It's their lives, not mine. If they want to continue working that is up to them not anyone else. I would love to retire if I won, but some people like to work. I am sure a few of them will end up retiring anyways.

What math did you use to arrive at that?  NJ doesn't have a state tax, and the standard withholding for federal tax is 25 percent (of course I know they will ultimately have to pay more than that when they file their tax returns, but I am only talking about the amount the lottery will cut each check for when the money is made available.).  So that is how I arrived at my figure.  Dude.

I agree, plus there are MANY other ways to get the same satisfaction as working.

I have no understanding of working after winning the lottery.

Brad Duke, who won $220 million in Powerball a few years ago STILL runs a business.

Permanent vacation for me.

Retiring on $8.5 million is very easy, as long as you plan on living a comfortable life without going overboard.  I mean, a 3% return alone would be more than $240,000 a year or $20,000 a month. If you can't survive on $20,000 a month (without lifting a finger to work for it), then you don't deserve the money in the first place.

I actually agree with those who DECIDE to CONTINUE to do something workwise, whether that is continuing to hold down a JOB or starting/continuing a BUSINESS.  Doing WORK keeps ones MIND constructively occupied; to just go on a "permanent" vacation likely would lead to ones demise through boredom, frivolous spending, drug use, excessive gambling, and the like.  Unless one found a CONSTRUCTIVE hobby that OCCUPIED the majority of one's time each day, such things are likely to occur and no amount of one saying, "I'm different...it won't happen to me....I'm not like Jack Whitaker/Edwards/name your lottery winner gone bust" this is the totally truth about human nature.  For example, let's say a person said no more to traditional work and instead devoted 8 - 12 hours to improving his/her golf game.  That person would likely be fine.  Or the person decided to become a perpetual Habitat For Humanity volunteer...that person would likely be fine.  Or the person decided to become an expert in sport fishing/scuba diving/rock climbing/sky diving...although each of those pursuits have an added element of inherent risk associated with them, if the person keenly worked to mitigate those inherent risks, they should be fine for the most part.  But for the person who wants to lounge around, build the nicest expensive house, buy ALL the big boy toy cars money can buy, buy all the exotic type of art (Edwards), go out and be the big baller at the "finest" strip clubs (Whitaker), be the family friend banker, and had a little drug problem in the past...all I can say is look out for the impending train wreck.

I am an analytical person, but success with money is not always about the dollars, cents, and interest; but it often times is about the dollars, common sense, and personal interests.

I didn't say that I would sit at home on my a** and do nothing. I just said I would not work.  I would take up hobbies, travel,  manage my money, and do other things to keep myself occupied (strip clubs included).

There would be NO chance I would fall on my face.

Yes again I agree.  My point is you can get the same satisfaction from many other things other than working.  Most often its MORE rewarding.

Yeah, I would be "working" on my golf game on the course that I own all day. Then putting on my indoor green all night.

I wonder how much they each put in the pot.

Whether or not someone wealthy chooses to continue working is often not influenced by money.   The majority of us work because we have to, but many people enjoy their professions.  The more you make, the more you can give away too.

Regarding the necessity to work if a person has $14 million (less tax) I think it's ludicrous to say it's not enough to live a very good life unless you are totally irresponsible.   Most people won't earn that in a lifetime.  Just give me $2 million and I'll show everyone how easy it is to be very comfortable!