this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2024
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A person with a ticket matching all six Powerball numbers in Saturday’s $1.3 billion jackpot came forward Monday to claim the prize, Oregon officials said.

The lottery ticket was purchased at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in the northeast part of the city, Oregon Lottery said in a statement.

Oregon Lottery is working with the person in a process that involves security measures and vetting that will take time before a winner is announced.

“This is an unprecedented jackpot win for Oregon Lottery,” Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells said in the statement. “We’re taking every precaution to verify the winner before awarding the prize money.”

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[–] Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world 51 points 7 months ago (4 children)

I think that's actually a pretty bad sign for the person that won, to show up the first day possible to claim it. It seems like it would be much more prudent to get some legal and financial advice beforehand. Like if I won I have zero idea how to handle that kind of money on even the most basic logistical level. Hopefully it doesn't ruin their life.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 34 points 7 months ago (2 children)

There is a lot of evidence to show that lottery winners have no idea how to handle that kind of money and don't seek advice about it.

This person hanged themselves after blowing through all of their lottery money- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lottery-winner-hangs-self-7-years-after-collecting-win/article4121212/

This person defaulted on a loan because they wanted more than the annual amount but didn't opt for the lump sum and ended up in massive debt- http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004-05-03-lottery-winner_x.htm

This guy ended up working at his old McDonalds job a year later- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1582719/Lottery-millionaire-back-working-at-McDonalds.html

Here's many more stores- https://www.gobankingrates.com/net-worth/bankruptcy/lottery-winners-who-lost-millions/

The lottery is a tax on the poor, who are sold the hardest on it. Players have virtually no chance of winning, meaning that most of the people who play have a basic lack of understanding of how to manage their money.

[–] state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de 27 points 7 months ago (47 children)

The perception is wildly skewed here because you never hear from the ones who use the money responsibly to buy a home, settle debt, etc. and just live an easier life. Sure, winning the lottery should not be your only option to ever achieve anything. I just don't think that lottery winners in general have a huge problem.

[–] Liz@midwest.social 2 points 7 months ago

Nah there's statistics on it. A huge fraction end up broke. I'm too lazy to dig them up, but you can find numbers on it. In any case, it's not a actually limited to people who but lotto tickets. Humans are generally bad at handling massive windfalls.

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[–] jkrtn@lemmy.ml 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The McDonald's job guy seems to be doing just fine, if he's actually working there by choice as a social thing.

[–] stanleytweedle@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Luke Pittard, 25, won a £1.3m fortune, but applied to get his old job back because he missed his workmates.

Mr Pittard said yesterday: "They all think I'm a bit mad but I tell them there's more to life than money.

Yeah this guy seems to have made out pretty well. Can't blame them at all for wanting to keep what they enjoyed about their life even with the new money. Not that I disagree that the lotto is a tax on the poor but this guy is the opposite of what that comment was trying to prove.

[–] BreakDecks@lemmy.ml 15 points 7 months ago (3 children)

The fundamental issue with winning the lottery is that nobody who understands personal finance enough to handle winning would ever waste money playing the lottery. The most likely winners are people who buy lots of lottery tickets, and those people are the least prepared to handle winning.

It's hard to imagine burning through $1.3B, but after taxes it'll only be about $400M. All it takes is a huge mansion, a mega yacht, and a high end private plane to put yourself into a significant financial tailspin from the costs of maintenance, taxes, staffing, and energy.

By the time you realize what poor decisions you've made, getting out of it can be impossible. The yes-men who sold you all your luxuries have probably convinced you to dump your money on plenty of other endeavors designed specifically to separate you from your winnings.

The one percenters only get away with their extravagant lifestyles because they understand how to exploit the system to their advantage, and they can keep up the expenses by amassing more wealth.

Not to mention, if you already have a gambling problem, as many lottery players do, the thrill of winning and access to that kind of cash is likely to motivate you to gamble millions more looking for the next dopamine dump.

That this person claimed the prize so quickly absolutely is a bad sign for their future. If they try to do it their way, they will get conned out of everything within a decade, and their return to poverty will be crushing.

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

The fundamental issue with winning the lottery is that nobody who understands personal finance enough to handle winning would ever waste money playing the lottery.

It's hard to imagine burning through $1.3B, but after taxes it'll only be about $400M.

I don't think you understand personal finance. No one in America pays a 70% effective tax rate. How did you end up at $400M??

[–] StorageB@lemmy.one 2 points 7 months ago

The lump sum payout for the $1.3 billion was $621 million. Lottery winnings are taxed as income putting the winner in the 37% federal tax bracket leaving $391.2 million. After taking out Oregon state taxes, the winner would be left with $329.8 million.

https://www.usamega.com/powerball/jackpot/2024/4/6

[–] Liz@midwest.social 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Taking the lump sum, which is roughly half the grand prize, is practically always the better deal. Almost everyone takes the lump sum. If you want the full amount you get it in yearly installments over 40 years. Anyway, so you pay income taxes on the lump sum.

[–] StorageB@lemmy.one 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)
[–] TwinTusks@bitforged.space 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

$1.3B, but after taxes it’ll only be about $400M

What?

[–] StorageB@lemmy.one 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

The after tax amount for an Oregon winner selecting the cash payout would be $329.8 million.

https://www.usamega.com/powerball/jackpot/2024/4/6

[–] Gabu@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

As usual, 'murica is the land of the scam. Over here, the amount they announce as the winnings has already had taxes deducted.

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

All it takes is a huge mansion, a mega yacht, and a high end private plane to put yourself into a significant financial tailspin from the costs of maintenance, taxes, staffing, and energy.

Imagine getting that kind of life-changing sum of money and immediately blowing it on what is probably literally the top 3 highest maintenance luxury items in the world instead of keeping a good portion of it in some index fund and live comfortably for the rest of your life.

I know some people actually do this but seeing it broken down like that makes it even more baffling

[–] whoreticulture@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Why would waiting be more financially prudent? You can get financial advice before or after you show them the ticket, might as well get that process started.

[–] HurlingDurling@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Because before you receive your money they give you a bunch of paperwork to sign as well as how you want to break appart the money you receive and you want to be 100% sure what to say and what to agree too in order not to be legally scamed out of your winnings. Then once you receive the money you will already have the necessary accounts setup in order to not only store said cash but to basically live off the interests for the rest of your life as well as pay the irs their dues.

[–] whoreticulture@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 7 months ago

Sure, but you can claim your ticket before you sign any paperwork.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

I was hoping they use the money for good. But looks like they are stupid and going come out and blow the money stupidly. Goddamm I just feel it all rigged.