U.S. Powerball jackpot world's largest at $1.3 billion

Maybe putting that Lamborghini on my American Express card yesterday wasn't such a swell idea after all..........

I bought the winning ticket today, Joe ! I'll pay it off for you !

I bought a ticket :)

Who needs that much money?

It's crazy. It would be much better to have more potential winners, rather than one winner potentially getting an obscene amount of money.

Instead of one winner getting $1.3 billion, say 1000 winners getting $1.3 million, or 10,000 winners getting $130,000. (I'm not even sure if that's the right number of noughts...too big to get my head around.)

The lucky winner will also get to pay the world's largest tax bill.

The lucky winner will also get to pay the world's largest tax bill.

I'd happily do so. I want it. Is it open to non-residents/citizens, and how can I buy a ticket?

It may be one winning ticket or several Cleo. And it's the lottery, no one hit for weeks so the pot goes up. If it one winner....what a win! It can destroy a life or make hundreds a bit easier.

Wishing to use this jackpot cashes for traveling all over Japan.

Dilbert years ago had a great take on lotteries in a strip from years ago: http://dilbert.com/strip/1994-04-08

Samir Akhter, the owner of Penn Branch Liquor,

My local Liquor store is owned and operated by a Middle Easterner too . . . what's up with that?

You don't suppose it might mean that they aren't all extremists and/or orthodox do you? Although that would destroy some of your stereotypes wouldn't it.

Naw, I'm just saying. Is that some coincidence? . . . as long as they don't marry the tashfeen maliks and plan their secret agenda, then all these store owners are good to go.

Just talked to the folks. My dad asked "why don't the government buy a ticket to pay down the debt?" LOL

@yuritani I bought a ticket :) what many may not know is its against Japanese law for Japanese nationals to purchase lottery ticket outside of Japan, yes it stupid I know just more protectionism by J authorities. If you win youd better not say anything to the j authorities and just move overseas permanently to claim you prize.

That is an insane amount. I am almost willing to bet that whoever gets it mishandles it and is very quickly fleeced by a whole bunch of instant "friends" i.e. sharks.

That is an insane amount. I am almost willing to bet that whoever gets it mishandles it and is very quickly fleeced by a whole bunch of instant "friends" i.e. sharks.

No bet. Lotteries have been called an unfair tax on the poor because the overwhelming majority of lottery players are in the low income bracket - where $5 or $10 of lottery tickets every week impact the weekly income a heck of a lot more than the income of the middle class. People unused to having money are going to be the ones to be most likely to spend that money foolishly. Take the following into consideration:

By redeeming a winning ticket you are agreeing to have your name and face plastered on lottery advertisements without compensation. This sets you up for the long line of people with hard luck stories who come knocking at your door. A lottery winner must become a cold-hearted "bastaich" to all the letters and phone calls begging for help for their child who needs life-saving surgery/care. How do you tell a mother you aren't going to help save their child? Note that I'm not even implying that the sob story is fake, though you'll get plenty of those as well. Even weeding out all the fakes, there will be a number of real stories. If you say "Yes" to one, how could you say "No" to the next? Where will it stop? Unless you become a cold-hearted bastaich, all your winnings will go to charity cases before you can blink your eyes. The poor are not geared for the kind of cold, calculating personality that is required to properly manage large sums of money.

It may be one winning ticket or several Cleo. And it's the lottery, no one hit for weeks so the pot goes up. If it one winner....what a win! It can destroy a life or make hundreds a bit easier.

And often, people do an office "pool" or similar, where several people chip in a bit of money to make a bigger pool of money to buy a lot of lottery tickets (thus increasing their chances of winning) - and any winnings are split among the participants.

Also, not all winnings require matching all the numbers. Matching 2 or more numbers yield some winnings too - the bigger the lottery pot, the higher the yields (many people can become millionaires just by matching 3 or 4 numbers).

That is an insane amount. I am almost willing to bet that whoever gets it mishandles it and is very quickly fleeced by a whole bunch of instant "friends" i.e. sharks.

The first things to do if you win the lottery

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/01/08/what-to-do-when-you-win-the-lottery/78508764/

• Assemble your team: This means trusted lawyers, certified public accountants and financial advisers who will be able to help you navigate your tax liability, choose investments and steer clear of scams. Put this team together before you claim your winnings, too.

• Keep mum: Yes, this may the most exciting news you'll ever have to share, but suppress the urge to post a Facebook status update, unless you want everyone you know to start asking you for money. Other than telling immediate family, keep a low profile. Some states will even let lottery winners remain anonymous, which is a prudent option.

• Don't take the lump sum: Lottery winnings can be paid out all at once or in installments over time. Thanks to the benefit of interest, the jackpot winner will keep more of that windfall if it is distributed via a 30-year annuity.

• Don't splurge, and trust no one: Don't quit your job. Don't move to Fiji. Don't buy a huge mansion. At least not right away. When it comes to making decisions about your lottery winnings, move forward with caution and patience.

And ultimately, don't trust anyone over your own judgment.

lostrune2 moving and changing you name are good things. The people will start begging for money at once. The only defense is if they can not find you.

" lostrune2 moving and changing you name are good things. The people will start begging for money at once. The only defense is if they can not find you. "

Yes, but does that not mean cutting off all your social contacts?

Long Island, NY moms create mother of all Powerball pools - 1,200 members

http://www.hlntv.com/shows/morning-express-robin-meade/articles/2016/01/12/long-island-lottery-pool-has-1-200-members

Good luck!