Here’s an interesting hypothetical:
You have a business that both Google and Yahoo are interested in buying. Both have given you offers, but each offer has a unique situation (obviously, this is a hypothetical!):
- Google offers you $100 million dollars cash. If you accept the offer, you also have to agree to spend the next 2 years working on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean. You will not receive a single dollar until 2 years have passed while sitting on a chunk of metal out in the empty ocean.
or- Yahoo offers you $1 billon dollars cash. If you accept the offer, you have to live the next 10 years in a 3rd world country where there is no electricity or running water. You basically live off the land and struggle to survive. Once you have completed 10 years, you get your $1 billion dollars and the option to move back to society.
10 comments ↓
Do I have internet access on the oil rig?
PASS ON BOTH OFFERS
Well, neither sounds good…but if I have to accept one of the offers, I would take the Google offer. I don’t think I could really tell the difference between $100 million and 1 billion!!!
@Kate - No internet. Both would lack communication. The idea is you lose contact to the rest of the world for that amount of time.
@Bro-ham -
… It’s a hypothetical. That’s like saying you won’t ‘fake’ farkle to see who wins a million bucks. Come on, I expect better out of you. HA
@Jerri - The difference between $100 million and $1 billion is in today’s world, $100 million could actually disappear faster than you think. You live live to what you have in your bank, so if you have $100 million, you’ll live life closer to that amount rather than without it. Granted, it will still take a while to spend it, but $1 billion would last through your life and anyone in your next generation.
Personally, I would take the $1 billion. I’d put in 10 years of hard work to come out sitting pretty. Plus, living in a hardship like that can only make one smarter and wiser. I think one clause that should be included that is if you die, the money is still payable to your family at time of death. That way there’s a payoff no matter what happens.
OK, bro-ham…if I have to answer, I’ll go with the 2 years on an oil rig for $100 million. Maybe during my two year stint I’ll work with Bruce Willis, Owen Wilson, Ben Affleck, & Steve Buscemi…only to be recruited to fly to outer space and drill into an asteroid that is on a collision course with Mother Earth. So in addition to my $100 million I will also be able to add “saving the world” to my resume.
Armageddon reference. Anyone? This thing on?
Find a different buyer with better terms?
No internet? Where’s Option #3: Wallow in poverty and obscurity for the rest of my natural life?
Okay, if I had to choose then it’s a no-brainer for me.
Under #1, I figure, even if I were to blow half the money right away and put the rest in savings, I’d still have more money than I could easily spend in the 30-ish years I’ve got left. (Huh, who knew there was a benefit to being an overweight smoker who drinks?)
Under #2, I’d also have more money than I could easily spend in the rest of my life. But after 10 years without running water, electricity and — given the 3rd world status — quality health care, it’s very likely I’d be too broken down and ill to enjoy spending it.
(But, if I had my druthers, I’d go with Enrique’s solution.)
I like how you wrote for the yahoo offer “you get your $1 billion dollars and the option to move back to society.” As if someone would be like, “Thanks for the billion, no no I don’t need a plane, I’m just gonna chill here.”
i will accept the oil rig offer
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