Millionaires

Geez money is an ugly business.

Today’s example: Mirlande Wilson, the 37 year-old Haitian immigrant who claims she will not be sharing her winnings of the $US100 million lottery, despite having participated in a syndicate with her McDonalds colleagues.

The mother of seven told the New York Post that the winning ticket was purchased on a separate day and had nothing to do with the syndicate. But that’s not how her co-workers remember it.

Continue reading "Who wants to be a millionaire? Everyone!" »

It was at the bottom of the ocean that James Cameron felt alone, distant from humanity. But it was there that he was, perhaps, closer to us than he had ever been.

Earlier this week, the acclaimed director became the first person to solo-dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench - one of the darkest, quietest places on the planet.

As the world applauded Cameron, billionaire Clive Palmer was holding court at a press conference in Brisbane, speaking about spooks and conspiracy theories and strange political follies. There were no submarines, blueprints or audacious concept drawings behind him. Just a man who had made enough money to say whatever he liked whenever the mood struck.

Continue reading "Billions of reasons for rich people to dream big" »

Michael Carroll, UK binman, won $15 million and blew it all in eight years on drugs, cars and women. He’s now scraping by as a tradie.

His is a sad tale, and reading it made me think sanctimonious thoughts about how we need to support people through such drastic life changes, particularly those with vulnerabilities like alcoholism.

But mostly I just thought: Shit yeah! I’d love to squander stacks of cash in one big disgusting binge. I’d like to roll around naked in piles of dirty, stinking cash, bathe in French champagne, live a rockstar lifestyle.

Continue reading "$15 million buys a lot of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll" »