There are different conditions that determine whether I would or would not return a hundred dollar bill. Each situation contains an effort to remain safe, an effort to return the money to it’s rightful owner, or a resolution that a windfall has come my way because no owner can be found.

If I see the person drop the bill, or hear a group of upset people who are looking for such a bill, and I found it, I would definitely restore the bill to it’s owner. This is a case where it is either highly likely or very obvious that the bill belongs to a particular individual.

If there is no clue as to who dropped the bill, then I would keep the bill. There is no way to prove who the actual owner is, and anyone could claim ownership when asked.

If the event occurs with a packed and crazy crowd around, I would not pick up the bill, because a crowd of people could claim ownership and the situation could get ugly. I would step on it and look for someone who is upset , calling out, and likely to be the owner. If no apparent owner shows up, I would quietly pick up the bill and keep it. If I run into upset and hundred dollar bill-less people later, I would hand it over. No kidding!

If at a private function or small indoor function, I would loudly call out “who’s bill is this?” Someone at a small function where everyone knows each other should know who was handling a hundred dollar bill a few minutes ago.

If there is any way possible to get the bill to it’s true owner, I would do it. Otherwise, I’d consider the money a windfall. Acts of kindness and doing the right thing come back in far more rewards than money. Even if the owner was long gone, with no chance of coming back to the location, I would think about the person and whether the money is part of the rent or some other important matter. If the money was a gift, than it’s sad that a gift of that size is lost for good.

I feel sorry for individuals who immediately decide to keep money like that, even if the owner is there. There are cosmic consequences for everything that we do, whether good or bad, honest or dishonest. And sometimes those consequences come in the form of hundred dollar windfalls!