Live til 55 rich and/or famous OR 85 very middle class (1 Viewer)

[comfortably numb]

Whats' your pick?

You die at 55

You pick any life you want for this scenario.

Derek Jeter, Bill Gates, John Lenon, whatever but you have a sudden heart attack on your 55th birthday

Your call if you wanted to have had a kid or 3 in your 20's

OR

You die at 85 of the same sudden heart attack

You get to pick what you want here as well but have to deal with most common issues of a middle class family.

Decent job, maybe face a layoff, financial struggles from time to time, end up retiring at 67 in an average retirement community.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Shooting Star

 

[Gawain]

Better to burn out, than to fade away.

 

[rockaction]

30 years of books and music and family and friends?

Count me in for 85.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

It worked out well for Achilles.

 

[Jack White]

Most NFL players choose the first option.

 

[Lehigh98]

How about if I only live until 25, what do I get?

 

[Rick James]

How about if I only live until 25, what do I get?

AIDS

 

[Ditka Butkus]

I'd be dead in three years so I go with 85

 

[Guest]

Not sure I want to live to be 85.

 

[Bull Dozier]

I'd be dead in three years so I go with 85

Agreed. Hard to answer this question post age 40 without a clear bias.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It worked out well for Achilles.

Heel cancer?

 

[sbonomo]

hmmm. Since i am not a big "kid" person i went with 55. Being able to live life literally like a rock start for 55 years would be pretty cool. I am going to assume i am a uber wealthy trust fund kid living life with high priced hookers and drugs drinking only the most expensive wine, driving the best cars known to man. Ya, that actually sounds pretty good! What the hell do you do past 75 anyway. Your johnson doesn't work, body is broken down, friends are starting to die off right and left. Ya, 55 and rich.

 

[rockaction]

hmmm. Since i am not a big "kid" person i went with 55. Being able to live life literally like a rock start for 55 years would be pretty cool. I am going to assume i am a uber wealthy trust fund kid living life with high priced hookers and drugs drinking only the most expensive wine, driving the best cars known to man. Ya, that actually sounds pretty good! What the hell do you do past 75 anyway. Your johnson doesn't work, body is broken down, friends are starting to die off right and left. Ya, 55 and rich.

Really a nice counter-argument if you're going to bring up the whole "Rich Kids on Instagram" type thing.

 

[Fat Nick]

I'm terrified of dying. Terrified. I think I could be very happy living a middle-class life if I have family and friends around. If I have that, I'd take age every time.

 

[NCCommish]

Give me more time on the right side of the grass. I've done my version of drug, booze and dancers. Don't have to be a rock star or rich for that.

 

[bigbottom]

1) Do I get to start over at 18?

2) Do I know that I'm going to die at 55?

 

[lod01]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Either way I want to wear a cool countdown watch like Snake Plissken.

 

[NCCommish]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

You can never have too many rolls of wheat pennies.

 

[NCCommish]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

You can never have too many rolls of wheat pennies.

Good point

 

[bigbottom]

1) Do I get to start over at 18?

2) Do I know that I'm going to die at 55?

Now that I think of it, I'd be tempted to make the trade now, even at 44. Yes, I'd be giving up 30 years of my life. But it might be worth it to become a multi-billionaire and spend the next 11 years giving it all away to charitable causes. I'd have to pick someone who wouldn't already be inclined to give their riches to charity, though, in order to maximize the trade.

 

[lod01]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

Actually it's over 70 billion. The richest person has about 79 billion and I would need to have more than that. I would easily burn thru a bill or 2 a year. THAT is what it would take for me to pick that option.

 

[NCCommish]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

Actually it's over 70 billion. The richest person has about 79 billion and I would need to have more than that. I would easily burn thru a bill or 2 a year. THAT is what it would take for me to pick that option.

To run through a billion a year every year you have to spend the equivalent of 2,740,000 a day every day. I don't think you can easily burn through a billion a year unless you are literally burning it.

 

[Gawain]

I'd take the rich option if I was by far the richest person on the planet from age 16 to 55. Otherwise option 85.

Got to ask what another billion more or less would matter?

Actually it's over 70 billion. The richest person has about 79 billion and I would need to have more than that. I would easily burn thru a bill or 2 a year. THAT is what it would take for me to pick that option.

To run through a billion a year every year you have to spend the equivalent of 2,740,000 a day every day. I don't think you can easily burn through a billion a year unless you are literally burning it.

That's a little over 5 chicks at the same time if we're using Office Space math. Easily doable.

 

[sbonomo]

Give me more time on the right side of the grass. I've done my version of drug, booze and dancers. Don't have to be a rock star or rich for that.

Ya but imagine how much cooler it would be if you could. We are talking having no limitations what so ever. hey, i have a hair up my ###, i want to fly my g6 to the ivory coast for breakfast on the beach. Oh, and i am to bring along a few of my perfect 10 model friends with me. Maybe it would be a shallow life, but man, it must be fun.

 

[Bucky86]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

 

[The General]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

I know a lot of miserable middle class people.

 

[sbonomo]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

ya but are they top 1% of the 1% rich? There are only a handful of these people in the world that qualify for this bucket and i can guarantee most of them are not miserable.

 

[bigbottom]

Give me more time on the right side of the grass. I've done my version of drug, booze and dancers. Don't have to be a rock star or rich for that.

Ya but imagine how much cooler it would be if you could. We are talking having no limitations what so ever. hey, i have a hair up my ###, i want to fly my g6 to the ivory coast for breakfast on the beach. Oh, and i am to bring along a few of my perfect 10 model friends with me. Maybe it would be a shallow life, but man, it must be fun.

It wouldn't have to be a shallow life at all. As mentioned in my post above, it could be an altruistic life in which you give up 30 years in order to make the world a better place. (And you could do all that good while still hanging onto enough cash for the hotties and high life.)

 

[Thunderlips]

Tough call.

Very middle class in this country is a very good life regardless and its very easy to avoid "typical" life stress if you choose to.

Uber rich opens a lot of doors.

If I were given this choice at 18....I'd go 55. That'd give me a chance to start a family very young and just live in comfort with them until my death. At 40.....although the idea of 15 years of utter comfort AND the ability to provide for my children's children's children is very tempting......I'll take the extra time and go until 85.

 

[Rirruto]

I'll do middle class and death at 55.

 

[Bucky86]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

ya but are they top 1% of the 1% rich? There are only a handful of these people in the world that qualify for this bucket and i can guarantee most of them are not miserable.

I guess one guy I'm thinking of was probably only in the 20-40 million range. The other that came to mind is in the 75-125 million range.

 

[Bucky86]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

I know a lot of miserable middle class people.

You probably know more middle class people in general.

 

[NCCommish]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

ya but are they top 1% of the 1% rich? There are only a handful of these people in the world that qualify for this bucket and i can guarantee most of them are not miserable.

Several studies have shown more money doesn't make people happier. In fact there seems to be a diminishing return as the money stack gets bigger.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I'll take 55. dont think I'd be missing much from 70-85 anyways.

 

[NCCommish]

Life is pretty cheap around here. 30 years is a lot when you get down to that last day. Better have been a good sacrifice.

 

[sports_fan]

Can you assume relatively good health in old age if you live up to 85? At least good enough to allow for independent living.

 

[The General]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

I know a lot of miserable middle class people.

You probably know more middle class people in general.

My point is the miserable people you know would be just the same if they were middle class. They would find a way to be miserable.

 

[BobbyLayne]

I'd be dead in three years so I go with 85

 

[bigbottom]

Life is pretty cheap around here. 30 years is a lot when you get down to that last day. Better have been a good sacrifice.

It's like people are ignoring me in here. Think of the good you could do with billions of dollars. I'd sacrifice thirty years to be able to do that much good in the world. I think most people would if they really thought about it.

 

[comfortably numb]

Life is pretty cheap around here. 30 years is a lot when you get down to that last day. Better have been a good sacrifice.

It's like people are ignoring me in here. Think of the good you could do with billions of dollars. I'd sacrifice thirty years to be able to do that much good in the world. I think most people would if they really thought about it.

Yea,

You can live like a Rockstar and donate a billion dollars and do a lot of good in the world

 

[sbonomo]

Many of the richest people I know are some of the most miserable. I'll take 85 and middle class any day.

ya but are they top 1% of the 1% rich? There are only a handful of these people in the world that qualify for this bucket and i can guarantee most of them are not miserable.

I guess one guy I'm thinking of was probably only in the 20-40 million range. The other that came to mind is in the 75-125 million range.

No where near uber rich.....Not that i would shake a stick at it, but huge difference between multi billion and multi million.

 

[sbonomo]

Life is pretty cheap around here. 30 years is a lot when you get down to that last day. Better have been a good sacrifice.

It's like people are ignoring me in here. Think of the good you could do with billions of dollars. I'd sacrifice thirty years to be able to do that much good in the world. I think most people would if they really thought about it.

I actually think it would be really fun to go on a bill gates type tour where you are donating a ton of dough to very worthwhile causes....not dismissing your thoughts here.....

 

[AAABatteries]

1) Do I get to start over at 18?

2) Do I know that I'm going to die at 55?

Great questions.

I'm almost 41 - no way I trade 14 years for 44 years.

And I wouldn't want to know - just like the other thread until almost the end.

 

[Bucky86]

This must be an easier question for the older guys around here. Dying at 55 seems pretty depressing.

 

[cstu]

Life is pretty cheap around here. 30 years is a lot when you get down to that last day. Better have been a good sacrifice.

It's like people are ignoring me in here. Think of the good you could do with billions of dollars. I'd sacrifice thirty years to be able to do that much good in the world. I think most people would if they really thought about it.

I didn't really consider the charity angle. Have no interest in having that much money for myself but like the idea of being able to help people with it. Hmm.

 

[FUBAR]

This must be an easier question for the older guys around here. Dying at 55 seems pretty depressing.

If the question were

A. Live a satisfying and happy life but die at 55

B. Live am unsatisfying, unhappy life but live to 85

I'd guess the number choosing A would increase.

 

[AAABatteries]

This must be an easier question for the older guys around here. Dying at 55 seems pretty depressing.

If the question were

A. Live a satisfying and happy life but die at 55

B. Live am unsatisfying, unhappy life but live to 85

I'd guess the number choosing A would increase.

Exactly - If I die tomorrow I will have had an incredible life. I'm truly blessed and I enjoy life the majority of the time. And I definitely fit in the middle class category versus the rich category. But other than not working I basically get to do most everything I want in life already.

I thing BB makes a compelling argument - if given the opportunity to set my family up for life AND to do a lot of good in the world it would be tough but I would have to really consider it.