Powerball, Mega Millions Jackpot: What do you know if you win?
Here’s what you need to know in case you win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just a FAQ, USA TODAY
The Powerball jackpot reached the high water mark of $655 million, ET on Monday, August 18th at 11pm.
The Grand Prize, although quite large, is still a way to go before it ranks among the top 10 Powerball Jackpots. To reach 10th place, the prize money needs to exceed the $731.1 million won in Maryland on January 20, 2021. To claim a top spot, the total payments earned in California on November 7, 2022 must exceed $2.04 billion.
Due to laws in some states, winners can claim jackpots anonymously. If the first winner since the drawings on May 31 are in one of those states, you may not know who it is.
The August 18 Jackpot has met all the prize size requirements for the states that have them. Arkansas is the only state that grants winners anonymity temporarily, and the identity of the state’s winners has been protected for three years.
This is where the winner can claim lottery prizes anonymously and the requirements for doing so.
Map: Lottery winners may remain anonymous
What should I do if I win a Powerball?
If a financial advisor shared with USA Today in 2024 breaks the odds of 292,201,338, the “smart thing” a player can do is keep it calm and keep it.
Don’t post all the details of the victory on social media.
“If you can win the lottery, stay quiet,” said Rob Burnette, Ohio-based financial advisor at Outlook Financial Center. “Sort and plan it out. If there is a possibility, consider staying anonymous.”
If you are in a situation where you are inheriting millions of dollars, the best thing to do is to immediately contact a financial expert so that scammers don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of cash before they can acquire it.
Steve Azowly, owner of Azowly Financial in Troy, Michigan, who advised many lottery winners, told USA Today the $181 million winner said, “If I didn’t know you, I wouldn’t want to know you now.”
“Get a tax lawyer and a tax accountant right away, then a financial advisor,” Azorry said. “They will hold hands and work to get a grasp of their plans.”
Where to buy lottery tickets
Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today NetworkThese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, view tickets, collect prizes, and all on your phone or home computer.
Contributions: Medra Lee, Amaris Encinus-USA TODAY
