Well I was looking at the mega millions jackpot analysis feature here at usa mega and I think that it will be hard for me to turn down the annuity over 26 years then the cash.  Sure you get half all at once but you can also get over a million a year for 26 years.  So I doubt that I will spend a million over one year.  Maybe the first year just because I will be helping my sister and her husband out and my mother too.  But the other 25 years I will be hard pressed to spend that million dollars in the years time.  So I am leaning to getting the annuity for 26 years to get the most for my money.-weshar75