$363 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot raised due to heavy sales

I cannot say, but I won't go too overboard. Oh, I will spend, but not too out of control. I don't want homes. I just want an apartment over looking the skyline. My parents just want two beautiful homes.  They say one here and one in Texas. I just want two cars or maybe three. Those Maybachs are really nice.  I love jewelry, but not all the jewelry I like cost an arm and a leg. I like electronics, but I don't need every last one. I would be lying if I say I don't love stuff. I have a lot of stuff now, but I'm going to try not to be buried in stuff. I like to collect snow globes, so I'm going to buy them from all over the world. I have few inventions I want to test out too. My stepdad wants to start a company selling his famous potato salad.

All this wonderful free advice!       Thank you my LP peers, I now know exactly how I will invest every dime, and spend every moment of my time. 

One thing for sure, for whoever wins tonight, however-many people win tonight.

This isn't money anybody has earned, generated from working and sweating 12-15 hour days, using their skills and talents, to build a business, a financial portfolio, security for their loved ones.

It's a windfall that dropped from the heavens above, crashed through their roof, and plopped down in their living room. It's the giant sack of cash that fell outta the Brinks truck taking the corner too fast by your house, rolled up your driveway, and landed on your front steps. It's your filthy-rich great-uncle Grover, the one who lived three time zones away and you've maybe met twice (you don't remember either time)---dying---and when they opened the Will your name was somehow at the top.

It's literally a gift of miraculously good-fortune. Hopefully the winner or winners treat it as such, look around the community where they live now or where they grew up or both---at their families, friends, neighbors, churches, businesses, schools---and lend a helping hand where that help is needed most.

Excellent point Arrowhead!

Something else I heard from an episode of "Vegas", rings true as well. Money "won" is twice as sweet as money "earned"   

I like Simba's stepdad starting a company selling his 'famous potato-salad'. That's great...

Well, good luck to everyone!

I studied finance and worked in a bank for many years so I would be fine. But with this amount I would just take the annuity and have a lot of fun. Guaranteed check in the millions every year for 30 years. Not much to keep track of, and PLENTY enough for me.

If I won I would make Tina turner an offer on her house in the South of France.If she didn't want to sell I will find try to find me a place like it and build me one that is similar. There is a funny interview with Oprah about something she bought that belonged to a King Louis. She said something a long the lines of I liked it and I didn't see any reason why I shouldn't have it. The crowd laughed. With lottery money that is my mantra. I am going to put about 20 million away for safe keeping. Put together a charitable foundation. and blow the rest on  a rocking good time.

I get to my regular store to purchase an extra ticket last nite, and their lottery machines have been down since noon for updates!

The day before the biggest cash jackpot ever!

Ding Cuckoo! 

I went to another store for the extra ticket!

"Guaranteed" until the government decides otherwise!

I don't trust the government!

You should know how to invest for a better return than the lottery annuity!

Don't be upset dpoly, things happen for a reason. Perhaps that last store is where the winning jackpot tic will come from!   

a person should not have to wait until they win the lottery before they give 2 others and their community. winning the lottery should enable them to do it on a grander scale. myself I already donate to charities and give to the community, so this lottery jackpot would enable me to do it on a grander scale. but not to the point were I go broke.

mums the word. no one would know.not the media,this site or no one else I didn't want to know.you never know what people are thinking,because with that amount of money people don't think rational. I say wait about 7 months,get trust set up and then cash ticket.like they say"jealous ones envy"

If you were fortunate enough to win, taking the annuity wouldn't be too wise considering the rate of return is roughly 1.5% paid out over 26 years. Not only that, but the top Federal tax rate may never be this low again(35%) especially with the spiraling national debt and the out of control government spending. You may very well be looking at a top tier tax rate in the 60-70% range by the time your entire annuity is disbursed.

If you take the lump sum and invest wisely, you could grow your principal way beyond what the annuity value is today...it would only take an ROI with a minimum of 2% to be ahead. I am sure any competent investor/money manager could get you returns  that are several percentntage points higher. Not only would you grow your principal but you would enrich the lives of future generations and those you care most as well as any charity of your choice.

 I would much rather dictate my own destiny instead of relying on the government.