$47B is not money, it's power.
I don't think I could be bothered, I'm much too apathetic.

All I want is freedom. With the right outlook I can have it with relatively little money and the lifestyle I want.

It's power! :D Your life would never be the same again. I think anonymity would be the only thing you'd find hard to acquire!

Personally? I think for $47 billion, I'd constantly roam the globe, sightseeing with my girlfriend. If I found a town I'd like, I'd buy some land and start building, then move on to search for more places to build. I'd have a collection of amazing houses all over the world. I'd probably fly with a normal airline carrier (first class, of course) so that I wouldn't lose touch with reality.

I'd probably spend around 2-3 years exploring the USA (probably driving around) and another 3-4 years touring Europe. Naturally, my family and friends would be taken care of (houses, cars, cash & holidays, too) ;)

Unfortunately - the reality is consistent delays and cancelled flights - usually when you're tired and the plane is full of overweight executives who haven't bathed in 20 hrs. I used to hate flying with babies and toddlers but after having my own kids now only look to the parents with compasion. Flying with kids is one of the hardest things to pull of successfully.

I'm with ya on the travel - but private jet = flexibility. You want to keep it real - eat at Chili's once in a while.

BillyPilgram - I'm on board with the hired help. I would hate having a bunch of hired folks living with me.

Oh and finally, a full massage once a week, yeah now were talking!

OK, my apathy is in storage for the moment.

$47B. is power. Power in effect to do pretty much as one pleases. To buy political favour, to push laws and influence public opinion in favour of MY beliefs.

I am a simple soul and the trappings of wealth and material possesions are of limited appeal.

Money does not buy happiness.
I believe a man with $47B is no happier than a man with only $45B. But money can buy lots of toys to make one happy;).

My Gawd Milu...thats exactly what I was going to say. I 've told that to people for years. After $20,000,000.00 money is power..just think of putting a plug in the wall and hanging on...it's total juice. At 20M you make more money than you can spend living a very comfortable life style.

It is true money can't make you happy, but it can make you happier...because it can buy comfort and security. However with money worry and responsibility does not cease....all you do is write checks with more zeros. Money doesn't talk to nonmoney...because most guys think well with that much money what does he have to worry about, yeah right. Most guys also don't understand the intracies of the game until you got the panango. Also most people think oh when I get to be rich I'll have it made life will be grand...Hah....then if your lucky and get there you wake up in the morning and see the same old face and have the same old insecurities. What a let down. Money isn't the root of all evil but it's close...men will kill for their desire for money and power. For what...the insurance companies say a man lives 73 years or there abouts....thats a blink of the eye...and your gone.

The thing that motivates man more than anything else is Love, or the lack of it. Money, power are all superficial, external to the basic need to be loved....men will strive for money and power for lack of love...something to fill the void...

Love is the only thing that will transcend this world, Love of work, love of hobby, love of family and friends. Anything else is absolutely pointless BS. Now maybe U can see why I hack at things so mercielessly.

$47B? Hell, I'd be happy with $47.00...

I'd have a big house with a tower, fireman's pole, and a moat. It would be on an island, and a world class quality race track designed by Jack Nicklaus would run the perimeter of this island. To drive on the track, I'd have a McLaren F1 made of Nerf, and the track would be lined with Sealy Posturpedic mattresses for extra protection. Oh, I'd also have a personal valet whom I would name Mr. Belvedere. He'd have a bowler hat made of titanium and would head-butt anyone who comes to close to me. I'd also pay to have Playboy playmates from 3 consecutive months handcuffed together in a chain, lounging on a couch in my living room in front of a big screen tv with a box of Cheez-its. Every month, the newest playmate would replace the oldest one in a round-robin fashion.

I think Nader has been asked this question before! :D

I particularly like the "Mr. Belvedere" bit. ;)

Surreal....and I see pink pussy cats all dressed in pink leather with whips....all going meow. A voracious cow named Bertha is sitting next to me at the Buffet eating beef Wellington. Move over George, you gd damed horse your hogging the TV set which is playing a rapsody of old barbershop quartet songs while dressed as Zebras. And the Zebras are nay saying that they have anything to do with anything....meanwhile the monk is out to lunch and this is the best part of the trip yeah the best part of this dim rap that we have constructed in the pyramid of our minds...need I go on anoy longer?

Take another hit of this an U be kool with the hep jive kats blowing kool riffs of notes... floating on the kool midnight air... You be floating down a moon beam light as air....daddyO...

Excuse me, I was interrupted by some high dude. Where was I? Oh yes, back to my rich-guy lifestyle:

One section of my Nicklaus-designed track will have a reinforced concrete barrier at the end of a straight. I will purchase a real 73 RS (cue the harps, flutes and angels singing in the background), paint it black, and put in a 3.6 engine sourced from some guy named Harald. Then I'll have Joe Roga from Fear Factor drive this car, which I'll call Black Beast, directly into the concrete barrier at speed and post the results on the internet. Then I'll buy another real RS, paint it black, put in a V8, name it BBII, and have Mr. Roga do his thing again. This will go on every month, with the BB getting bigger and badder every time until there are no RSs left. Heh heh.

Oh, and high dude, you sound like someone from that crusty old movie "Easy Rider." Are you really that old?

Older than old....and I hear you schold Jackie O...keep on bleeting on that reet...the riff your playing is kool man...dig it...ain't no jive comin from my lips man.

Just a quick change of syntax from here, there and everywhere....time to cut out man....gota bleet my reet elsewhere ...like hipsville Daddy O...do you dig...