ltkipras wrote: If you won the lottery, would you just take the prize, or would you give something in exchange?
The question doesn't make any sense. Lottery tickets are not free. If for some odd reason I purchased a ticket and won, then I took the mathematically improbable risk and gained the agreed upon reward. I did the work, took the gamble, and other than the 50% in taxes have no obligation to give more. I gave my hard earned $1 and time in compensation for the risk of losing.
However, a fool and his money are soon parted. I would not want to be that fool. There are so many wonderful ways money can be used other than buying a yacht or throwing parties. A windfall of money will give the fool a temporary reprieve from their woes, until the money runs out. It takes generations to build wealth, you can lose it in seconds.
Anyway, I think your getting at if you had some benefactor would the need to contribute still apply? Just look at the role model Paris Hilton and you have your answer. Wealth does not in and of itself bring happiness or contentment in life. She tried to be a pop star and run a clothing line, all funded by Mr. Hilton. Even the wealthiest of people need something more than just getting massages and laying at the pool all day.
