$1 Billion Powerball: Don’t Cash Your Ticket Yet — What to Do If You Win

When the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot soars past $1 billion, millions of people rush out to buy tickets – but almost no one knows what to actually do if they win.

In this interview, I sit down with financial advisor and sudden-wealth expert Robert Pagliarini to talk about what to do before you cash your winning lottery ticket. We cover the first calls you should make, how to protect your ticket, who should be on your “dream team” (attorney, tax pro, financial advisor), and the emotional roller coaster that comes with a life-changing jackpot.

We talk about:
• What to do in the first 24–72 hours after you realize you’ve won
• Should you take the lump sum or annuity on a billion-dollar jackpot?
• How to keep your win as private as possible and stay safe
• How to handle friends, family, and strangers asking for money
• Common mistakes lottery winners regret – and how to avoid them
• How to think about taxes, investing, and building a team you can trust

I’m Timothy Schultz, a Powerball winner, journalist, and host of Lottery, Dreams and Fortune. I won the lottery back in 1999, and I’ve spent years interviewing lottery winners, experts, and sudden-wealth specialists to understand what really happens after the win.

If you play the lottery – or you’ve ever wondered what you’d do if you hit a billion-dollar jackpot – this conversation is for you.

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Disclaimer: This video is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult your own qualified professionals before making any decisions about your money or lottery winnings.

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Website: https://www.suddenwealthsolution.com/

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: What To Do If You Win $1 Billion
1:37 What To Do First When You Win Big
5:51 Who To Call: Attorney, Tax Pro, Advisor
7:59 Protecting the Ticket and Who You Should Tell
10:36 Lump Sum vs Annuity: How to Claim
17:56 Where To Put the Money (Investing 101)
24:22 How Lottery Winners Make Interest Income
31:02 Emotional and Psychological Impact of Winning
40:38 Sudden Wealth Syndrome Explained
48:49 Saying No to Money Requests (The Right Way)
58:06 Robert Pagliarini’s Final Advice
59:14 Preview: Lottery Lawyer Kurt Panouses

If you play the lottery, always play responsibly and never spend more than you can afford to lose.

#lottery #powerball #jackpot #lotterywinner #megamillions