I absolutely agree with you.  I just cringed when I saw they guy that bought a 'big' jet airplane, and then the guy that bought the mansion in Florida but lost it over a $5,000 home association dues not being paid ?  I saw his cars, one was a Ferrari Enzo - a 1.2 million dollar car.

If I won it, I'd buy a place slightly newer than the one I have, and to be honest, yes, I'd buy an exotic car, but not a 1.2 million dollar exotic car (and even that is only if I won THE Powerball Jackpot).  But I'd also buy a Toyota or a Lexus, also.  (sorry, no jet for me).   I wouldn't buy a new wardrode, gold rolexes, diamond jewelry, ancient paintings or pottery, or anything like that.  I don't need a Ming vase or a Faberge' egg. 

Tony, with the right kind of planning, 3 million would definitely last a lifetime (figuring 40 years at paying yourself $75,000 a year - and at this point tax-free since you paid taxes on it before they handed you the check) and that's not counting any interest you may have earned, or stock market profits, but 2 million ?  Maybe not, but that's mainly because of the cost of health care.

Winning $200,000 - $500,000 is good enough to pay off debt (for the most part), and possibly have a little nest egg, money that is there when you need it. 

I absolutely agree with you.  I just cringed when I saw they guy that bought a 'big' jet airplane, and then the guy that bought the mansion in Florida but lost it over a $5,000 home association dues not being paid ?  I saw his cars, one was a Ferrari Enzo - a 1.2 million dollar car.

If I won it, I'd buy a place slightly newer than the one I have, and to be honest, yes, I'd buy an exotic car, but not a 1.2 million dollar exotic car (and even that is only if I won THE Powerball Jackpot).  But I'd also buy a Toyota or a Lexus, also.  (sorry, no jet for me).   I wouldn't buy a new wardrode, gold rolexes, diamond jewelry, ancient paintings or pottery, or anything like that.  I don't need a Ming vase or a Faberge' egg. 

Wish I had seen this.  Did this guy think he was Snoop Dog or something?  Even if I won a $200 million jackpot, I would buy a used yacht and luxury car off of ebay at an auction price (not more than 100K).  I have too much respect for money for that kind of waste.

Good stories are too boring, and there are far more good than bad. However the media likes to focus on the negative ones, as that is what human nature is typically attracted to. Misery loves company. Of course a sudden windfall is not going to buy intelligence and wisdom. But I think they are taking the most extreme cases to show what can "possibly" happen but actually rarely ever does.

Most of the winners already had messed up lives to begin with, and was ill-prepared to handle such money. Most are not like the players here, like myself, who have spent many years planning for a windfall and are tailor-made for it when it happens. But that is a story that is far too perfect and positive to publish.

The majority of the miserable population wants to hear that those who won more money than they will ever have, somehow lost it all and became worse than they originally were. Flukes can happen, but for the most part those cases occurred from pure stupidity and overall lack preparedness. I have already been through the worst, so bring on the lottery curse. Please.

The show will be on again  the 27th at 9 PM

  Misery loves company.  So true.  Some people revel at the misery of others;  they don't revel the same way when they see your good fortune.

The thing is.... I had no idea that my ticket was switched.... Life went on as normal... If security had not discovered the fraud... I would never have known that I was the winner and never would have ever thought about it again.... Life has not changed since receiving the money....I have not touched it.... locked in CD till next month and I will probably roll it over for another 6 months because I still have not decided how I will invest it.