In Numbers^x, Countable nouns^x, Verbs^x

"A lot " means "a large amount". We use this quantifier with both the plural and the uncountable nouns. It’s the subject "money" with which the verb must agree in number and person in your sentence. As "money" is an uncountable noun, the verb must take the singular form "is". Other examples:...

"A number of ~s" is taken as equal to "many ~s". So the verb in the construct of "There ~" should be in the plural form. paco