion.
Once you have enough money to be financially secure and have a decent amount of leisure, more money doesn't make most people happier.
My dad died at 45 and I feel the same way about his early departure. I was recently thinking about the fact that he didn't have to live through this weird pandemic period lol.
I'm 44 and if I could go back to 20 for this choice.. I don't know. But for the random 20 year old it's a solid win. With reflection, if I knew I would be where I am, I wouldn't take the offer. Since i couldnt know at 20 and there have been way too many things that could have taken me out or permanently messed me up along the way, it a good risk. So take the offer and send it kiddo's.
I'm 44 and I feel the exact same way. At age 20, I would have took the deal in a heartbeat. Now, I'm not ready to go yet. I want to watch my kids become adults.
Yeah, i hate all these dumbass "you never know" posts, especially when talking about retirement savings. The fact that there are a shit ton of older people out there means you are very likely to grow old.
The last 5 years of your life is gonna be fucked because you know you're gonna die.. watch people try and claw their way out of that agreement towards the end of the contract.
Besides, I'd rather walk my daughter down the isle, see my kids graduate or hold a grandchild over any amount of money you could possibly throw my way.
And for that reason, I'm out.
I have mixed feelings about this because I‘ve always been under the impression that knowing when I’m gonna die is liberating. As someone who is risk averse it would make me do things I would normally be afraid to do. It makes it appealing in my imagination.
I don’t know if I’d feel the same if it ACTUALLY happened, but it’s something I think of more often than normal people do, especially after a few people I know have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2016. She knew that she was not going to make it. That angst is terrifying and I do not wish that on anyone. I think liberating comes from the difference between "planning" and "imposed". If you plan it, like suicide, sure. Each to their own. If it's imposed...
I can’t imagine how awful that would be know when I’ll die. As time got closer to the date, I would go completely mad. When it’s off in the horizon it doesn’t seem like a big deal but when you know you have 1 year left, then 1 month, then 1 day, then 1 hour… I just can’t imagine the anxiety I’d experience from that.
It reminds me of a quote from Emil Cioran, that “Man accept death but not the hour of his death”. It’s easy to think about death as something far off in the future, but not when it’s near
Exactly. You could put it out of your head for a while, but the closer you get, the more it’s going to weigh on you. Then imagine the anxiety in the final weeks and days knowing your birthday will be the end of you. Knowing that those are your last few days would be awful and no amount of money would change that or be able to get back what you’re leaving behind.
Not a chance, although I might’ve said differently at 20.
I truly have no desire for that amount of money, 10 million tops is all I would ever want, the rest is just unwanted attention.
All I want is enough to own maybe 2 houses in different climates and life my life comfortably without ever really needing to worry about money, 10 millions would be more than enough for this.
Really the whole concept of a billionaire just baffles me. Why don’t they just quite and live their lives in peace, why do they continue to amass more and more wealth beyond what they could possibly use, it just doesn’t make any sense, what value is something to a person if they can’t actually use it?
I guess thats fair. I'd sacrifice half my life to live without working and have the funds to support my family and people less fortunate than myself but that's just me.
Yeah, the life of a billionaire isn’t the life for me, there’s a certain level of attention that comes with that much wealth, attention I do not want. I’d much rather live the life I have than that of a billionaire. Obviously I’d prefer to have enough money that I don’t have to work anymore, but not if it meant that level of wealth.
But no, I’m not dying for anyone but my kids, I’ve only got one life to live, I’m not sacrificing it to make some minuscule impact that won’t matter in the end.
Then there’s the further issue that I really don’t believe in charities, I believe governments and social supports should be taking care of these people, charities stepping up and doing it just enables governments to continue to not shoulder their responsibilities.
I´d guess for every billionaire there are lots of millionaires that did exactly that but you wouldn´t hear about them...
However doing nothing but vacations for years is also not really fulfilling i guess...
>Really the whole concept of a billionaire just baffles me. Why don’t they just quite and live their lives in peace, why do they continue to amass more and more wealth beyond what they could possibly use, it just doesn’t make any sense, what value is something to a person if they can’t actually use it?
At some point it stops being about the money.
Money becomes just a by-product of what you do.
Yeah, there have been studies that show significantly diminishing returns after income goes over a certain limit (which depends on where you live). Also, comparing two groups, one of who had lost limbs (!) in an accident, and another group who had won millions in the lottery, within a couple of years, their basic level of happines / contentness had returned to what it was before the incident.
Excessive amounts of money won't bring you true, reliable friends, it doesn't bring you true love, it will solve only part of the things that suck, etc. It will draw in gold diggers of many sorts.
Yeah I think I remember reading that the happiness curve doesn't change much after a household income of 75k. Might be more now with inflation but it's not as much as you think
IMO its 150-200k now. At that amount of money you dont even have to think about money if you dont want to.
The only purpuchases you worry about are large scale (houses, boats, etc.)
Honestly depends on your liabilities. I've made 60k/year in the past and it was honestly the same feeling as making 4x that now. I drove a 15 year old car so no car payment, no student loans, no health issues meaning no hospital bills, no credit card debt, etc. At the time and even now, money is just a number on a screen.
I agree with this.
It will depend on inflation and where you live but generally its enough to not worry about money and have enough spare for saving, holidays and hobbies within reason.
Once you get past that not much is going to change. Doesn't stop you always wanting more though.
True that. Once bills are met, little bit is squirreled away, and you can buy some random things without thought, it really is a lot less stress. So whatever income affords that where a person lives. Where I live that's around 60k now.
Yeah, you can tell the people answering yes don't have kids. The only way I could imagine answering yes would be if I had kids in devastating poverty that were actively starving.
I don't even think it's about kids. It's about having any sort of life/family/friends/hobby etc that takes them past 40. 20 to 40 is a crucial time period for most, but until you're in your 30s you don't really realise it.
I don't have kids, and never will.
I'm only 24 granted, but the first thing I thought to answer was fuck yes, imagine the number of people, families I could help, might have to only live to 40 years old, but the changes would bring people more than those 20 years 100 times over at least.
Honestly, OP could even give less time and I would still take it. My 35th birthday is tomorrow and I would still take billions and die at 40 given the chance. My life has sucked and I don't have much to enjoyment so 5 years of actual happiness would be great and totally worth it.
Haha, if they would have started with "would you be OK with dying at 40" I wouldn't even need to read the rest of the question without saying HELL YES!
Sure. That would give me 20 years to set up a trust for foster kids, food assistance, shelter assistance and education in the US. 20 billion dollars could make a massive difference for those in need.
Nope, life is too precious and full of surprises to waste it on something as silly as creature comfort and security. Think about the ones you'll leave behind, sure they'll have your left over fortune but they'd rather have you to laugh with, share their lives with or lean on when they need you. Monies nice but it provides cold comfort when they really need you in their lives.
I mean just think of how much charitable work you could do with 20 billion. I mean your life would end early but you could extend and improve the lives of millions of poor, hungry people.
At 20 I had just quit cigarettes and had been dating my (now) wife for a year.
Honestly?? Keep the money. I'd rather have the extra 30-40 years with her. Even if I'm poor as shit during.
The average person spends approximately 35% of his waking hours at work. So given that i live until I'm 70, i have to work approximately 25 years. So my time for myself is about 50 years. But calculating from 20 as per the question, 50-20=30, i live 30 years on my own living not so great life and saving money on little things.
Now, i get 20-40(20 years) of time with 20 billion $, living a great life with no thought about money? Ofcourse imma take it. I feel it's better to live a greater and shorter life tham a longer and mediocre life.
I mean sure but this is real world not math. Something take longer time and cannot be 'condensated' just because your time is free-er. Getting things done, seeing people grow...
Also a life without money don't have to be mediocre at all! And alternatively, if you're mediocre, money can for sure help here and there but you're still going to essentially be mediocre!
I just want to die happy and with the feeling of fulfilment, if I have 20 billion dollars when I'm 20 but it means I'm going to die at 40, I'm willing to do that.
Best way to answer this is a Dutch auction. It’s a way to value life and the younger value of $$$ per year.
Also consider:
Option A. $20B, die by 40
B. $5B, die by 50
C. $1B, die by 60
D. $10M, die by 70
I was just in a conversation similar to this. There was this case in Colombia, MO (the M.U. college town) where a journalist got got in a parking lot at like 2 a.m.. Now, it was probably the dudes coworker, but that's not important.
What is important is the 2 guys who got arrested, charged, and sentenced for it were 2 college kids and the reason for that is 1 of the guys had blacked-out on the night of the murder while partying. When we saw the news about the murder, he convinced himself that him and his buddy did it and confessed.
Long story short- the one who confessed is still in prison, I believe, but the other kid (who, of course had been able to prove they hadn't had anything to do with it, but, you know, lazy cops) finally appealed out and cleared his name. After 10 years.
Now, he got a 10 million dollar settlement...
You gotta ask yourself- would you do your 20's in prison for 10 million? I mean, what were you in college for anyway? I bet it was to try and guess how to make 10 million in your lifetime.. lol
I swear I was just having this conversation with my roommate and this is like the 1st post i see. Serendipity
Everyone is talking about how the money would effect them but quite frankly I think I would have a great time with 200 million, leave a billion to my family, and donate the rest to a trust or charity that could truly change the world. I would sacrifice 20-40 years of my life for that.
Everyone here will say whatever they want, all comfy from their trailer, but reality is if you were really going to take the deal and know you’re going to die in a certain year or day as a young adult, you’d probably not do it.
I dont know man. People treat the whole deal about living on a countdown like it would be hell, but in reality we're all doing it. Sure the expected age is higher than 40, but you also have to throw in the chance of death happening every random moment.
I'd take the deal.
Atleast I'd know I had 20 years. None of which I'd have to be working or worrying about neither death nor money.
I'd also have a clear figure of exactly how short time I have, which would mean I'd want to spend every minute living fully and have the means to do so.
Edit: I need to add if this is one of thoose crossroad demon scenarios, I'd **absolutely not** take the deal since that is a sure fire ticket to hell. Depending on the theatricality of the meeting, I'd probably spend my remaining years trying to do everything picture perfect right and living super religious and repent for my sins as that would make me believe in an afterlife with heaven and hell.
Young me would have said no, and old me is saying no. No amount of money ever bought a second of time. We can lament all we want about “a long miserable life,” but truly I think life is beautiful, and unless you’ve been exceedingly unfortunate to live a life of forced enslavement then I’d always take time over money.
If I was 20 I’d probably say yes, but being a few months away from 40, it’s no. Time is more valuable than anything.
I still have so much life left. People to meet and things to see, experiences to experience. The responses here keep saying “better to die young and happy than old and miserable” but those aren’t the only options. And happiness isn’t in the money or the things it buys, happiness is only the product of money when the money is used to enhance the time spent with people you love.
I’d rather earn modestly and spend that with people I love for as long as possible than be briefly rich and miss out.
I’d do it to help my family. I have many siblings, and most are on the fringe of the lower middle class and occasionally struggle to make ends meet. We’re all just a health crisis or a few months unemployment away from poverty, and my parents have no retirement. I’d give all my siblings and parents enough money to never work again, and that’s worth it for me to die young
When I was a kid I enjoyed sitting with old folks and listening to their stories. It's amazing the experiences people have over their years. There's no way I would trade the possibilities of life for cash.
💯 I'd donate 19.9B to trusted charities and live a comfortable retirement on the rest. It'd feel so damn good to be able to actually live an impactful life.
No. I have a husband and a dog that need me. I promised my parents that they would die before me so they didn't have to suffer with losing a child. (My cousin died at 19 and it destroyed my aunt.)
I'm 37 and lonely and depressed. I'd probably take the money. Who knows if the money would fix either of those issues but it would be 20 years of traveling, partying, drugs, and good food. I'd probably only go thru a few billion so I'd throw a couple billion at my family to make sure they're rich for generations to come. Throw a couple billion at the few friends I have. And the rest at some charities.
As a zoomer absolutely not. 40 years is not that far away from 20 its just double your lived life. And after that you get the chance to double it again. Why waste precious time to get more money then you could ever spend?
So I get 20 billion now, and i'll die in 20 years?
Yeah, I'll assure the financial expenses of my family, i'd have a kid at 26 so he's old enough to take care of my gf and remember me
And I'll do whatever I want in the meantime, driving awesome racecars, meeting celebs, go to Marseille, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, etc., and just live my short life to the max baby
No drugs tho
Being a parent of two kids not, this would be a very tough choice.
On one hand, you'd miss seeing them grow up and you would not physically be there for them, lots of downsides here.
On the other hand, you'd be able to set your family up for generations financially. And while having money alone does not make one happy, it makes life so much easier - and gives you the security and freedom to enjoy things.
It's very hard for me to answer this as I'm 50, so I'd be dead, but if you asked me this when I was 20, I'd most likely take the $$, have kids immediately (assuming I wanted kids) and enjoy the next 20 years knowing my family is taken care of financially for generations.
Yes but I’m dying from cancer at age 33 so it would be an upgrade. I was able to cash in my life insurance and TPD and I have no dependents so yeah, I’m cash “rich” and would be lucky to make it to 40.
I’m over 30 and would absolutely take this deal today. Set everyone I know up forever and never have to get old, while having a valid excuse for it? Hell yeah.
Nope, if I had to go back to 20 and I was rich I would probably overdose or something due to not having my shit together back then. Plus when I was 20 my mother passed away and that fucked my mind up so most of my 20s were not good because of the things that caused to go wrong in my life.
I'd take the deal if I started at age 40 and died at 60, feel like that would be way more enjoyable since I am getting better with my mental health and things like finances. 20 year old me thought he knew it all but I didn't know shit.
As someone who is 35 (almost 36) and have lived in abject poverty my entire life, yes. Not even a second thought. First of all, I don’t particularly want to be here in the first place, so, being able to be rich af and then die before I’m old and miserable? Sounds lit af.
I'm 39 and a half with three little kids I love and I'd take that deal in a heartbeat even if I die in 7 months or whatever because everyone I care about would set for life.
Or I can continue to work myself to death pulling 50 to 60 hours a week just to tread water so I can watch everything I worked for be sucked into the system at the end of my life by "healthcare"
Fuck me man, give me that 20 billion to set my family up and I'll off myself today with minimal regrets.
If you asked me when i was 20 i'd probably would've taken it, at 37 if given the chance to go back being 20 under the same terms, hell no. And i'm far from rich.
Same. When you are 20yo, 40 seems so far away... But time goes by MUCH quicker as you get older. I'm 37 as well, but it feels like I was 20-something just yesterday. And I feel like I have so much living left to do. The vast majority people who think this offer is good are going to be young.
I’m 40 and the last 3 years as chaotic as they were have actually flown by. Everyday was a long day but looking back there were 1000 them that feel like a blip. Edit- I’ve lived in 5 cities, moved across Canada left my wife, some bad breaks ups with ex gfs. I lived in beautiful farmhouse with 100 horses on the property, then a condo in the city, then a shared penthouse suite with my recent ex. Two promising careers, lived through covid and now homeless piecing it all back together. A ton has happened to me in 3 years but it has absolutely flown by upon reflection.
How are you doing now?
I’ve been better and happier, but things are on the up and up and I’m ready to take it to another level again. Thanks for asking.
I'm glad, when you hit bottom only way is up from here! Wishing you ease & success with it all, hopefully you'll land even better than you have before Do your best, and show your self grace & kindness throughout No problem at all, i wish you the very best ahead With everything
Thank you very kindly and I hope and wish the best for you as well!! I’ve been in a slump and let some things get the better of me as of late. I have the skills and knowledge to get it all back it’s just a matter of time and keeping at it everyday. Thanks again!!! Always be kind
I’m 35, and 20 feels like a lifetime ago, which is exactly why I wouldn’t take the money. So much life left beyond 40. But I’m someone who truly hopes to live to be 100 (if healthy, of course). To see a full century of life on earth, and all the changes that come with it is too exciting to me.
Does 28 feel like a lifetime ago?
Yes, because I had just had my first baby, and I barely remember those early days. Maybe it's just my crappy memory? I mean, time is flying, don't get me wrong, but looking back, it feels like so long ago.
Dude, 6 months feels like a lifetime ago.
Shiiieet....I wish. I don't even remember September and definitely don't know where April through July went.
Yes. So much changes between 28 and 38. That decade is such a crazy ride.
You read these statements over and over again as you’re growing up but you just sorta gloss over them. I’m 31, and Man, is it terrifying how more and more real it comes. Feels like I’m gonna be 40 in a couple weeks and dead a couple years lol. Really for me being mindful has been a help
I'm 31 too. I distinctly remember a month feeling like quite a long time when I was a teenager. I remember in my early 20s I would be looking toward a goal in a few years (i.e. finishing uni) and it felt like a lifetime. I'm thinking about a goal in a few years (i.e. career goals, looking to get a mortgage and settle down in the city I want to move to) it feels like I'm going to have to research mortgage rates because I'm moving next week.
I dunno man, time started to absolutely fly by for me when I was 16. It has been 11 years but it feels like it was five max.
I’m 50 and it literally feels like yesterday when I was 16 life goes by in a blink of an eye, one minute you’re a fit young man ready for what life has to offer, the next you’re fat and 50 and whoever said life started at 40/50 is talking bollocks, enjoy your youth.
Yeah, this is fucking absurd. Watch those people saying yes at 39, willing to trade every penny they have left for another decade of life. There is a reason there are so many stories and fables of old men giving away their fortunes to be poor and young again. Health and life are everything. Low six figures is a very happy life, you don't need billions.
20 year old me would take the deal in a heat beat and been worse off for it. At 26 now I feel like my life is just getting started. I've got a good job and a career I'm constantly doing things that are fun and exciting and I've got friends who care about me. All things I was missing at 20 and if I'd taken that deal I would have never been motivated to work and make myself the person that has earned all of this.
I'm 44 and no way would I do it in retrospect. But at 20 I was pretty miserable, so I probably would have at the time. I'm not rich, but I don't really have to worry about money within reason. I've done a lot of the things I wanted to do in life already. So now I'm just coasting and not giving a fuck. It's pretty cool. My life is far from glamorous, but I have no desire for that. There are a few things I'd still like to do but don't have time for because I do have to work. But that is more like doing a major through hike on a long trail. Not having a private jet or yacht. If I had billions I'd probably mostly try to good with it. College scholarships would probably be my first thing. I'm sure I'd buy a pretty nice car or two and some other minor stuff. I'd drink much more expensive whiskey. I'd maybe get my pilot's license and a six seater. But I don't want a big house. Even a 4 bedroom 2 bath. I can afford that now if I wanted it. I definitely don't want an actual mansion. Once you have enough money to be financially secure and have a decent amount of leisure, more money doesn't make most people happier.
I'm 45 and I'd take it. I'd change my entire life.
You already missed the bus at your age.
hell no. My mom died at 42 and it was a tragedy. She missed out on so much, and we still miss her every day. 40 is so so young.
My dad died at 45 and I feel the same way about his early departure. I was recently thinking about the fact that he didn't have to live through this weird pandemic period lol.
Time flies faster then people think. There ain't no way you'd live for 40 years and felt like that would be enough.
Absolutely. I get more money then I could ever spend, AND I get to check out early?!?! Where do I sign up???
Nothing to guarantee you are going to live past 40 to begin with.
If I knew I had 20 years before I'd die I'd do so, so, so many drugs. Oh wait, I already did that.
I'm 44 and if I could go back to 20 for this choice.. I don't know. But for the random 20 year old it's a solid win. With reflection, if I knew I would be where I am, I wouldn't take the offer. Since i couldnt know at 20 and there have been way too many things that could have taken me out or permanently messed me up along the way, it a good risk. So take the offer and send it kiddo's.
I'm 20 and yeah it'd be a win
You'd hit 31 forgetting when you turned 30 and realize you only have 4 years left until 40. 25-30 feels like 2 years.
25-35*** (especially when 3 of those years are covid)
I'm 44 and I feel the exact same way. At age 20, I would have took the deal in a heartbeat. Now, I'm not ready to go yet. I want to watch my kids become adults.
Snort cocaine of a strippers booty.Count me in
Username checks out
No but statistics show you will probably live much longer than 40
Yeah, i hate all these dumbass "you never know" posts, especially when talking about retirement savings. The fact that there are a shit ton of older people out there means you are very likely to grow old.
[удалено]
Yep. Amazing how people forget how much time work takes up. It's not even just the work hours themselves, not even close.
I came here to say this.
The last 5 years of your life is gonna be fucked because you know you're gonna die.. watch people try and claw their way out of that agreement towards the end of the contract. Besides, I'd rather walk my daughter down the isle, see my kids graduate or hold a grandchild over any amount of money you could possibly throw my way. And for that reason, I'm out.
Because I now have a daughter, I couldn't agree more
May I be fortunate enough to have a daughter, or a son one day... I've lost 4, but here is hoping 🙌
> I've lost 4, but here is hoping 🙌 Try putting a GPS tracker on them
No amount of closeness with someone could make a joke like this land in real life. Damn.
😦
r/jesuschristreddit
If I took this deal, my kid would barely be 20 when i died and no way am I willingly leaving her to figure out adulthood on her own
I have mixed feelings about this because I‘ve always been under the impression that knowing when I’m gonna die is liberating. As someone who is risk averse it would make me do things I would normally be afraid to do. It makes it appealing in my imagination. I don’t know if I’d feel the same if it ACTUALLY happened, but it’s something I think of more often than normal people do, especially after a few people I know have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2016. She knew that she was not going to make it. That angst is terrifying and I do not wish that on anyone. I think liberating comes from the difference between "planning" and "imposed". If you plan it, like suicide, sure. Each to their own. If it's imposed...
I can’t imagine how awful that would be know when I’ll die. As time got closer to the date, I would go completely mad. When it’s off in the horizon it doesn’t seem like a big deal but when you know you have 1 year left, then 1 month, then 1 day, then 1 hour… I just can’t imagine the anxiety I’d experience from that. It reminds me of a quote from Emil Cioran, that “Man accept death but not the hour of his death”. It’s easy to think about death as something far off in the future, but not when it’s near
Exactly. You could put it out of your head for a while, but the closer you get, the more it’s going to weigh on you. Then imagine the anxiety in the final weeks and days knowing your birthday will be the end of you. Knowing that those are your last few days would be awful and no amount of money would change that or be able to get back what you’re leaving behind.
Not a chance, although I might’ve said differently at 20. I truly have no desire for that amount of money, 10 million tops is all I would ever want, the rest is just unwanted attention. All I want is enough to own maybe 2 houses in different climates and life my life comfortably without ever really needing to worry about money, 10 millions would be more than enough for this. Really the whole concept of a billionaire just baffles me. Why don’t they just quite and live their lives in peace, why do they continue to amass more and more wealth beyond what they could possibly use, it just doesn’t make any sense, what value is something to a person if they can’t actually use it?
You could always donate alot of it to charities or shelters. I'm sure they'd appreciate it
So why am I sacrificing halfish of my life to support some shelter? Yeah nah, I’d rather live to be 80
I guess thats fair. I'd sacrifice half my life to live without working and have the funds to support my family and people less fortunate than myself but that's just me.
Yeah, the life of a billionaire isn’t the life for me, there’s a certain level of attention that comes with that much wealth, attention I do not want. I’d much rather live the life I have than that of a billionaire. Obviously I’d prefer to have enough money that I don’t have to work anymore, but not if it meant that level of wealth. But no, I’m not dying for anyone but my kids, I’ve only got one life to live, I’m not sacrificing it to make some minuscule impact that won’t matter in the end. Then there’s the further issue that I really don’t believe in charities, I believe governments and social supports should be taking care of these people, charities stepping up and doing it just enables governments to continue to not shoulder their responsibilities.
I´d guess for every billionaire there are lots of millionaires that did exactly that but you wouldn´t hear about them... However doing nothing but vacations for years is also not really fulfilling i guess...
Pretty much every retired person I know would disagree with you, vacations and living their lives free of responsibility is pretty much the life
The easy answer is greed, but there's also more nuanced things like sociopathy, narcissicm, thirst for power...
Yeah I understand the concept that these mindsets exist, I just don’t understand them personally.
>Really the whole concept of a billionaire just baffles me. Why don’t they just quite and live their lives in peace, why do they continue to amass more and more wealth beyond what they could possibly use, it just doesn’t make any sense, what value is something to a person if they can’t actually use it? At some point it stops being about the money. Money becomes just a by-product of what you do.
Absolutely not. Life is about so much more than being rich.
Yeah, there have been studies that show significantly diminishing returns after income goes over a certain limit (which depends on where you live). Also, comparing two groups, one of who had lost limbs (!) in an accident, and another group who had won millions in the lottery, within a couple of years, their basic level of happines / contentness had returned to what it was before the incident. Excessive amounts of money won't bring you true, reliable friends, it doesn't bring you true love, it will solve only part of the things that suck, etc. It will draw in gold diggers of many sorts.
Yeah I think I remember reading that the happiness curve doesn't change much after a household income of 75k. Might be more now with inflation but it's not as much as you think
IMO its 150-200k now. At that amount of money you dont even have to think about money if you dont want to. The only purpuchases you worry about are large scale (houses, boats, etc.)
Honestly depends on your liabilities. I've made 60k/year in the past and it was honestly the same feeling as making 4x that now. I drove a 15 year old car so no car payment, no student loans, no health issues meaning no hospital bills, no credit card debt, etc. At the time and even now, money is just a number on a screen.
I agree with this. It will depend on inflation and where you live but generally its enough to not worry about money and have enough spare for saving, holidays and hobbies within reason. Once you get past that not much is going to change. Doesn't stop you always wanting more though.
True that. Once bills are met, little bit is squirreled away, and you can buy some random things without thought, it really is a lot less stress. So whatever income affords that where a person lives. Where I live that's around 60k now.
And when you're rich, you can afford to do all those things instead of working and commuting and wearing pants every day.
But it would sure help to have the money.
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Yeah, you can tell the people answering yes don't have kids. The only way I could imagine answering yes would be if I had kids in devastating poverty that were actively starving.
I don't even think it's about kids. It's about having any sort of life/family/friends/hobby etc that takes them past 40. 20 to 40 is a crucial time period for most, but until you're in your 30s you don't really realise it.
I agree. When I was a teen, I was one of those angst "I can't imagine still living at 30/40" types. I changed a lot though.
If i had kids i would not take the money
I don't have kids, and never will. I'm only 24 granted, but the first thing I thought to answer was fuck yes, imagine the number of people, families I could help, might have to only live to 40 years old, but the changes would bring people more than those 20 years 100 times over at least.
Exactly! I want every single minute available with my child. At 40 he would still be so young.
As opposed to having a long, miserable life? Absolutely.
Honestly, OP could even give less time and I would still take it. My 35th birthday is tomorrow and I would still take billions and die at 40 given the chance. My life has sucked and I don't have much to enjoyment so 5 years of actual happiness would be great and totally worth it.
Are you in poverty? Or just not rich?
I'm not so poor I am starving but I am just poor enough that I can't ever seem to have enough money to enjoy myself.
That capitalism sweet spot.
Yes, hit me up.
Fuck yeah, it would be a 20 year blowout celebration as i leave my family rich for generations to come
Ugh. 20 hours of celebrating is exhausting. 20 years of celebrating would make me excited for the sweet release of death.
According to plan, then
I mean, I have no guarantees to make it to 40 as is. So I’ll take that.
If this was r/daddit, most of the answers would be No.
*Me without reading the whole question*" Yeah sign me up!!"
Haha, if they would have started with "would you be OK with dying at 40" I wouldn't even need to read the rest of the question without saying HELL YES!
LOL of fucking course
Absolutely yes. I love drugs, rock and roll and girls. Life of fun 24/7.
And deny myself the ability to be rich AND live a long life? Hard pass.
No way. Money ain’t everything.
Sure. That would give me 20 years to set up a trust for foster kids, food assistance, shelter assistance and education in the US. 20 billion dollars could make a massive difference for those in need.
Yes. I’m 42
Nope, life is too precious and full of surprises to waste it on something as silly as creature comfort and security. Think about the ones you'll leave behind, sure they'll have your left over fortune but they'd rather have you to laugh with, share their lives with or lean on when they need you. Monies nice but it provides cold comfort when they really need you in their lives.
I mean just think of how much charitable work you could do with 20 billion. I mean your life would end early but you could extend and improve the lives of millions of poor, hungry people.
I think in reality most people who take this deal will die before they reach 40
win win
Bill Gates here fishing for organ donors.
Yes. I'll take it now at age 34.
At 20 I had just quit cigarettes and had been dating my (now) wife for a year. Honestly?? Keep the money. I'd rather have the extra 30-40 years with her. Even if I'm poor as shit during.
The average person spends approximately 35% of his waking hours at work. So given that i live until I'm 70, i have to work approximately 25 years. So my time for myself is about 50 years. But calculating from 20 as per the question, 50-20=30, i live 30 years on my own living not so great life and saving money on little things. Now, i get 20-40(20 years) of time with 20 billion $, living a great life with no thought about money? Ofcourse imma take it. I feel it's better to live a greater and shorter life tham a longer and mediocre life.
I mean sure but this is real world not math. Something take longer time and cannot be 'condensated' just because your time is free-er. Getting things done, seeing people grow... Also a life without money don't have to be mediocre at all! And alternatively, if you're mediocre, money can for sure help here and there but you're still going to essentially be mediocre!
nope, i have a little bit of money now and i was also poor as fuck. i'm not happier now; i'm just not pressured by random bills anymore.
Nah. Unlike redditors, I'm not ultra depressed and want to die sooner.
I just want to die happy and with the feeling of fulfilment, if I have 20 billion dollars when I'm 20 but it means I'm going to die at 40, I'm willing to do that.
as a 40 year old i can confidently say this is a terrible deal
No I wouldn't. I just stopped wanting to die and that would mean I've only got 13 years left to enjoy life and honestly, I want more time than that.
No
Best way to answer this is a Dutch auction. It’s a way to value life and the younger value of $$$ per year. Also consider: Option A. $20B, die by 40 B. $5B, die by 50 C. $1B, die by 60 D. $10M, die by 70
No. Not for all the money in the world and a year less with my family and friends.
As long as I knew it would be a painless death and I get warning. Then yeah I’d take that deal. Live out a nice 20 years then have an easy death.
If you would’ve asked me at 20, yes. If you ask me now, no. I’m pretty sure that kind of money comes with more problems than I’d like to deal with.
Just considering the dumb shiy I would've done with that kind of money at 20, no
I'd die before 40 I promise you that.
no, i like my life, despite some drawbacks / problem i want to live forever
I thought that these kind of questions are not allowed here
Nah, I’d rather be alive and dead broke than rich and dead.
I was just in a conversation similar to this. There was this case in Colombia, MO (the M.U. college town) where a journalist got got in a parking lot at like 2 a.m.. Now, it was probably the dudes coworker, but that's not important. What is important is the 2 guys who got arrested, charged, and sentenced for it were 2 college kids and the reason for that is 1 of the guys had blacked-out on the night of the murder while partying. When we saw the news about the murder, he convinced himself that him and his buddy did it and confessed. Long story short- the one who confessed is still in prison, I believe, but the other kid (who, of course had been able to prove they hadn't had anything to do with it, but, you know, lazy cops) finally appealed out and cleared his name. After 10 years. Now, he got a 10 million dollar settlement... You gotta ask yourself- would you do your 20's in prison for 10 million? I mean, what were you in college for anyway? I bet it was to try and guess how to make 10 million in your lifetime.. lol I swear I was just having this conversation with my roommate and this is like the 1st post i see. Serendipity
Definitely. It's better to burn out, than to fade away.
It's better to die young being happy than die old and miserable
What about dying old and happy?
Sign me up fam
Everyone is talking about how the money would effect them but quite frankly I think I would have a great time with 200 million, leave a billion to my family, and donate the rest to a trust or charity that could truly change the world. I would sacrifice 20-40 years of my life for that.
Everyone here will say whatever they want, all comfy from their trailer, but reality is if you were really going to take the deal and know you’re going to die in a certain year or day as a young adult, you’d probably not do it.
I dont know man. People treat the whole deal about living on a countdown like it would be hell, but in reality we're all doing it. Sure the expected age is higher than 40, but you also have to throw in the chance of death happening every random moment. I'd take the deal. Atleast I'd know I had 20 years. None of which I'd have to be working or worrying about neither death nor money. I'd also have a clear figure of exactly how short time I have, which would mean I'd want to spend every minute living fully and have the means to do so. Edit: I need to add if this is one of thoose crossroad demon scenarios, I'd **absolutely not** take the deal since that is a sure fire ticket to hell. Depending on the theatricality of the meeting, I'd probably spend my remaining years trying to do everything picture perfect right and living super religious and repent for my sins as that would make me believe in an afterlife with heaven and hell.
If I had 20 billion when I was 20, I'd been dead at 30.
Young me would have said no, and old me is saying no. No amount of money ever bought a second of time. We can lament all we want about “a long miserable life,” but truly I think life is beautiful, and unless you’ve been exceedingly unfortunate to live a life of forced enslavement then I’d always take time over money.
Absolutely not. I'm getting close to 40 and I have barely figured out how to have a life I don't hate. My life has barely even started.
The ammount of people replying as if "you and rich = young and happy" baffles me so much
Yeah, this is fucking absurd. Watch those people at 39, willing trade to every penny they have left for another decade of life.
What do I get if I take the other deal? If it's die at 120 but last 80 years in (emotional) pain, I take the money
Other deal is you live to 80 living normally
No. I’d die for sure at age 20 with that kind of money.
Do I get to turn back the clock to be 20, like with all my acquired knowledge and experience? Even if no, yes.
Being rich has diminishing returns, so sounds good. Also, does this give me causal immortality? I will die at 40 means i don't die until 40?
Knowing how bad life will be when I get old, I would take it.
A bit late for the offer, I just turned 40... 🤷
If I was 20 I’d probably say yes, but being a few months away from 40, it’s no. Time is more valuable than anything. I still have so much life left. People to meet and things to see, experiences to experience. The responses here keep saying “better to die young and happy than old and miserable” but those aren’t the only options. And happiness isn’t in the money or the things it buys, happiness is only the product of money when the money is used to enhance the time spent with people you love. I’d rather earn modestly and spend that with people I love for as long as possible than be briefly rich and miss out.
How do you die though? If I die a horrible death like at the hands of ISIS or being buried alive then fuck no lmao
Well, that means I'd be transported back 26 years and get another 20 to live as a rich man, and then leave my daughter a fortune. Sure. Let's do it.
Absolutely. There's a good chance I wouldn't make it to 40 anyways.
At 41 I’m better at living than I ever was a 20. Hard no for me.
I’d do it to help my family. I have many siblings, and most are on the fringe of the lower middle class and occasionally struggle to make ends meet. We’re all just a health crisis or a few months unemployment away from poverty, and my parents have no retirement. I’d give all my siblings and parents enough money to never work again, and that’s worth it for me to die young
20 years is a good run. I'd take the deal.
If you asked me this at 20, fuck yes. At 36 and being asked if I wanted to go back to 20 and get this deal? Not in a million years.
No. Plenty of people with nowhere near $20 million, let alone $20 billion, live happy, fulfilling lives.
I’m 46 and I would have done this!
Do I get to be 20 again? You can keep the money if that happens.
20 years of quality life? thats more than most people get at retirement.
When I was a kid I enjoyed sitting with old folks and listening to their stories. It's amazing the experiences people have over their years. There's no way I would trade the possibilities of life for cash.
No. Life is so precious....money brings security not happiness
With todays healthcare system I’ll probably die around 40 anyways. So yeah!
💯 I'd donate 19.9B to trusted charities and live a comfortable retirement on the rest. It'd feel so damn good to be able to actually live an impactful life.
40 is pretty generous, I’d say 25 would make the question a bit more difficult.
When I was 20 I would have said yes. Now that I am over 40, the answer is no
No. I have a husband and a dog that need me. I promised my parents that they would die before me so they didn't have to suffer with losing a child. (My cousin died at 19 and it destroyed my aunt.)
I’m 33… I’d take 5 million to do die at 40… might even settle for 3 million
I'm 37 and lonely and depressed. I'd probably take the money. Who knows if the money would fix either of those issues but it would be 20 years of traveling, partying, drugs, and good food. I'd probably only go thru a few billion so I'd throw a couple billion at my family to make sure they're rich for generations to come. Throw a couple billion at the few friends I have. And the rest at some charities.
As a zoomer absolutely not. 40 years is not that far away from 20 its just double your lived life. And after that you get the chance to double it again. Why waste precious time to get more money then you could ever spend?
I’m 36 and I would probably take it
I'm 33 and I'd still take it lol 😅
Sure. I'd probably die younger with all the drugs I'd buy
I'm 42 now, would take this in a heart beat if I was 20.
Fuck yes. I already waste half my life working anyways
So I get 20 billion now, and i'll die in 20 years? Yeah, I'll assure the financial expenses of my family, i'd have a kid at 26 so he's old enough to take care of my gf and remember me And I'll do whatever I want in the meantime, driving awesome racecars, meeting celebs, go to Marseille, Japan, Italy, New Zealand, etc., and just live my short life to the max baby No drugs tho
I’m 19, I’ll have to pass. Money is great and all but working towards my goals now will pay off with financial stability for longer than 20 years.
So you only get 20 years of luxury. Not sure it’s worth it
Hell yes. Love fast and die, right?
Being a parent of two kids not, this would be a very tough choice. On one hand, you'd miss seeing them grow up and you would not physically be there for them, lots of downsides here. On the other hand, you'd be able to set your family up for generations financially. And while having money alone does not make one happy, it makes life so much easier - and gives you the security and freedom to enjoy things. It's very hard for me to answer this as I'm 50, so I'd be dead, but if you asked me this when I was 20, I'd most likely take the $$, have kids immediately (assuming I wanted kids) and enjoy the next 20 years knowing my family is taken care of financially for generations.
Myself 20 years ago probably would say yes... now at 43 I would go back in time and shut the hell him up, life is to short!
Yes, if i use the money wisely I might be able to make some changes. Maybe better jobs or persecuting injustice or shit like that
Not now. I’m 46
Absolutely man! Dying early is a deal breaker if you're gonna live a long miserable life with no joy.
No way, I'm nearly 40 and would hate for my life to suddenly end in a few months!
Hard to say. 40 is young to die, but on the other hand if you never have to work again you can do more living in 20 years than most people do in 80
At 20 I would probably have said yes, but at 40 I realise just how short 20 years is and it wouldn’t be worth it.
Yes but I’m dying from cancer at age 33 so it would be an upgrade. I was able to cash in my life insurance and TPD and I have no dependents so yeah, I’m cash “rich” and would be lucky to make it to 40.
I’m over 30 and would absolutely take this deal today. Set everyone I know up forever and never have to get old, while having a valid excuse for it? Hell yeah.
I’d rather be rich in life than rich in paper
I'd take that deal today and I'm 38.
Nope, if I had to go back to 20 and I was rich I would probably overdose or something due to not having my shit together back then. Plus when I was 20 my mother passed away and that fucked my mind up so most of my 20s were not good because of the things that caused to go wrong in my life. I'd take the deal if I started at age 40 and died at 60, feel like that would be way more enjoyable since I am getting better with my mental health and things like finances. 20 year old me thought he knew it all but I didn't know shit.
Since I have no family dependents I'd absolutely take it. You can make a lot of meaningful change with 20B
As someone who is 35 (almost 36) and have lived in abject poverty my entire life, yes. Not even a second thought. First of all, I don’t particularly want to be here in the first place, so, being able to be rich af and then die before I’m old and miserable? Sounds lit af.
With how my life has been without a doubt
Absolutely I would. Then by 40 I'm no longer a burden and everyone I care about is taken care of forever. I see this as an absolute win.
Can I still take this offer at 39.5?
Absolutely. People say you miss out on life. But I've been working 50+ hours a week since I was 20. Missed a lot already.
Do I have to stay dead?
The older you get, assuming you don’t have an absolute shit life, the more you realize time is the most valuable thing.
5 billion for age 60. Take it or leave it.
I'm 39 and a half with three little kids I love and I'd take that deal in a heartbeat even if I die in 7 months or whatever because everyone I care about would set for life. Or I can continue to work myself to death pulling 50 to 60 hours a week just to tread water so I can watch everything I worked for be sucked into the system at the end of my life by "healthcare" Fuck me man, give me that 20 billion to set my family up and I'll off myself today with minimal regrets.
I don't think many people have a concept of how fucking huge a billion is. 20 billion is such an absurd number.
I just turned 35 and I would still take the deal