What would you do for $1 million? (Photo by Roman Samborskyi on Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Nearly half of Americans (43%) would leave their romantic partner for $1 million, while 40% would take $33 million even if it meant financially ruining someone else
- Most Americans plan to be practical with sudden wealth—57% would first buy a home, 84% would donate to charity, and 38% would spend slowly rather than splurge
- Money would fundamentally change work life for most Americans, with 57% saying they’d quit their jobs immediately, though many would pursue passion projects or start businesses
This one floats in the shallow end of the StudyFinds pool, but the results of the survey were quite eye-opening. How much would it take for you to abandon your romantic partner? Break up with the person you love most? According to a shocking new poll, for 43% of Americans, the answer is just $1 million — less than the median price of a home in many major cities.
But that’s not even the most morally troubling finding. When offered $33 million that would come at the expense of someone else’s complete financial ruin, 40% of Americans admit they would gladly take the money, with another 46% saying they’d consider it depending on who gets destroyed in the process.
The survey, conducted by Canadian casino website Gamblizard (yep, Canadian), reveals just how far Americans are willing to go in pursuit of wealth. The results paint a disturbing picture of a society where love, loyalty, and basic human compassion all have a price tag.
Americans Would Risk Everything for Money
Nearly half of Americans (46%) would enter a real-life version of Squid Game for a shot at $33 million, despite the deadly game’s 99.8% death rate. This willingness to risk everything for wealth extends beyond fictional death games into everyday moral compromises.
Americans are surprisingly willing to sell their dignity for small amounts. While 81% would embarrass themselves on live TV or social media for $33 million, the price point drops dramatically from there. Nearly half (48%) would make this same humiliating deal for just $1 million. But here’s where it gets truly shocking: 13% of Americans would publicly embarrass themselves for $5,000 or less, and 4% would do it for a mere $500.
For $1 million, Americans are also willing to sacrifice their most important relationships. Beyond abandoning romantic partners, 41% would swear off sex entirely, 59% would give up technology and live off the grid, and 15% would frame a friend for a crime they didn’t commit.
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Where Americans Draw the Line
Despite their apparent willingness to compromise on nearly everything, Americans do have some limits. For 10% of respondents, the inability to tell or show anyone about their windfall would be enough to reject the money entirely. Similarly, 21% value their social media access more than a million dollars.
Family dynamics also complicate the equation. More than half (54%) would reject a million dollars if their parents controlled the money, while 38% would hesitate if accepting meant their enemy would also profit.
How Americans Would Actually Spend Their Millions
When asked how they’d spend their hypothetical million-dollar windfall, Americans showed a remarkably practical side. Rather than splurging on luxury cars or designer goods, 57% said their first purchase would be a home of their own—a telling reflection of how unattainable homeownership has become.
The second most popular choice revealed Americans’ generous spirit: 14% would first buy gifts for family and friends. This generosity extends beyond immediate family, with 84% saying they would donate to charity if they won big. Homelessness causes would receive the most support (51%), followed by health causes (36%) and animal welfare (36%).
Despite fantasies of instant gratification, most Americans claim they would be responsible with sudden wealth. Rather than burning through their millions overnight, 38% plan to spend slowly and enjoy a modest, stress-free life, while 36% would invest their winnings wisely.
The promise of financial freedom would fundamentally change how Americans approach work. A majority (57%) say they would quit their jobs immediately after a significant windfall. However, 31% would use their newfound freedom to start their own business, while another 31% would continue working — but for passion rather than paychecks.
Sudden wealth brings its own set of fears and anxieties. Nearly half (48%) of Americans worry most about being overwhelmed by requests for money from friends, family, and strangers. Another 39% fear they would burn through their windfall too quickly, while 20% worry about becoming addicted to spending.
These concerns lead many to consider keeping their wealth secret. While most would tell their partner (53%) and family (52%), 21% admit they wouldn’t tell anyone if they struck it rich.
Americans are split on whether wealth would change them for better or worse. While 59% believe money would bring out their best selves by giving them the means to give back, 5% fear that wealth would slowly erode their ethics and compromise their morals.
So how do Americans actually plan to achieve their wealth? Some 24% believe inheritance offers their best shot at earning $1 million, making it the most popular pathway to wealth. Close behind, 20% are banking on a lottery win, while 19% are hoping to roll the dice at casinos. In a sign of the times, 13% are going all-in on cryptocurrency, while another 19% believe marriage could be their golden ticket to financial success.
“While this survey focused mostly on people’s fantasies, it reveals real financial concerns they face today. When basic financial security feels out of reach, the idea of a huge payday (even at a high cost) starts to look really tempting,” says Jamie Wall, a personal finance strategist at Gamblizard, in an email to StudyFinds.
“What’s also interesting is how winning a million dollars is often seen like marrying a prince in a fairy tale, promising some kind of ‘happily ever after.’ But most people don’t actually know how to handle a sudden windfall — 43% say they’d take their time trying to enjoy it, or treat themselves first, suggesting a broader uncertainty around handling sudden money.“
So what would you do for a million bucks?
Methodology: This survey was conducted by Gamblizard and included responses from 2,000 Americans. The survey examined Americans’ attitudes toward wealth, including what they would do to obtain it, how they would spend it, and their concerns about sudden financial windfalls.