NASA officials were interviewing three prospective astronauts to sent to Mars on a dangerous one-way trip. Only one of the three would go, and that candidate would never return to Earth. The interviewer asked the first candidate, an engineer, how much he wanted to be paid to go.
"One million dollars," replied the engineer, "and I want it donated to my alma mater, Rice University."
The interviewer asked the next candidate the same question.
"Two million dollars," answered the doctor, "and I want to give one million to my family and leave the other million to medical research."
The third candidate, a lawyer, was asked the same question.
"Three million dollars!" replied the lawyer.
"Why so much?" the interviewer inquired.
The lawyer replied, "If you give me three million, I'll keep a million, give you a million, and we'll send the engineer."
"One million dollars," replied the engineer, "and I want it donated to my alma mater, Rice University."
The interviewer asked the next candidate the same question.
"Two million dollars," answered the doctor, "and I want to give one million to my family and leave the other million to medical research."
The third candidate, a lawyer, was asked the same question.
"Three million dollars!" replied the lawyer.
"Why so much?" the interviewer inquired.
The lawyer replied, "If you give me three million, I'll keep a million, give you a million, and we'll send the engineer."
