What’s luck got to do with it?

Bill Good | | Published: July 01, 2006 Back Talk

I’m always impressed with the stories in the Top 100 issue. The people who build their own businesses or reach the top of the corporate heap are an inspiration. While clambering to reach those heights, though, how many of us have dreamed about a shortcut?

Most of us, at some point in our lives, have picked up a lottery ticket at the corner store with dreams of being one of those big winners who appear on the evening news with a giant cheque, without having had to do a day’s work to earn it.

I don’t buy lottery tickets all the time. But when I’m on holiday and I see a sandwich board that boasts potential winnings of $35 million, I’m tempted, and sometimes I give in to that temptation. I dream of the cruise I’d take. No seven-day special, but a month at sea in a luxurious suite. Actually, forget the cruise. I look out at a marina every day; maybe if I had millions my very own yacht would be in order. The Orphans Fund would certainly get a nice contribution. My kids would have their own homes. We’d all live happily ever after.

Then a funny thing happened. I bought a Super 7 ticket worth, potentially, $35 million. It cost me just $2. I was driving along, lost in visions of new Jaguars and Porsches, when I suddenly thought, “Wait a minute, $35 million is too much money.” Too much money? How could that be?

Well, think about it. I like my life. I’d be happy to pay off a mortgage and have some long-term security, but my life would fundamentally change if I became a multimillionaire overnight. I’d need personal security. My kids might be targets for abduction. Would my life-long friends still feel comfortable with me, or would they think I was suddenly out of their financial and social league? I have no desire to stop working, but could I open the phones on my talk show and have people treat me the same way they do today, or would I suddenly become “that rich guy who won the lottery”?

You’ve all heard the expression “money doesn’t buy you happiness.” But wouldn’t it rent a fair bit? Maybe not. I know a lot of cranky rich people; I also know many people who don’t have much money but are living very happy and contented lives. We’ve all read the stories about lottery winners who’ve lost it all, and other big winners who’ve destroyed their families.

Of course, I’m sure there are perfectly happy winners, too. Plus, if you won $35 million and it felt like too much, you could give gobs of it away.

But who would get the handouts? I spent some time thinking about all the people I could portion my money out to, and then realized I might have a hard time giving it all away.

Maybe I should just start buying tickets on the $2-million lotteries. Until recently, I was under the impression that there was probably a better chance of winning them. Actually, it turns out the odds are based on the likelihood of guessing six correct numbers and it’s nearly 14-million-to-one, whether
it’s $1 million or $35 million. When this finally dawned on me, I realized I’d just spent more time than was necessary thinking about something I really didn’t need to worry about.

This notion was confirmed on Sunday morning when I ran my ticket through the computer at my local IGA. Not only did I not win $35 million, I didn’t even win enough to buy another ticket. That was a few weeks ago now, and I haven’t bought a lottery ticket since. Not because of the disappointment over not winning, but because the rather benign exercise reminded me that my life is pretty good as
it is; I like my work, my home, my family and friends the way they are.

I’ve spent enough time around movie stars, rock stars and superstar athletes to realize money and fame can do strange things to a person. It doesn’t mean I’ll never buy another lottery ticket. Paying off the mortgage or the car, or having a bigger nest egg for retirement would be nice. But I’d probably feel more comfortable with a sizeable windfall if I felt I had actually earned it, the way our Top 100 execs earned their places on the list.