Montgomery Brewster is a middling baseball player in a minor league baseball team, leading a most unremarkable life. We wouldn’t be talking of him today, if not for his new-found possible inheritance, from a long-forgotten uncle, and the impossible conditions that the uncle’s will sets.
Montgomery learns to his utter surprise that he has a very rich wily uncle and he is the only living relative, who bequeaths all his $300M worth estate to him subject to the following conditions.
He must spend all of $30 million in 30 days – not a penny to be left
At the end of 30 days, he should not own any tangible assets – none to his name, except the clothes he is wearing
He should not destroy the money or donate to charity – no easy way out
He must keep the conditions of the will a secret – no collaborators
Wily as the grand-uncle was, he also catered for a scenario that Montgomery might be overwhelmed by these conditions and chickens out right at the start – he gets $1 million straight away with no conditions attached.
Put yourself in Montgomery’s baseball shoes!
What would you choose?
Go for the sure thing and walk away with the $1 million. It’s a breath-taking change of financial circumstance for a middling baseball player in a minor league baseball team, leading a most unremarkable life. Of course, the news might get out – some might brand it an act of humility, some might say it is the most foolish thing to do.
OR
Take the chance of a lifetime and spend a lifetime’s worth of desires and dreams in 30 days. What’s the worst that is going to happen? End up where you started, but possibly with extraordinary experiences. Indeed, there is the possibility that you meet the conditions and inherit the $300 million. When the news eventually gets out – some might brand it as an epitome of greed, some might say it is most fantastical thing to do.
Brewster’s Millions is a book that was made into a popular comedy movie and many spinoffs. If Montogomery chose the first safe option, there wouldn’t be any of these.
In the lawyer’s office, Montgomery has just a few moments to decide his fate. The sure $1 million now is tempting but he chooses to take the risky route.
He might be a minor league baseball player but he quickly jumps into major league spender – gazumping on a posh hotel suite for 30 days, paying ridiculous sums for his chauffeur, photographer and close-friend, spending on lavish food with his entourage, renting an entire stadium, flying his baseball team to play there. In spite of all this unrestrained spending spree, to relieve himself of the money, he still has lots to spend and the 30 day clock is ticking. Big time!
However, whatever he does more money comes in as if possessed by the Midas Touch - a reckless mining stock goes up 10 times in just a few days, his financial adviser surprises himself with quick bumper returns.
Montgomery is up for the challenge. He notches up his spending to the next level. He joins a mayoral race, spends a lot on campaigning and campaigns hard for people to vote for no one. But his inimitable approach makes him the most popular candidate and when he is formally elected, he will be given a salary, so risks falling foul of the will conditions. He withdraws from the campaign in the last minute to salvage the situation.
He ratchets his spending even more. As he gets to day 30, his close aides realise that he has no money left and return some of the money he has spent on them. He pushes the money away without letting in on the secret of the will conditions.
In cinematic climax, as the clock strikes 12, with dramatic effect, he manages to be penniless. The executors declare that he has satisfied the will conditions and award him the inheritance of $300 million.
Whilst I was fascinated by the story and watched the movie, my biggest takeaway was something more.
The uncle explains his reasoning for the quixotic conditions. He is wary that Montgomery would fritter away his sudden inheritance, so he wants to instil in him an important lesson. The uncle recalls that when he was seven, his father caught him smoking, so to punish him, he was locked in a room full of cigarettes with no food or water. He would be let out only after he finished smoking ALL the cigarettes - that was the condition. Very soon, he was thoroughly sick and tired of smoking, so repugnant of smoking, so much so that he never touched a cigarette after that. Ever. The uncle deploys the same strategy for his nephew - by forcing Montgomery to spend so much so quickly, he wants him to be so sick and tired of spending money that he will not be reckless when spending his fortunate fortune.
Easy come easy go.
However, when you work hard and deserve the money, you will treasure it, you will be thoughtful on how you spend it, you will be deliberate on your choices.
The uncle might be wily, but he is definitely wise!
See you next week. Do good work!
👉 If you enjoyed reading this post, feel free to share it with family and friends, who may benefit from it! Or feel free to click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.