Wednesday's Powerball drawing isn't just big. At $1.7 billion, it's the fourth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history and already the second-largest prize of 2025. Without a winner on Dec. 24, this thing could balloon past every jackpot we've ever seen.
But let's talk reality. That eye-popping $1.7 billion number assumes you take annual payments over 29 years, with each payment rising 5% to account for inflation. Most winners don't have that kind of patience. They take the lump sum, which currently sits at $781.3 million before taxes.
Then Uncle Sam shows up. The IRS automatically withholds 24% on lottery winnings over $5,000, dropping that lump sum to $593.8 million. State taxes could take another bite depending on where you live, but we'll stick with the federal withholding for now.
So what does $593.8 million in spendable cash actually get you? Let's run through ten possibilities that range from sensible to absolutely ridiculous.
The Boring But Smart Option: Index Funds
If you wanted to play it safe, you could dump the entire windfall into the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which tracks the broad S&P 500 Index. Your $593.8 million would snag you 863,583.48 shares at current prices.
Here's why that matters: The S&P 500 has averaged 10% annual returns over the past 30 years. That beats the 5% annual increase you'd get from taking the 29-year payment plan. You'd be wealthier faster, and you'd have control over your money immediately.
Going All-In on Crypto
Feeling adventurous? You could split your winnings across three major cryptocurrencies. Based on current prices, that $593.8 million would convert into 2,251.82 Bitcoin (BTC), 1,524,910,118.10 Dogecoin (DOGE), and 67,191.25 Ethereum (ETH).
Cryptocurrency offers way more volatility than traditional stocks, which could mean massive gains or devastating losses. It's not exactly what wealth advisors recommend for preserving a fortune, but it's certainly an option if you believe in the long-term potential of digital assets.
Following Warren Buffett's Lead
Warren Buffett has spent five decades proving he's one of the best investors alive. While he'd probably tell you to stick your money in bonds or index funds, you could instead buy 1,188,503.26 B shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK).
One small wrinkle: Buffett is stepping down as CEO at year-end. Whether his successor can maintain Berkshire's track record remains an open question, but the company's diversified portfolio of businesses and investments still makes it a solid long-term hold.
Betting Big on Nvidia
NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) has been one of the best-performing stocks of the past decade, and it's currently the world's most valuable company with a market cap exceeding $4.5 trillion. If you think the AI revolution is just getting started, Nvidia could remain a market leader for years.
Your $593.8 million would buy 3,151,637.39 shares at current prices. That's a concentrated bet, but it's on a company that's dominated the GPU market and positioned itself as the infrastructure provider for artificial intelligence.
Diversifying with the Magnificent Seven
Maybe you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket. The Magnificent Seven stocks have been the market's darlings for good reason. If you split your winnings equally seven ways at $84,828,571.43 per company, here's what you'd own:
Alternatively, you could skip the manual allocation and just buy shares of the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, which tracks all seven stocks in a single fund.
Building a Tesla Fleet
If you want something tangible, consider this: The Tesla Model Y starts at around $39,990. Your lottery winnings could buy 14,848 of them. That's enough to keep a few, give some to every family member and friend you've ever had, and still have thousands left over.
Imagine showing up to a family reunion with a convoy of Teslas. That's one way to make an impression.
Becoming a Real Estate Mogul
The average U.S. home costs $359,241 according to Zillow Group. With $593.8 million, you could buy 1,652 average-priced homes across the country. You could hold them as long-term investments, waiting for appreciation, or rent them out for steady cash flow.
Real estate has been a wealth-building tool for generations. It's tangible, it provides utility, and property values have historically trended upward over time. Plus, you'd have a diversified portfolio of assets spread across different markets.
Owning a Professional Sports Team
Want to join the ultra-wealthy club of sports team owners? Unfortunately, $593.8 million won't buy you a team in the MLB, NBA, NFL, or NHL. Those franchises cost well over a billion dollars these days.
But you could afford an MLS soccer team. According to Forbes, a dozen MLS franchises are valued below your after-tax winnings, ranging from $580 million down to $415 million. Teams like the New York Red Bulls, Nashville SC, Houston Dynamo FC, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes, New England Revolution, Chicago Fire FC, Real Salt Lake, Orlando City SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CF Montreal, and Colorado Rapids all fall within your budget.
Professional sports franchises have proven to be excellent long-term investments, consistently appreciating in value while offering the prestige and entertainment value that comes with ownership.
Stacking Gold Bars
Gold hit new all-time highs in 2025, and it remains a popular hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. If you took your lump sum and converted it entirely into gold, you'd end up with 131,645.46 ounces of the precious metal.
That's a lot of gold. It's heavy, it doesn't generate income, and you'd need serious security to store it. But for thousands of years, gold has been the ultimate store of value. Some things never change.
Living the Billionaire Life with a Superyacht
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos reportedly spent $500 million on a superyacht, plus another $25 million annually just to operate and maintain it. Your $593.8 million would cover the purchase price with nearly $94 million left over.
You wouldn't get something quite as extravagant as Bezos's floating palace, but you could still afford a seriously impressive vessel. Just remember that the purchase price is only the beginning. Operating costs, crew salaries, fuel, maintenance, and docking fees add up quickly. But if you've just won the lottery, maybe that's not your biggest concern.
The Reality of Winning
Before you start planning your spending spree, remember that your odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9, but that includes small prizes that won't change your life.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each and are available in more than 40 U.S. states. Players select five numbers between 1 and 69, plus a Powerball number from 1 to 26. You can pick your own numbers or let the machine generate a random selection. To win the jackpot, you need to match all six numbers in the drawing.
Drawings happen at 10:59 p.m. ET on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. When no ticket matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and grows for the next drawing. That's how we end up with billion-dollar prizes like this one.
If someone does win, they'll face the classic lottery winner's dilemma: take the lump sum or accept annual payments over 29 years. The lump sum gives you immediate control and investment opportunities, but it's significantly less than the advertised jackpot. The annuity provides the full amount with built-in inflation protection, but you're locked into a payment schedule and can't access the full sum immediately.
Most winners take the lump sum. They want their money now, and they believe they can invest it better than the lottery commission's 5% annual increase. Given historical stock market returns, they're probably right.
Still, $593.8 million is more money than most people can even conceptualize. Whether you invest it wisely, spend it on toys, or do some combination of both, winning Wednesday's Powerball would fundamentally change your life in ways that go far beyond the actual dollar amount.
Just remember that the odds are overwhelmingly against you. But somebody has to win eventually. Maybe it'll be you.
