Choose wisely.

[wolfking]

I'm fine with the million.

[Tick]

No brainer. Show me the money!

[Implode]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

[CrimsonSunrise]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

 ....................

[SomeoneLikeHim]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

Oh god yes

[rogerdil]

I'll easily take the 50% at 100 million.

[Kosmo]

I like to take a chance at times, this wouldn't be one of them. I could make that one million last a long time.

[lonestar]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

Fucking brilliant.

[jsem]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

[DebraKadabra]

I vote we all choose the $100M chance, and put all the winnings in a pool then split it up evenly. On average everyone should get $50M. 

Dude!  I like how you think!

[Jaffa]

Aaaand, Implode wins the internet.

[Implode]

Aaaand, I think you're over crediting me. 

[Jaffa]

No one else thought of the brilliant idea. 

[CrimsonSunrise]

Aaaand, I think you're over crediting me. 

FINE!!!!  Give the fuckin internet back then!!!!!! 

[Implode]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't feel that strongly about it.

[jcmistat]

Instant 1 mil. I could do so many things with that much money. I am not greedy.

[DebraKadabra]

Aaaand, I think you're over crediting me. 

Nuh uh.

[SystematicThought]

Does the government get a chunk of this million dollars like they would if I got it on a gameshow. If so, I'll take the 50% chance at $100 million because that would leave me a bit more to do after taxes than the million dollars would.

If we aren't getting technical, I'll take the $1 million and walk away.

[Gadough]

I must say, I'm surprised. I thought there would be more risk-takers.

[Sketchy]

Implode? How did you get to be such a wise squid?

[alirocker08]

Instant Million- That would buy me a house near whatever University I go to, cover my student fees and maintenance loan. If I can avoid debt, I will.

[YtseCullen]

quite happy where i am now, if i get the money though it'd be a bonus

[Jirpo]

I can't believe how many people take the 1 million. I can understand some of the reasoning, but mathematically it's a stupid decision.

[Silver Tears]

Instant please.

[Zantera]

I would probably take the 50% of the 100 million.
Why? Because as nice as a million would be, it still wouldn't last much more than buying me a house and a car or something similar, but if I would get 100 million then I would be covered for the rest of my life pretty much.
And if I didn't get those 100 million, I would still survive so.

[Implode]

Implode? How did you get to be such a wise squid?

Well my math brain tells me that the expected value of the 50% chance at $100M is more than the $1M. But with such a small sample size, I wouldn't want to take the risk. I was just trying to think of a way to expand the sample size, and there you go!

[Jaffa]

I can't believe how many people take the 1 million. I can understand some of the reasoning, but mathematically it's a stupid decision.

The way I was looking at it is this: if I had a million dollars, would I be willing to spend it on the chance to win more on a coin flip?  And for me, the answer's just no.  I'd rather have the security now.

Of course, NOW I'm looking at it Implode's way. 

[TL]

Does the government get a chunk of this million dollars like they would if I got it on a gameshow. If so, I'll take the 50% chance at $100 million because that would leave me a bit more to do after taxes than the million dollars would.

If we aren't getting technical, I'll take the $1 million and walk away.

I've always liked how, here in Canada, money won through something like a gameshow or lottery is one of the few things you don't pay taxes on.

I would definitely go for the guaranteed million. Yes, obviously $100 million would be life changing, but after properly investing a good chunk of the one million, I'd be in a pretty comfortable situation.

[Ruba]

Instant million. I don't have use for 100 millions, or even for million, but I won't have any financial problems, if I had a million dollars.

[Implode]

I can't believe how many people take the 1 million. I can understand some of the reasoning, but mathematically it's a stupid decision.

You're kind of right. Over many iterations of the situation, it'd be batter to take the chance at $100M, but one thing that makes this slightly different is that you only have one chance here.

It's because of that that people are weighing in the possible disappointment from winning nothing/blowing their one chance into the equation.

[senecadawg2]

I'd take the instant million. I'm not leaving this much money to chance.

[RuRoRul]

I can't believe how many people take the 1 million. I can understand some of the reasoning, but mathematically it's a stupid decision.

Yep. 1 million < 50 million (which is the value of the 50% chance of 100 million)

But if you think of the actual value of each of the prizes - not the monetary value, but the amount of personal value each individual gets from that amount of money - it makes more sense, even mathematically. For most people, going from zero to 1 million makes a bigger impact than going from 1 million to 100 million does. Diminishing returns, etc. I'd imagine if people had financial security and a good amount of money already, they'd be more likely to gamble for the 100 million - an extra 1 million has less value to a millionaire than it does to someone struggling to make ends meet. Mathematically, it's like a percieved value of, say, an 8 (a good amount of money, some financial security) vs. a 50% chance of something with percieved value of a 10 (being filthy rich). 

Also, risk aversion and all that. Guaranteed 90 million or 90% chance of 100 million? Mathematically a neutral decision, but most people would pick the safe bet to avoid the risk. (Plus, that extra 10 million once you already have 90 million doesn't have as much percieved value as, say, the first 10 million, to most people).

Anyway, chose a guaranteed 1 million. As Implode says, if you've only got one chance at it, the 50% chance of going away with nothing makes a guaranteed 1 million too much to pass up on for someone like me who has yet to graduate, has no assets etc.

[Nick]

I could live worry free (still working and such, but with money to spare) with a million in the bank. Actually would probably spend 250k or so on a house/car and put the other 750k into something to give me a yearly boost to my income. The interest would be $22,500 even at a low 3% rate. With a paid off house and car that's a really nice figure to be pulling in for the rest of my life. Hell, cut it back to $20,000 and re-invest the rest.

[Progmetty]

I'd get the 1 million and invest it into a 100 million 

[Scorpion]

Give me the million, baby.

Or, you know, what Implode said.