Louisiana man collects $97 million Powerball lottery jackpot

Does any one realize how great of a life thousands of people could of had with the interest this guy wasted by not claiming the prize for four months?  When I win a jackpot, and my advisor says throw away four months of interest while we talk, I'll fire the idiot.  I would claim the money, wait the month it takes the lottery to give me the money, and spend that month getting all the advise I need - while making money on the interest, that is making money on the previous interest.  If it takes four months to make a decision, then I need new advisors!  Question: there is an earthquake in China, what should we do?  Answer: Get back to me in four months.

Absolutely.

I agree, I was going to say as much here about that a couple days ago but I changed my mind. It's like the winner in Illinois minus the actually doing something with the time in at least putting effort in hiding her/his identity. It's seems like things could be done a lot faster than that, even if you want to protect your identity which this guy didn't seem to even bother doing. I don't see how claiming it sooner would have prevented him from completing his previous obligations. Maybe Louisiana doesn't allow Trust or LLCs to claim winnings? I guess I could look it up if want, hmm...

I disagree with the last several posters.  I can't imagine why a self-employed person, and certainly a contractor, would want to claim the prize before being ready to "close up shop" if his intention was to retire afterward.  He had contracts to fulfill and the honorable thing to do was to do so in a timely manner.  I'd think he'd have a hard time keeping his mind on the work if he already had the money.  Plus he'd have more hassles with employees who wanted him to share and with clients who thought since he was already rich that they didn't need to pay.  If I were age 73, the amount of interest I'd lose during those extra months without claiming the prize would be of far lower priority than the previously mentioned things.  True, if Louisiana allowed one to claim a prize anonymously, that would eliminate some of the problem, but I don't believe Louisiana is one of those states.

In a similar situation my approach would have been just like this individual.  Work full time (and probably much more than "full time").  Then be ready to PLAY full time without looking back.

Lets break this down.

He needs time to clean up shop because he cannot concentrate on more then onr event.  He is already concerntrating on multiple events.  He is closing his business and consulting with advisers. Is he doing this all himself, or does he have foremans and leaders incharge of projects?  Probably the latter, so there was no need to wait.  What he is also doing is throwing away gobs of money. Money he just as weel set on fire or spent the money on those supposedly starving children.  He probably killed a thousand children by allowing them to starve or die from deasese.  That is an indisbutable fact.  His shortcomings killed many children.  He could of taken the money and donated it to saving lifes. Instead he sat in a room and worried about only himself.  You either do or you don't.  There is no option of "kinda"!

He can't handle employees who want a share.  D-U-H, that will be everyone around him for several months!  The whiners and connivers will be lined around the block.  Learn to deal with it. Without causing straving children to die.

He is incapable of dealing with business and having a good time in the same timeline.  Must be a lousy business man. Under that scenario, every single corporate executive in the nation would be unable to take a vacation or have a good time.  That is NOT the case.  You can multi-task.  You just have to be smarter then a gnat.

Lets face reality.  When you are 73, your days on this planet are extremely limited. Much lower then the 30 year old who wins the same amount.  I go back to my earlier post. Claiming a huge jackpot at 73 only makes some one selfish happy - but not has happy of the tax collector.  Death tax is a weak heartbeat away.  A smart person would arrange for a child to claim the money and contractually arrange for financial happiness through your remaining years. Your death is going to put a freeze on everything and cause a nighmare to every one involved. All because you are unable to deligate and your ego demands it be in your name.  Because of your ego, you gave aay thousand by not claiming it immediately, then you give away millions because you want to die rich.  I again ask, how many children could he have saved if he had a brain greater then a gnat? Willingly let children die, or sit on your butt? He chose to sit on his butt.  That is the ultimate in selfishness.