What I would do with Twenty Million Dollars ($20m)

Yes, Twenty Million Dollars. It’s a good round figure. Besides, don't you know the dream of living on one million dollars is so 90s.

I can’t remember when exactly but I saw a news piece on an international news channel talking about the 'new' rich in either the UK or US. They said living like a millionaire with 1 million was possible in the 80s but for the 2000s you need approx. 2 million to live the millionaire life style..... for a short while.

But think about it, this is the age of billionaires, 500ft Yachts, Gulf Stream private jets, owning a island or two, owning a major sports team etc. Millionaires are almost insignificant in all this displays of luxury.

Anyway, I digress. How would I spend $20million? Depends on what I love. First of all, I would start small; with the basic things I need sorry, want. 

*20 million US Dollars equals 3.3 billion Nigerian Naira.

• A camera. A canon 60D. As I have no photography experience it would not make sense getting a more expensive one. Quota $2000 with a good wide range lens.
• An iphone. Because I really want one. Quota $700
•  I would put a very reasonable amount in 2 Mutual Funds accounts. One would give me a steady income of about N500k a month with N50m invested. The second, same amount but will roll over. Quota N100m
• Help out Family. A lump sum or a steady income? I am not sure which is best. I am the youngest and respect is big in Nigerian Culture, so I can’t just ask them to bring their business plans and present it to me. But a quota set aside would be N200m.
• Friends? First of all, hush-hush is best when you come into money. I will set up an SME funding NGO and indirectly fund their businesses. Only if they have a business to run or just a business idea. Quota: N100m
• I believe in causes but I don't believe in most charities. There are a few I trust. Initiatives that show impact like housing projects and power projects or Agriculture related projects will get support from me. Quota N50m.
• I would set up my own charity with a twist. I would set up a fund with a donation of N50m and put up a sort of barometer on the website with break down on who the money has been spent on i.e. helping orphaned children pay school fees and donating books and learning tools to schools. Then another N50m for the set up of a home for homeless school kids and also free school bus services. Total Quota N100m
• I would set up a business worth maybe N150m to start with. It would most probably be in my interests, fashion: designing dresses, jackets, bags. I would market online using social media, fashion shows and involving fashion bloggers, stylists and celebrities. Quota N150m
• I would like to get my own place. A small modest 2 - 3 bedroom house in a safe, quiet, neighborhood with a good size compound (Lot Size). The energy will be from solar panels and maybe a geothermal unit or a mini wind turbine. Hmm, I would need to research small scale alternative energy options. But you get the gist. I hate the sounds of a generating set. Quota N200m
• I would invest in property in a foreign country to gain less-strict access to the country or possibly Dual-citizenship (Hello Nevis!). And there would be returns on the investment too. Quota: N100m.
• I want to travel the world. I know getting a home then deserting it to travel doesn't make sense but we all need a place to call home. I wouldn't spend so much on travel; I plan on getting accommodation in comfortable small hotels in safe areas. I want to immerse myself in people and culture not really shopping sprees. If I find myself in China though, I wouldn't mind dabbling in sourcing for products to sell. Buying and selling is the oldest form of money making and it could lead to my being the next Dangote. J Quota: N200m. There will be left over I know. I also have to resist temptation and not register at every Starwood hotel and pick up SPG points. 
• Calculating all this together I would have not even gone halfway through the N3.3billion. Only N1.2billion spent and N2.1billion left. I would put a quarter away for business emergencies, another quarter for family/personal emergencies. Quota N1billion.
• The last N1billion. Half would go to my investments and the remaining half would go to an energy research company I’ll set up in Nigeria. Then I'll retire young to an exotic island and write fiction as much as I want, while I am not sleeping or sipping Pina coladas.

There we go. $20million all spent by one person, me.

How would I get the money? The Internet baby! Watch this space.....

 Bebe.



Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with the alleged missing $200million from a Nigerian Government Agency/Parastatal.