Windfall Profits

Waterfall. Snowfall. Pratfall. Yeah, none of those are what we’re talking about here. So what’s a windfall? It’s an incredible, unexpected fortune, usually of the dolla’ dolla’ bill variety. Like…you’re at the blackjack table, and you think you’re only about to win $15 for the hand, but it turns out you just won the casino’s 1 millionth hand, and suddenly you’re surrounded by streamers and confetti and heavily makeuped women in rhinestone-studded dresses and you’re being handed a massive check for 1 million dollars.

Yeah, you should probably not double-down. Or you bought a powerball ticket on a whim. You usually never waste your money on those things, but you had a single that was burning a hole in your pocket, and you were bored while waiting in line at the Kwik-E-Mart, so…you took a shot. And you scored. You’re set for life. Huge windfall.

Another example: You were employee #8 at Google, and you decide to finally cash in your stock options. Less of a windfall. And more of a skyfall. It might be time to do a Google search for “How much does it cost to buy your own island?”