I would buy a humongous JavaMint Chocolate Chip Shake and bath myself in it. I'd swim around and eat it in delicious delight. I'd generously relax and float on my back and pee… er, never mind. Let me start over.

Hmmm. Oh, I know! I'd be more prudent. I'd pay off all of my debt and my family's debt. I'd pay for the college tuitions of all my cousins. I'd set aside college tuitions for my future kids.

I'd buy apartment buildings (the entire building, not just one apartment) in New York City and San Francisco. Maybe in London, Florence, and Hong Kong too. Part of it would be rental property, though I'd save the penthouse suites for myself.

I'd put a large percentage of it into value stocks and safer long-term equities as part of a nest egg for my future generations. With that much money, even the smallest percentage increase would generate a lot of money. Perhaps I could even live off that interest alone, without ever having to touch the capital again.

I'd buy some land in key cities and build rental property for either corporations or residents. This would be another revenue stream to compliment the investments. I read somewhere that wealth can be measured not by cash, but by the amount of land a person owns. Plus, it can appreciate faster than inflation in some cases.

I'd invest in environmentally-conscious technologies and organizations. I'd invest in educational policies and open up a chain of new schools that employ modern educational practices. Then I'd pay the teachers a ton of money because a teacher should be the most revered profession, not a business executive, actor, or professional athlete. The funding for these schools would come from my steady investments.

I'd open up a few businesses and perhaps fund some of the bright business ideas from my friends. At any given time, there may be 5-10 million-dollar business ideas in the minds of my more entrepreneurial friends and colleagues. They just need a catalyst to launch them.

I'd travel the world for a year. The number of cultures I'd encounter, people I'd meet, foods I'd eat, sights I'd see, sounds I'd hear, and new points of view I'd learn about would be absolutely priceless.

I'd rent out a huge cruise ship and invite my family and friends out for a night of partying and celebration. There would be multiple DJs and live bands. Alcohol and food would be generous. Perhaps I'd even be able to get some of my single friends to mingle and, later in the night, more?

I'd buy myself a few cars. My tastes can occasionally change, but I'd get some kind of convertible sports car (the new Mustang GT is nice) and a commuter car (maybe the new BMW 330?) at the very least. I'd buy some new cars for my family too.

And then I'd buy a small JavaMint Chocolate Chip Shake and drink it.

. . .

What would you do if you won a billion dollars?