Whether you bought a ticket yourself or got some as a stocking stuffer, could that $1.15 billion Mega Millions jackpot have your name on it? The odds may be against you − like 1 in 302.6 million − but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare.
If there is a winner, Mega Millions jackpot would be the fifth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, making the take-home prize a lump-sum payment of an estimated $516.1 million after taxes. How do you even begin to get ready for a windfall like that?
The “smartest thing” you can do, in the event that you do win, is keep calm and carry on, financial advisers shared with USA TODAY back in March. And avoid posting any and all details of your win on social media.
“If you’re lucky enough to win the lottery, keep it quiet,” Rob Burnette, an Ohio-based financial adviser at Outlook Financial Center. “Get organized and make a plan. Consider staying anonymous, if it’s a possibility.”
Who, if anyone, do I tell about my Mega Millions win?
If you find yourself in a situation where you stand to inherit millions of dollars, the best people to get in touch with financial experts right off the bat so scammers don’t get the chance to bleed you dry before you even get the chance to cash in.
Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors.
“Crooks usually try to get you to wire money for ‘taxes’ or ‘fees,’ or may try to get you to provide them with a bank account number, which they will then clean out,” Mega Millions…
