Powerball Options
 

If you won the $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot, would you take the cash option or the annuity option?

I've always thought that if I won a jackpot I'd take the cash option, but with a prize this large and an annual payout of $50 million a year for 30 years, I might reconsider. That's a pretty hefty annual income. The annuity option would guarantee that you and your heirs would receive the full $1.5 billion before taxes, and would set up you and your heirs for a very long time. It would also keep me or an heir from making a horrendously stupid investment mistake and lose it all, which happens all too often with lottery winners. What do you think?

OK, I know 292,000,000 to 1, but a guy can dream can't he?

One question to ask is if you take the yearly payout, what happens if you die before 30 years, does this go to your estate, or do the payments stop?

I'd take the cash up front. I need to pay off my credit card! :)

Really now, I'd rather have it all in my possession now. If 29 nine years from now they go broke I'd lose out on 50M dollars (or whatever the figure would actually be). :(

And you're right. I have no expectation of winning but it sure is fun to fantasize.

I just hope that whoever wins it uses it all for good.

I read a few days ago that if the winner dies before 30 years, the remaining annual payments would become part of his or her's estate. Sorry, but I don't have a link.

Are Lottery Annuity Payments Transferable? -- The Motley Fool

There are probably a lot more articles on this.

When I win tonight I will let you know what my battery of lawyers, financial experts, and long lost relatives want me to do.

Too Funny.......

Probably going to be some 22 year old in South Dakota just off the farm who wins.

Any guesses on which state will have the winner? PA supposedly gets the most. Some Amish who just left the religion?

It definitely goes to your estate!

$$$$$$$ Gimme the MONEY please $$$$$$$$ Lobster for everyone! What the hell open bar & steak also.

I hope you're right.

It goes to your estate

I wasted my ticket money on a cold beer.

Alas, I didn't have to face the difficult choice. Maybe my life will be ok anyway! :D