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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWould you take a lump sum or annuity lottery winnings and what would you do with the money
With the Powerball Lottery sitting at $1.6 billion dollars, which would you take, the lump sum or annuity payment?
A lump sump would reduce the amount of the lottery and the remainder would be subject to federal and state (where applicable) taxes.
An annuity would be paid over a 30-year period
I would take lump sum even though it would mean losing over half the amount of the money. I'm 75 and I doubt I'd live to collect the full 30-year payout. I could set it up to so after I die I could leave it to one or more persons. What I would do with the money is to give half the after tax money to charities and good causes but not to political parties, candidates for office, political issues/causes and the like, nor to any religious organizations because they receive the bulk of donations. I'd prefer to give the money to smaller charities and good causes that don't get the support they need. The money I'd won in the lottery would be more than I'd ever need for 10 lifetimes.
With the remainder of the money, I give my three siblings, three nieces, and nephews enough money to take care of them or set them up to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. For my nieces and nephews, I'd set up trust funds for them where they could withdraw $100,000 a year for the first 10 years, $150,000 the next 10 years, and $200,000 the next 10 years. Once they reach age 60, they get the entire remaining amount. I'd also put in a restriction such as they cannot use the trust as collateral or sell/trade their trust.
The remainder of the money I'd buy me a new condo, put enough money in treasury bills/bonds to protect my assets, and invest the remainder in the stock market. I'd take half the amount I make each years, after taxes, and continue to donate to charities and good causes. The other half I'd use for my living expenses and reinvesting.
So, which would you take, the lump sum or the annuity and what would you do with the money?
multigraincracker
(36,844 posts)50% gift tax on amounts over, about $18,000. So to give a relative a million would cost about a million and a half.
Better talk to a CPA before any plans.
Abnredleg
(1,242 posts)The $18,000 annual limit just means you dont have to file with the IRS. Anything larger has to be reported and is applied against your estate gift limitation. And your spouse can also give the same amount without taxes.
https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/gift-tax-exclusion
multigraincracker
(36,844 posts)rampartd
(3,587 posts)will your annuity be paid if the company goes bankrupt?
at likelly inflation is the 30 year value of an annuity worth waiting for?
Niagara
(11,384 posts)It has been for years. Some states (like California) direct their revenue into public school systems.
It's not a corporation.
2naSalit
(99,714 posts)Would but myself a comfortable home, and give each family member enough to set them up for life and the rest would go into some projects I have dreamed about for a couple decades like a cooperative of food producing networks to reduce the food desert issues around the world and some kind of healthcare network to force the government to create a single payer program for this country and then some other things that need doing.
In my mind, altruism is the only way to be a good person with wealth.
anciano
(2,155 posts)would divide it among my sons and grandchildren.
doc03
(38,787 posts)to relatives and the rest to charities. I am 77 and don't really want anything.
Raven123
(7,472 posts)Some to family, friends. Most to charitable organizations.
Jilly_in_VA
(13,783 posts)Lump sum. I'd pay off this house, all family debts, and get some needed repairs done on both this house and the one in Tennessee that I own and my daughter's family lives in. Then I would get this yard cleaned up and some trees removed. I'd also give a big chunk to the animal shelter where I volunteer, specifically for the cat areas. Lastly, I'd get some miscellaneous legal work done and then we could travel.
yellowdogintexas
(23,591 posts)First I would set up an income trust for us to live on and it would not need to be huge or anything. Just enough to allow us to do some fun things we can't do now.
I would set up trust funds for my daughter and granddaughter
Endow some scholarships for graduates of my high school and I would tie at least one of them to my college
Endow some scholarships at my college
Donate lots of money to very good causes. Lots. It would be such a feeling of joy to be able to do that
It would be lots of fun to fund a very nice cat shelter and a dog shelter
GreatGazoo
(4,421 posts)So that is $600-million.
Hire a good tax attorney. Put $10 mil into QQQI, an ETF that uses covered calls to generate 1% per month in income, so that's $100,000 per month to live on.
For $80-million, make a feature film with Roger Deakins or Lubetsky on camera. A John Williams score.
For $100 million create a co-living facility with sustainable permaculture food production. Basically clone this and scale it up a bit, add a nice lake:
https://ecovillageithaca.org/
The other $400 million I will have to think about.
Marthe48
(22,628 posts)Would make sure my relatives are secure, if they want me to gift them. My favorite organizations, and the local pet shelters. I'd like to buy an empty lot in town and create a green space, and then hire people who love nature as groundskeepers. I'd also buy undeveloped land, and keep it undeveloped as long as it's possible. I'd start an endowment for education for the people in my universe. I'd hire professionals to manage my developments so I could follow Spring around the world.
Niagara
(11,384 posts)Keep in mind:
1. The odds of winning the overall jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million
2. 70% of lottery winners end up broke and 33% declare bankruptcy
Professional financial advisors recommend the annuity option since financial mistakes will happen. There's a thing called Sudden Wealth Syndrome and if someone isn't accustomed to a shitload of money they will make mistakes.
First things first, I would have to obtain a reputable tax accountant, a reputable financial planner, an estate attorney, and possibly a security officer. That's just right of the top of my head, I'm sure I'll need to obtain other professionals as well.
Also, the Powerball is a multi-state government enterprise and will never face bankruptcy. It is not a corporation.
Intractable
(1,574 posts)https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/16/business/publishers-clearing-house-bankruptcy-winners-lose-prizes
I'd take the lump sum. That is, take the money and run, as they say.
Iggo
(49,587 posts)All of it now.
I dont want anybody owing me millions of dollars.
electric_blue68
(25,630 posts)Tax lawyer, finance planner, security?
My younger (only sib) still works so I'd set her up. Money to some cousins, and friends. Maybe also specifically send them on vacations, too, especially my poorer friends.
Maaaybe buy a nice 4 bedroom apt overlooking Central Park, but low floor. My bedroom, 2 bedrooms for guests, 1 bedroom turned into an Art, and Crafting studio! 🥰 Lots of ordering from restaurants. Make salads, and sandwiches.
Buy Art and craft supplies I couldn't, or no longer afford. Buy sterling silver wire like I used for unique wire jewelry. Also yes 23k gold wire for same. A few rubies, boulder opals, Tahiti pearls to add in.
Maybe q bit of high end yarns - but I'm a slow yarn craftter so not much!
And a buy few fabulous outfits.m, and some wonderfully crafted jewelry. I've seen much great stuff at craft shows.
Revisit Paris, Puerto Rico, The Grand Cayon and stay over night this time. If I could figure out a way to get to Mounumeny Valley again, I would. Thus time stay in their hotel vs sleeping in a sleeping bags like my friend, and I did. Visit Hawaii! Maaaybe see The Pyramids. Athens, Greece, maybe Santorini, or a different island. Maybe visit my younger cousins in Switzerland who I saw when visiting their parents.
Amongst financial stuff set up with stock etc to generate more income, and distribution.
Because it's not just about me.
I have plenty of causes I'd want to donate to, maybe some annually setup reoccuring donations.
I think local food banks would be an immediate good start! I have a favorite liberal church I'd also donate to.
Disaster relief. Food aid, medical aid to some poor countries. Environment groups. Women's shelters. Habitat for Humanity (hi Jimmy, and Rosalyn!). Maybe Green Peace.
Aid to Ukraine.
It's good, and I'd feel good to help!
A girl can dream.
Morbius
(873 posts)Lump sum. Also, people should know that just because the payout is $1.6 billion doesn't mean there's $1,600,000,000.00 in an account somewhere. The reason they're calling it that much is because they would invest the money over time. The only way to get that much is to opt for the 31 payments, one now and once a year for 30 years. The actual amount in an account somewhere is less than half the $1.6 billion. I would guess, though I may be off, that going for the lump sum would mean getting, after taxes, about 25% of the total, give or take a couple percent.
25% of $1.6 billion is $400 million. Every 1% off that is $16 million. So, somewhere between $368 million and $432 million, if my estimate is correct.
Can you tell I've been thinking about this?
My sister (74) lives in a retirement home in California, and she hates it. It's all she can afford, despite careful planning. She would love to move back home to the Chicago area. So if I won, I would buy a large house which either already has an elevator or has space enough to accommodate the installation thereof, and I'd move my small family (three of us) and my sister in. It would have to include a sizable kitchen. Of course, this would be after I pay off all my debts, upgrade my ride (currently a 12 year old minivan), and fix up the place where currently live. And that wouldn't happen until after I do everything I can to protect myself from identity theft and hire a lawyer, get an ironclad will for myself and my spouse, change my home phone number and my passwords to everything.
I would still have money problems. People think winning the lottery eliminates money problems but that is false. One simply exchanges current money problems for other money problems. The best way to end up with a small fortune is to start with a large fortune, so my watchword would be to try not to live like a millionaire lest I quickly run through the money. I would take a chunk of the money and establish annuities that ensure a monthly payout, and leave the rest of the money in secure, low interest investments.
There are some charitable notions going round my brain as well.
True Dough
(25,639 posts)Still awaiting the sum!
Niagara
(11,384 posts)Powerball is now at 1.70 Billion.
True Dough
(25,639 posts)taking that grand prize in pennies.
Niagara
(11,384 posts)Give Peace A Chance
(147 posts)Then I would buy a Supreme Court justice (or 3)