Not so sure I want to win the lottery now

[Dennis S]

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=lGL&q=jack+whitaker+lottery&btnG=Search

I just saw a story on 20/20 about this poor guy who won the biggest lottery prize ever.

[Carnos Jax]

I know that we are all ultimately responsible for our own fates (more or less). Still, I can't help but empathize with this man. It's tragic. I wish his soul peace.

[mrbigstuff]

i just caught a few minutes of this. but it made me want to jump through the screen and slap that interviewer... man.

[chas_m]

A hell of a lot of people (particularly lottery players) don't understand that MONEY is a JOB. Sure, it's got great fringe benefits, but managing money is actually WORK. It seems to me that most people who quickly get large sums of cash either:

1. Blow all or most of it (the vast majority choose this option) or
2. Get it away from them (into institutes or holdings) as quickly as possible.

[ztirffritz]

Yeah, sounds like a mess. This is how I would win the lottery:

1) ALWAYS take the annuity, unless you are older than 60, then take the cash.
2) Create a budget and give yourself an allowance
3) Donate a bunch to charity
4) Donate some more to charity. Take yourself out to a nice brunch to celebrate how generous you are.
5) Adopt a public school. Create scholarships that require nothing more than graduation from High school to be eligible. All of your money can't buy happiness, but it can take the strain off of 300 children's parents. They all suddenly have money to spend on their homes, business, charity, etc. And you die thinking that the world is just a little bit better than it was when you came into the world. 300 children have an education, career, their parents aren't fighting over money...

[pRON aHOLIC]

Maybe money doesn't really change people, it just accelerates the path they were on.

[lafinfil]

I'm willing to chance it ... take one for the team ....

[Sam3]

I think I''d hire a CPA to manage the funds for me, and I'd leave on vacation for a month or two until the gold-diggers subside and forget about me.

chas is right. Look at the rich people, They either manage the funds themselves or hire someone to manage it (and associated taxes) for them.

[Jp!]

I don't have much money and even I have accountants and a financial planner.

[will2000]

"Don't you know, money is the world's curse"

Tevje in Fiddler on the Roof:

"Smite me with it, and may I never recover"