News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion Dollar?

https://hbdq.ddgr3.com/

I have a question that I ask all my acquaintances: what would you do if you were given Half Billion Dollar?

Some interesting answers I've heard include: 1. I would host Squid Game. 2. I would become a stone (somehow).

Common answers I've heard: 1. Travel the world with family 2. Go on a cruise with family

And other responses: 1. Create various foundations to help people 2. Establish a venture capital firm to invest in promising startups and contribute to the world

The point of me asking people this question is that most people are driven by the need to fill economic gaps, but I wanted to focus on what that person would do if all of that were resolved.

Anyway, I'm curious about other people's thoughts and wanted to collect and see them, so I created this. Thank you.

( 8 comments | on HN )
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by toomuchtodo on Thursday June 19, 2025 @11:39PM (#44324520)
Endowments for public goods so they don’t have to constantly beg for funds. Propublica, AP News, Sesame Street Workshop, Tampa Bay Times, City Museum, Climate Town are some examples.
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by winnie112 on Thursday June 19, 2025 @11:58PM (#44324611)
So nice of you.
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by toomuchtodo on Friday June 20, 2025 @12:46AM (#44324809)
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” —- Greek proverb
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by _wire_ on Thursday June 19, 2025 @11:30PM (#44324475)
Put a million aside to comfortably pay for my basic needs for the rest of my life and look for people to support in my community pursuing a culture of status for creative work near the ground.
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by rawgabbit on Thursday June 19, 2025 @11:35PM (#44324495)
Fund an online high school like https://highschool.utexas.edu/
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by dotcoma on Friday June 20, 2025 @01:00AM (#44324871)
invest in startups that solve real problems -- unlike companies that raised 30 billion (with a b) to create an app to call a fucking taxi, or billions spent in companies that will deliver pizza or fried Chinese food, or groceries...
Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by fhxb456 on Friday June 20, 2025 @01:10AM (#44324912)
driven by capital greed can further develop god complex personality, especially if we think our self is the only saviors in the industry. and this one billion tickets is true breakout for self reflection in how greed we were, especially for us who has god complex, maybe not us but I.

but it also can be true altruism as for altering the systems for making the basic needs to function and better able navigate the true deadlock.

because capital is natural slection of an ideas, ideology and beyond.

Re:Show HN: What would you do if you were given Half Billion... by OdehAhwal on Friday June 20, 2025 @04:41AM (#44325741)
I would give a lot! Money means nothing if you're living the best version of your life and people around you have miserable lives! I'll change some people's realities while enjoying life with my lovely wife.