Mega Millions player wins historic $1.58 billion jackpot

nypost.com...

MEGA Jackpot!

The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, worth an estimated $1.58 billion, was secured in Florida on Tuesday night.

The winning numbers were 13, 19, 20, 32, 33, and the gold Mega ball 14.

The winning ticketholder can choose between the massive $1.58 billion jackpot paid in annual payments or a one-time cash option worth an estimated $783.3 million.

It is the largest jackpot prize in Mega Millions history, narrowly beating out the previous high of $1.537 billion which was sold in South Carolina in 2018, the lottery said.

The billion-dollar ticket was sold inside a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach, Fla., according to News4JAX.

Well done to the person who won the lottery!

Now on the social aspect issue.
Would it be better, for any lottery and any lucky games, for the amounts to be shared among many instead of trying to match up the numbers where the chance is miniscule.

Imagine for example this case with a jackpot of $1.58 billion(!) a huge amount by all standards. This is the same as $1,580 million. How many people can get benefit?! I would say why not 1,580 people/families winning from 1million dollars or even better 3,160 people/families winning from half million dollars which is life changing money that will lift someone from poverty. A massive help at the very least.

No need for six winning numbers.
I think millions of people will be playing the lottery or any other lucky games (even more) if they know there could be hundreds of even thousands of wins every week.

The way it could happen is every ticket to have a number, this to be randomly selected against all other numbers.

Should have been me. I would have been a great steward of that money.

originally posted by: FlyersFan2
Should have been me. I would have been a great steward of that money.

You don't have any problems as it seems.
We all know you ve got plenty of money for yourself.

a reply to: AlienBorg

Just imagine how many relatives and long lost friends you would discover all of a sudden..😂

a reply to: AlienBorg

I thought for sure that nobody would win with those numbers.
It would be interesting to know if they picked the numbers or used the “easy pick”.
Oh well, I only know that it wasn’t me that won.

a reply to: AlienBorg

Would it be better, for any lottery and any lucky games, for the amounts to be shared among many instead of trying to match up the numbers where the chance is miniscule.

It sounds like a wonderful idea until you look at the history of winners; 70% are flat broke in a few years and 30% end up having to file bankruptcy.

It seems poor people aren't equipped to handle instant wealth.

I guess it could be overseen by experts and spent on more people; they could have housing, energy, health and food programs for the poor. Of course, those overseeing the program would need million dollar annual salaries, bonuses, paid living expenses......oh, wait.

Sorry, Alien; the jaded side of me shines bright until I've had my morning.....can't bring myself to use the term joe anymore.....liquid octane.

originally posted by: nugget1
a reply to: AlienBorg

Would it be better, for any lottery and any lucky games, for the amounts to be shared among many instead of trying to match up the numbers where the chance is miniscule.

It sounds like a wonderful idea until you look at the history of winners; 70% are flat broke in a few years and 30% end up having to file bankruptcy.

It seems poor people aren't equipped to handle instant wealth.

I guess it could be overseen by experts and spent on more people; they could have housing, energy, health and food programs for the poor. Of course, those overseeing the program would need million dollar annual salaries, bonuses, paid living expenses......oh, wait.

Sorry, Alien; the jaded side of me shines bright until I've had my morning.....can't bring myself to use the term joe anymore.....liquid octane.

Unlikely to be the case if you have hundreds or thousands of winners every week. Most families will be able to handle half million or one million dollars given they have bills to pay and many other obligations to settle.

What I am proposing is quite easy to be achieved.

a reply to: AlienBorg

I'm sure they would handle it as well as the Katrina victims that used the money they received on Prada purses and tattoos. Why do people think everyone else should be handed part of everything without any effort.

It also may not be one person. One number won. We don't know if it was one person or a pool. It could be any number of people.

When people are given something with no investment to get it they do not appreciate it and only come to expect more to be handed to them.

No you're just trying to control the winner's winnings. That's one thing all these people agreed on they were playing the mega millions lotto so they could win big money. They weren't playing a lotto for a half million dollar jackpot.

My only criticism of these lotteries is I think the winner is not random I think the winners are chosen. The people who win are either already rich or somehow related to the already rich.

I also think that there is nothing, no method available to the poors of this country which would let them rise up to the ranks of billionaires. Not lottery, not hard work, not marriage, not education, nothing.

Well, you wouldn't be getting 1.58 billion. Closer to 493 million dollars after the government and the state take their chunks. And that's if you take one lump sum

Ukraine basically won the lottery.

originally posted by: TXTriker
a reply to: AlienBorg

I'm sure they would handle it as well as the Katrina victims that used the money they received on Prada purses and tattoos. Why do people think everyone else should be handed part of everything without any effort.

It also may not be one person. One number won. We don't know if it was one person or a pool. It could be any number of people.

When people are given something with no investment to get it they do not appreciate it and only come to expect more to be handed to them.

You generalise which isn't a good guide on this case. Poverty is a real issue and I am sure most people and families will be able to handle half million or one million dollars or pounds if you're from the UK.

The example you've given me isn't a valid reason on why hundreds or even billions of dollars should not be divided into hundreds or thousands of people/families instead of being given to just one person.

originally posted by: v1rtu0s0
Ukraine basically won the lottery.

Why?

originally posted by: Gothar
Well, you wouldn't be getting 1.58 billion. Closer to 493 million dollars after the government and the state take their chunks. And that's if you take one lump sum

According to the article

The winning ticketholder can choose between the massive $1.58 billion jackpot paid in annual payments or a one-time cash option worth an estimated $783.3 million

So what you're saying isn't true.

originally posted by: peskyhumans
No you're just trying to control the winner's winnings. That's one thing all these people agreed on they were playing the mega millions lotto so they could win big money. They weren't playing a lotto for a half million dollar jackpot.

My only criticism of these lotteries is I think the winner is not random I think the winners are chosen. The people who win are either already rich or somehow related to the already rich.

I also think that there is nothing, no method available to the poors of this country which would let them rise up to the ranks of billionaires. Not lottery, not hard work, not marriage, not education, nothing.

I am not.

I am just pointing out how the lotteries and other lucky games can divide the large sums of money in a much more fair way in which hundreds or even thousands of people/families will be getting every single week.

originally posted by: TXTriker
a reply to: AlienBorg

I'm sure they would handle it as well as the Katrina victims that used the money they received on Prada purses and tattoos. Why do people think everyone else should be handed part of everything without any effort.

It also may not be one person. One number won. We don't know if it was one person or a pool. It could be any number of people.

When people are given something with no investment to get it they do not appreciate it and only come to expect more to be handed to them.

Very unfortunate example as I said above. With no links in your reply but even if I was to accept it see my other message to you.

Yeah, okay Bernie.

originally posted by: nugget1
It sounds like a wonderful idea until you look at the history of winners; 70% are flat broke in a few years and 30% end up having to file bankruptcy.

It seems poor people aren't equipped to handle instant wealth.

It boggles my mind how winners of even a small amount such as $10 million could waste it all. I could quite comfortably live off the interest of £1 million. All bills and rent paid for, and lots of spending money each month.

What's the interest on $1.58 billion?

a reply to: AlienBorg

i guess you miss the point of gambling. and just so you know a little over 400,000 people won a little something. some more than others.

originally posted by: BernnieJGato
a reply to: AlienBorg

i guess you miss the point of gambling. and just so you know a little over 400,000 people won a little something. some more than others.

You have completely missed the point.
You don't need 400,000 people or even more, winning of few dollars but see the OP

Part of it here

Imagine for example this case with a jackpot of $1.58 billion(!) a huge amount by all standards. This is the same as $1,580 million. How many people can get benefit?! I would say why not 1,580 people/families winning from 1million dollars or even better 3,160 people/families winning from half million dollars which is life changing money that will lift someone from poverty. A massive help at the very least.

Clearly and mathematically hundreds or even thousands of people/families every week will be lifted out of poverty without having to win billions or hundreds of millions or whatever crazy amounts.

What can you do with half a million or even one million dollars? Pay for your kids college/university, pay off your mortgage, and so on. You don't become rich automatically but it's a great help.