POWERBALL - 500 million-

[packman]

When you win, don't forget your friends on DU.

Of course this HAS to be said:

"The odds are one in 292.2 million, which means you're really, really, really unlikely to win. For some comparison, your chance of being struck by lightning in a year is about one in 960,000. But as lottery officials often note, you have no chance of winning if you don't buy a ticket. "

[Journeyman]

1. I read once your chances are better for having a fatal heart attack when you win, than they are. . .

for your actually winning.

Still, of such dreams are fantasies made.

[DefenseLawyer]

2. I'm in

But I'm beginning to think I'm never going to see those 2 dollars again!

[packman]

3. God, me and the Lottery Joke

I prayed at church a few weeks ago, "Dear God, I work hard but my business isn't doing well, my wife is acting strange and my daughter, ah, you don't want to know. Would it be so terrible, maybe I could win the lottery this week?"

Two weeks ago , again I went to church. "God, my wife, she's moving out and I'm getting audited by the IRS. And my daughter, she's running around with a such a sleaze, would it be so terrible, I could maybe win the lottery THIS week?"

Last week I went back to church. God, now I find my business partner ran off with my wife, leaving me to pay the taxes with money I don't have cause she cleaned out the bank accounts. And my daughter, she's pregnant and ran off as well. God, would it be so bad that I might win the lottery?
"
At that moment a beam of light comes blazing through the stained glass window as the clouds outside part and a voice booms down, "Packman, You cheap bastard, meet me half way on this one, BUY A TICKET!!!

[Glamrock]

9. Great one#

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. It also has to be said that NO ONE will actually realize $500 million

Even if you take the annuity payments you will still be in the 39.6% bracket.

$184.824 million is the cash option minus 39.6% then add applicable state income taxes


But I think I might be able to muddle through the rest of my life on such a paltry sum!

[NightWatcher]

8. I'm willing to give it a try if I win.

[hfojvt]

5. personally, I hate the big jackpots

I would rather see 5,000 people win $100,000 than just one person win $500 million.

I also hate the way people get excited about the big jackpots. Like, eh, it's only $5 million. Heck, why bother for such a paltry sum? Now $500 million, that's worth blowing $2 on.

I have this co-worker though, who seems ridiculous to me. Well, first of all, he is working two jobs, making perhaps $35,000 a year between his full time job and part time job at 300 hours a year. He's 59 years old, and can now collect a pension, albeit a reduced one, at any time.

He says that if he won $1 million from the powerball (the 2nd place prize, with much better odds) that he would still keep working for 7 years.

I just find that insane. If he was 39, it might make sense. Of if he made $50,000 a year. But he's 59, and he doesn't make that much. But that's what he thinks, that $1 million before taxes, is NOT enough for him to live on.

I am 54 and if I won a million, I'd quit my job so fast, the sonic boom would break every window in town.

[lpbk2713]

6. You would have to forget about nearly everyone you ever knew.

Most people would resent you for not buying their hard luck story and not making them a gift
of $100,000 or so and from then on would talk about what a cheap and selfish bastid you are.

[Johonny]

7. So you're telling me there's a chance

[brooklynite]

10. Additionaly, WHAT you win is likely to drop...

...because at points like this the volume of ticket purchases increases the likelihood that the winning pot will be split among multiple winners.

[question everything]

11. I'd consider buying a ticket if the spoils were widely divided with less noney

how about 100 of $10 millions, 500 of $1 million, etc.?