NBC, huh. Wow, you have low standards.

Win

320 mil

-cash option =

213 mil

- gov tax

- state tax

- local income tax

= ?

Why not just move to Canada now?

and we're told, the rich don't pay taxes.

The 'new rich' pays. The 'old rich' have their tax shelters and Swiss and Bermuda accounts.

@over - 213million cash option would tun into about 130million. Still a Sh*t ton

The lottery is a tax for those who failed math class in high school.
Don't believe me? ...well then, just do the math!

@Alan: he'd be lucky if they let him in with money.

i'd buy some cows...or smoke peyote...or both if i won...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavUpD_IjVY

Kolchak, Forteen consecutive rolls and no winner...No math required when the balls are laoded!

It sounds wonderful, winning all that money,but history proves otherwise.Research was done following up on the lives of a large group of people who had struck it rich after being struggling poor or average working middle class individuals.Lottery winners, those who inherited great sums from estates and settlements from lawsuits. The findings were sobering.

If one was a thrifty saver, they tended to remain so.But if impulsive and a poor saver, the same behaviors remained. Across the board people had more stress in their lives then ever before.Everyone bought bigger homes which meant more expensive furnishings, which needed more upkeep.In every case relatives, friends, even strangers asked, even demanded help and bills piled up. Social obligations emerged never encountered before. More expensive life styles had to be maintained. When people could buy everything, suddenly little things were taken for granted. Everyone stated they had this issue.

The loss of privacy was profound in every case.Wondering who your friends really were,stalking,calls in the middle of the night threatening to kill ones self if a winner didn't send payment, charities begging for help and threats on peoples lives occurred. Including in one case a brother who tried to hire a hit on his brother to inherit the winnings. One winner was sued by a traffic cop who pulled him over and he settled at 5 million rather than drag things out of court. People were constant targets where ever they went for harassment and kidnap attempts. Many became withdrawn from social life and suffered mental issues.Plus personal problems or issues in ones life became magnified.

Last, what was expected to last a lifetime often was gone in just a few years. Leaving practically everyone broke in under five years and their expensive possessions gone. One winner sat in his empty huge home, the main floor covered completely wilth bills he could not pay. Winning the lottery, sounds great.But maybe it is better one is holding down a job humbly making ends meet, but with true friends, privacy, chances to make mistakes and move on quietly learning from them. Then win and experience your life going to hell in a hand basket on the center stage of the world.Like that old saying, money doesn't buy happiness. Having asked all those winners, it would appear so.

I WORK IN A FUDGE-PACKING PLANT. Gimme my $670 Billion dallah.

People just don't use their brains. They don't understand that if they've never dealt with that kind of money that they should hire an investment adviser and tax accountant to help them Keep at much of it as possible for the future.

Like most people I've fantasized about what I would do with all that money. What charities I would support and what family members I would help out. But the first person I would call, AFTER I called my boss would be my company's accountant and have him put me in touch with a good investment adviser.

An aunt of my father won one of the first big lotteries in Mass back in the 70's. 100K, which was a lot of back then. She had to move and change her phone #. She discovered long lost relatives she never knew existed.

Today with the media the way it is, it would be even worse. At least half of my winnings would go to established charities, and to help out various relatives. The rest I would set up Trust accounts, for myself, and my son and my neices. Set it up as an annuity, with yearly payouts, so that it can't be blown on stupid stuff.

Ahh well. I hope the winner does good things with their money. There is so much need out thre.

Janine, annuities are ok for smart people. Stupid people still end up broke. It doesn't matter how you have it set up, with that kind of money, you still have instant credit.

Congratulations and be careful with your money the vultures are already circling looking for handouts. Enjoy and don't spend it all at once.

One winner is why I don't buy tickets anymore. The odds against winning are too great.

And your odds of winning are even greater. Ya' gotta be in it to win it.

The lottery is the only tax that is not collected at the point of a gun. Violence or the threat of violence is behind every other tax. Think our taxes are voluntary? Don't pay what the government says you owe and people with guns come and take it. And the government will kill if they think it necessary.

LOL Kolchack..."The lottery is a tax for those who failed math class in high school."

Go tell the person/people who just one those hundreds of millions they're mathematically challenged.

Let us know the look on their face...LOL!!!

congrats to the winner...

It might be difficult if this is one person. They might have been a good ole, everyday American, and all of sudden the President hates you 'cause your an evil rich person...unless of course you attend on of his $30-40,000.00 a plate fundraisers.

This is a great win for whoever it may be today. I wish i was the winner however, we all do... i had plans to help lots of family and friends that are in need today, due to this awesome economy we all get to deal with nowadays... well there is always nexttime...... congrats to whoever you may be......

Congrat to the Winner! Quite happy it's someone from Michigan, this state deserves some good fortune!

that said, I hear what Wind is saying...here's hoping the winner has a good head on their shoulders and is able to help those they wish to help, and keep the rest of the vultures at arms length.

im sure if they wanted to, they could afford to hire a few bodyguards to keep the creeps and greedy people off their doorstep and away from their lives in general.

I personally, would not invest ANY of this money on Wall Street. They've stolen enough from the American people.

I'd invest it in small businesses in my local area - those who already exist and need a little help, and also help new start ups...thats how I would keep my money working for long term success.

and of course, id help out some family and friends...pay off all my debt...travel the world, build up my community, donate to some charities...

there's so much GOOD that can be done with winnings like that...but so many people who win, only think of how they can enrich their own lives even more, and that I feel is their ultimate downfall.

GeeZ!!!! I was hoping to be THE ONE! Anyway, I would buy a large house in foreclosure and have a live in hairdresser/manicurist/pedicurist!!!

Also, I would donate a large sum to my favorite charities: St Jude Children's hospital and Boys and Girls Club of America.

I don't know what it's going to take to make people understand, but, here goes...NO ONE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER REALLY WINS THE POWERBALL. Oh, they once in a very, very, very blue moon, might pull a token Kansas or Iowa winner that usually splits the powerball, what a million ways! However, when it is one or even two winners.... It's ALWAYS EAST COAST.... Say, what you want... Just look at the Powerball Single winners who have won over 100 Million. EAST Coast, EAST Coast, EAST Coast, etc..

Do you people feel foolish or what... They drive up the frenzy for the midwest and west coast players cash and it ALWAYS goes to an EAST COAST WINNER... How can the PowerBall not be rigged, when it happens EVERY TIME.... It's better to stand on a corner with a big sign that says, "Rob Me". If you want to throw your money away that badly, why not give it to someone who needs it... At least then, you can get the tax write off for charity... FOOLS!!!!!!!!!

yeah if i win I will disappear for a year, who cares about my house can buy more LOL

Reporter: "What's the first thing you plan to spend your new winnings on?"

Winner: "Armed security personnel."

If I won the lotto, I'd buy a typical house. And I'd buy a Sybian. I'd switch on the Sybian; and I'd sit on it... like Fonzie sits on his motorcycle. And I'd never leave the house.

I will build a Center For Children Who Can't Read Good And Wanna Learn To Do Other Stuff Good Too and teach kids that there is more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking.

You'd need ~$40billion to do that. Honestly, there's no real reason this hasn't been done already by the "concerned" 1st world countries.

Mugatu likey!

I would start my solar movement to put and end to dirty power. while 213 mill. wouldnt do it all it woud definetly get the ball rolling. I could give free electricity to about 12,000 homes and use the money from their excess to buy more panels for more houses and get more excess and use it to buy more panels and so on and so forth.

..........what a waste and what a goof. Why don't you just buy Solyndra from Obama.

LOL........

You ain't really too calm, con.

Just just couldn't restrain your whiney, 'baggernut self, with the Obama reference.

You're sick...!

Right. Because the other "solar movements" are doing so well.

You don't have to win the lottery to get in the "green" biz. All you need to do is:

1) be a bundler for Obama

2) apply for grants from the Dept of Energy whether you know what you are doing or not

3) waste the hardworking taxpayer's money until your "business" goes bankrupt; and

4) party like it's 2099 because you've pocketed 10's of millions, put 1100 people out of work, and don't even have to worry about the loans or your credit.

If you did #1 you have a greater chance of success than winning the lottery. But better hurry, this offer expires January 20, 2013. That's when the adults return.

Yep get those government grants.... Feed off the taxpayer.... Oh wait... Isn't that IBM, Texas Instruments, Boeing, McDonald Douglas, along with many other company's that are still around and many that are not.... Gee I wonder where this country would be if the government had not given money to Texas Instruments to develop the the micro chip... Not all company's the government invest in is going to make it...

Change, you don't know the difference between $320m and $150m? That's $170m more bucks to spend. That's a big difference. Not being greedy, but I wouldn't take $150m, if I had the choice of taking the higher amount. A lot more can be done with $320m that you can't do with $150m. You ask: "what's the difference"? Dude, did you past math class in high school? We are talking millions of dollars, not pennies!

But the Governments wouldn't get as much in taxes.

@george:

"Dude, did you past math class in high school?"

Let me guess, you majored in English? You must have "past" with flying colors.

Judd.....Thanks for that thought ! What a great cause that is and they have earned or support more than we can ever show. These guys ( & gals ) are truely Americas best !

Yess Judd, that's a good program. For me, Wounded Warriors, The Soldiers Home in Boston, the Local Jewish war veterans post that my late boss was a member of. St. Judes Hospital. New England Home for Little Wanderers. I couild come up a few others, but those would be the tops on my list.

ok - pay up CASH ONLY ... i can't buy a ticket with a check ... sure ain't gonna accept a check for payment either!!

Read the book 'The Coming,' by John Daniels. There is the future of this country, sadly.

Bill Marvell, who the heck are you? People have the right to do whatever they want with their money. You want to control how others spend their money? Come to my house and pay my bills for me. That would be a great start. I'd rather take the chance of losing $2-$4, while trying to win millions, than to sit on it waiting to help the utility company get a dollar richer! Worry about your own money, unless you have some to give to those you are giving advice to. Most people who play the lottery, know the great odds of winning. But, they also, know that SOMEBODY is going to win. And if their $2 buy them a few dreams of what they could do with that sort of money, who are you to spoil that dream? Get a life!

Who cares if you're a church treasurer? Do you think that makes your opinion more valid than that of someone else? You say you can see the future clearly, what a freakin' genius - lotteries have been going on in this country for over fifty years, longer elsewhere; you're just slow on the uptake. Why p*ss on somebody else's dreams? Doesn't sound very christian of you.

I believe what BILL MARVEL is saying is that the poor will be spending money they would normally use for food and utilities to buy lottery tickets, and when they don't win the jackpot, will be asking their local churches and food banks to help them with food and utilities.

lol @George. Really. I'd offer the same deal to Bill I offered to my mother when she wanted to know why I'm broke. I'll give Bill my money and my bills. If there are any bills left when the money is gone, he pays them. If there is any money left after the bills are gone, he gets to keep it. $2 isn't going to pay a $400 electric bill.

The poor might be using SNAP cards for food and get subsidies for utilities, but why shouldn't they get to dream? Most poor people are there because they lost in the "Rich Parent Lottery" at conception and they haven't moved up for a number of reasons.

Everybody that buys a ticket gets to dream for the price of a Coke, which I suppose the Treasurer thinks we shouldn't drink.

Thank you for your psychic input. Now, tell me.... who is that person going to be, you?

Michigan isn't on the East Coast.

i'm with you Jimbo, some world class poooter would go a long way brother!!!!

Sad but true.

The American Dream is indeed to win a multimillion dollar lottery. Maybe if we would try harder we would actually win.

I know I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and walked to the nearest Wawa to buy a ticket.

choirboy, how is that winning? You still have only the bills you started out with. Don't be so stupid! If you don't believe in playing... then, dude, just don't play. What is it with you nutcases who feel you have to come to these blogs and try to talk ground folks out of playing their dream? If I don't win then, dadedadeda! If I do, then blessings to me. But, let it be my decision to do so or not.

Naw man. I ain't tryin to persuade anybody to do anything. I wish you luck. what is a ground folk?

The first thing anyone should do when they win is buy a new car.

Have you been to Vegas lately?
Stay home and buy lottery tickets. You'll still lose but the money you save on gas/airfare,rooms you can reinvest in more lottery tickets.

Yeah! an armored car.

You don't know you are going to lose, no more than you would know if you are going to win. Its just that... the odds are so great, until its most LIKELY, you are going to lose. But, hey! SOMEBODY has GOT to win. It just may be you. And that is the reason we all play. For that little-bitty-hope of it finally, being us.

No, George, for the last 14 rolls, there wasn't a winner, so it may happen that no one wins. But then there is next time.

That's very nice of you.

I would build a water park.

I hope things work out for you Simmer. the vet problem is a sin in this country. when is the last time you heard Nobama ever mention our service off at war?/

How is it, that the lottery can amass so much money, and yet we cannot scrounge up enough to help all our wounded worriors and Vets?

Every soldier, sailor, or marine is not a hero regardless of what the media tells you. I served in Iraq for a a combined two years with a USMC tank unit. During my total of 8 years in, I would honestly say that 15% of the military is made up of useless pieces of crap that are only in the military because they don't know what else to do with themselves. Their performance in country and in the rear were both sub-par and lacked any real commitment to their country or unit. My guess is that most of the homeless vets that you speak of are comprised of these 15%. It is not our country's duty to take care of these people for the rest of their lives. I, along with many in my unit, have suffered from PTSD and have found ways to deal with it that didn't involve addiction or violence. The more that people like you support this bad decision making, the more likely that these vagrant vets are going to grow dependent on society and become a burden to the same country that they swore to defend.

Started off great, then just got weird...

disagree. i think it started off great, then went off on a hilarious tangent. "whether i got pushed into the egg or not is irrelevant ..." literally made me cry with laughter.

Winner which casino do you go to?

Seriously? You think they spend that hour between when sales stop and the drawing happens figuring out which ticket they want to win and then making sure that is how the balls drop? The odds are extremely long yes, but I don't see any way that it could be rigged.

I'm old enough that I won't be around in 20 years, so it would be "Laissez les bon temp rollez". Let the good times roll!

Dude, that's harsh. Save your sperm for the right girl. lol. When you find the right freak, you will know.

Looks like I didn't win so my chance to share the wealth just went out the door.