Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Break Down The Worst Things You Can Do After Winning The Lottery

lottery number balls
dylan nolte on Unsplash

Reddit user Wildingfox asked: 'What is the absolute worst thing to do after winning the lottery?'

If you look up where are they now lottery winners, many of the results are pretty grim.

Winners often overextend themselves or are swindled by opportunists. The stats are similar to those for professional athletes.


People of modest means suddenly having enormous wealth without any financial management knowledge leads to a lot of bankruptcies.

Reddit user Wildingfox asked:

"What is the absolute worst thing to do after winning the lottery?"

Some people took the question seriously and gave sound advice, while others... so the headers will offer the advice.

Safeguard That Ticket

"Burn the ticket, probably."

~ Abseily

Celebrate Lottery Ticket GIF by Chex MixGiphy

No Publicity

"Letting your name and photo be put in the newspapers. Everyone who sees you will have their hand out and a sob story."

~ Dr_Dapertutto

Avoid Con Artists

"Give the money to a televangelist."

~ BanTrumpkins24

televangelist GIFGiphy

Don't Invest Without A Certified Advisor

"Invest in penny stocks."

~ hlindadeborahgewy

Again, Avoid Con Artists

"Donating it to the Heritage Foundation, the people that created Project 2025."

~ gingerisla

Heritage Foundation Politics GIF by The Daily SignalGiphy

You Can't Take It With You

"Ignore your health."

~ jfsjonesMitchelll

Don't Create D-I-V-O-R-C-E Fuel

"Keep it a secret from your spouse."

~ Severe_Wrongdoer4672

divorce GIF by Saturday Night LiveGiphy

Remember That Saying About Death And Taxes

"Overlook tax consequences."

~ Individual_Rub_7848

Avoid Temptation

"Buy a zoo or amusement park."

~ Severe_Wrongdoer4672

amusement park rides GIF by South ParkGiphy

Pay The Piper

"Not pay off debts."

~ Emotional_Horse7657

Know Your Limitations

"Think you’re now a financial expert and make terrible investments, losing most of your winnings in bad stocks and risky ventures."

~ MishaShantay

Make It Rain Money GIF by Jasmine StarGiphy

Maintain The Status Quo

"Immediately quit your job without talking to a lawyer and financial advisor."

"You basically want to live your normal life for about 3 to 6 months and during that time you sit down with a lawyer and financial advisor and plan out the next 20 to 30 years of your life."

"Then quit your job. No major purchases without consulting your team first."

~ BadTiger85

Be Frugal

"Buy anything."

"I'm a certified financial planner for a big firm, we have entire divisions of people dedicated to 'windfalls'. I actually have one as a client, they won around $32M. The very first thing they'll tell you to do is 'DON'T BUY ANYTHING'."

"It's not meant to say, don't go buy lunch or a nice outfit, it's to deter people from making major purchases like homes, cars, etc... Too many people have absolutely no idea how money works and end up letting the instant gratification take over and before long, they're broke."

"You never hear of anyone being broke from investing their lottery wins. It's always they blew it on real estate, cars, and boats. They buy these things, then forget about taxes, insurance, upkeep, etc..."

"And before long, just the recurring bills of maintaining is greater than what their investments can generate."

"There's a saying, 'you can milk a cow a million times, but you can only butcher it once'. Why buy six homes when one of your interest checks can cover rent on it?"

"You could just rent a home for a month wherever you wanted and move around the globe. But instead, owning these properties has some allure of grandeur to it, and people submerge themselves in debt."

"For what it's worth, the people who won $32m after taxes, now draw about $100k per month in interest and dividends. They listened to good advice."

"They travel, give money to family/friends/community. They own their primary home and vehicles and rent the rest. Let the risk of all that be on someone else."

"We've had Trusts written to ensure assets pass seamlessly to heirs. Pending a very poor financial decision, their children and grandchildren are set for life."

~ Dad_Is_Mad

mansion GIF by A24Giphy

Quit While You're Ahead

"Use all that money to buy more lottery tickets."

~ ImInJeopardy

"True story: A man in my town won $50k on a lotto scratch off. His first stop: WINSTAR Casino."

~ TemperatureTop246

Go Low Contact

"Announce it on social media with your address."

~ GalacticDress

"These days you don’t even need the addresses. The scammers will find you, no worries."

~ Thin_Onion3826

"Scammers‽‽ Friends and family with sob stories will take you for a whole lot more than any scammer."

~ puttmykissy

"If you win the lottery expect a lot of random family members you didn't know you had grinding you for some of that money."

~ Noggin-a-Floggin

Sunglasses Hiding GIF by Soul TrainGiphy

What advice would you give a lottery winner?

More from Trending

Hillary Clinton
Kimberly White/Getty Images for Common Sense Media

Hillary Clinton Has Iconic Reaction To Trump Administration's 'Atlantic' Text Scandal

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a succinct response after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vivian Jenna Wilson; Elon Musk
@vivllainous/TikTok; Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Epically Claps Back After Musk Claims His Child 'Died'

Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, used an iconic soundbite from RuPaul's Drag Race to clap back at Musk's claim that his child had "died."

The SpaceX co-founder responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) defending Musk for appearing to give the Nazi salute twice at Republican President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Mike Myers and Mark Carney
@MarkJCarney/X

Mike Myers Joins Canada's New Prime Minister For Epic Jab At Trump In Viral Video

Actor and comedian Mike Myers has gone viral after joining Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for a video message that mocks President Donald Trump and his plan to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.

In the Liberal Party skit, Mike Myers and Mark Carney—both dressed in red Canada jerseys—share a moment at a hockey practice. Carney starts off skeptical of Myers, questioning his Canadian credentials since he now lives in the United States, despite being born and raised in Canada.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Buttigieg
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg Drops F-Bombs After Trump Administration Invites Journalist Into High-Level Military Group Chat

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg passionately spoke out after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump with Easter bunny at 2017 Easter egg roll
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Blasted After Turning Annual White House Easter Tradition Into Corporate Grift

President Donald Trump has sparked concerns from ethics experts after soliciting corporate sponsors for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Potential sponsors of the April 21 event were presented with three sponsorship options ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, according to a nine-page guide reviewed by The New York Times.

Keep ReadingShow less