$476 million Mega Millions jackpot

An already absurd lottery jackpot has become a record lottery jackpot. Mega Millions, played in 42 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, did not have its $363 million jackpot paid out last night, meaning Friday's drawing will be for a chance to win a $476 million 26-year annuity (that's $18,307,692.31/year pre-tax) or $341 million, if you take the one-time cash payout.

I grew up with a father and a grandmother who always saw lotteries and scratch tickets as terrific and vaguely realistic opportunities to improve one's situation, so I naturally inherited their excitement. They would always randomly buy scratch tickets; I've only ever played for big jackpots like this, usually when the jackpot gets up around or over $300 million. I figure, if you're gonna win, win big.

Danielle and I have shot around ideas for what to do with the winnings, but I think ultimately, if we won, we'd be boring and modest about it for the most part but the one thing that motivates me to play is the idea that if I didn't want to work for the rest of my life, I wouldn't have to. It's not that I don't want to work, it's that I don't want work to be as important as living life. $476 million is enough that you can live as poorly or as richly as you want and, properly secured, likely for the rest of one's life.

Danielle's opinion, and I'm sure that of many on these boards, differs from mine. Some people worry that money would change them, and others worry that mo' money, mo' problems. In the back of my head, I understand those issues. But I'd rather have an opportunity to face those issues than never have it at all.

Have you been participating in lotteries? If not, why? Is this current jackpot enticing enough for you get involved?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Lap Dance

On the topic of having FAR TOO MUCH MONEY than you know what to do with... I imagine that if one of you guys won that much money, you could bring an envelope with $100,000 (or whatever) to EACH PERSON at the meet and still be the richest fucker on the forums. Hell, you could probably BUY the meet house and we could have a perpetual gathering.

Buying the meet house (or a house nearby) would probably be on my list of things I would probably do if I won. SEE Y'ALL AT GFF NE MEET 2032~

(Jackpot's up to $540 million, with some speculating it could be near $600 million by the time the drawing happens tomorrow night.)

There's nowhere I can't reach.