So a 53 year old Massachusetts woman won the Powerball lottery of $758.7 million dollars.
You never win what the actual jackpot says and that should be false advertising.
In order to get the full amount (before taxes) she would have to get them in 30 year installment payments. That's over $25 million a year.
And you could easily die before getting all of the payments. I don't believe the future payments can be transferred to your estate.
The woman took the upfront payment option at a steep discount.
She will receive $480.5 million all at once. And then get taxed heavily all at once.
Now I understand how all of the math works out to your benefit if you take the upfront lump sum payment.
You can invest the money to get a return that is greater than 30 year payments totaling $758.7 million.
And if you die, all of your money goes to your estate.
But you could also lose the money. All of it maybe.
Now this woman has the burden of constantly having to monitor this money and trust the right people to manage it.
I say take the $25 mil/year.
If you screw it up and lose it all this year at least you have another check coming the next year. And the next year....
That's enough money for her to live comfortably and not deal with the stress of managing her money at all.
Now if you win let's say $1 million it may be better to take the $600+K upfront over the $33K/year.