Mega Millions: What Would You Do with a Million Dollars?

Jan. 4: Lottery ticket sales operator Laura Szafranski hands a Mega Millions lottery ticket to a customer in Pittsburgh. (AP)

We've all had the conversation before, "What would you do with a million dollars?" or "What would you do if you won the lottery?" Common answers include paying off debt for oneself and loved ones, buying houses, creating college savings accounts for children in the family, dream vacations and donating to charity.

With the Mega Millions lottery at a record high estimated jackpot of $476 million, I asked people, "What is the most outrageous thing you would do with the money?"

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Here is what they said:

"I would take my mom to Spain, open a women's shelter, hike the Appalachian Trail, and the crazy thing I'd do after buying a bigger house is make a closet just for shoes. Then go out and spend days buying shoes." – Yvonne Condes

"I would have my own media network and a scholarship program for moms that want to go to college after kids because that's what my mami did. As a couple, we have dreamed of having a small house with a huge garage so we can have one car for each day of the week or a really nice car collection." – Yoly Mason

"I would buy a vineyard in Italy and enjoy the fruits of my investment!" – Rosa Cordero

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"I'd buy a flat in France, Italy, Spain and Amsterdam. I'd hire a full-time stylist for my mom and sister. Buy my dad a humungous yacht named "Chulo" where we'd live 3 months of the year and park in Monaco." – Bren Herrera

"I'd buy a penthouse apartment on NYC's Central Park West (I've always wanted a view of the park!) Travel to Greece and Spain and spend a few months there. Return to NYC and use the money to set up a hospital or rehab center exclusively for bladder patients and their families. I'd reach out to the doctor that gave so much to my father, name it after him and give him all the resources I could to help others." – Patty Aizaga

"If you're giving me carte blanche on the crazy, I'd charter a private luxury jet and take my blogger friends shoe shopping in Dubai!" – Maria De Los Angeles

"If I won half a billion dollars, I'd buy two apartments - One for me, my husband and son. And then I'd buy the apartment next door - so I have some place to go when they make a mess." – Lisa Quinones-Fontanez

"After all the grown up things and the things I'd do for my loved ones, I'd take all our friends with kids and do a Disney trip together…I'd also finally buy myself a ticket to all my favorite award shows - SAG, Oscars, Golden Globes - and a ticket to the Sundance Film Festival. P.S. Could I buy Cuba?" – Carla Molina Martins

"I would rent out a private island and have sections for each "pocket" of guests: a Gran Combo-style salsa band for my parents and their friends in one area, a mini waterpark for the kids in another, and a pool with a non-stop party of 80s music for me and my friends. Oh, and the pool boys would all look like Idris Elba!!!" - Issa M. Mas

"My daughter drew her dream board and I would love to make it all come true. Its a bed and breakfast with a winery (dad will manage because she says I'd drink all the wine), a fishing pond that nana and papa would take care of, a Muy Bueno taco stand (guess who's cooking), a bakery, and a horse ranch that she is in charge of. And you all are welcome." - Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack

Want a chance to turn your outrageous daydreams into reality? Mega Millions tickets can be purchased in 42 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Good luck!

Tracy López is a bilingual writer living outside the Washington DC metro area. She is the founder of Latinaish.com.