• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

2

Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil

3

Current price of gold as of July 8, 2026

1

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

2

Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil

3

Current price of gold as of July 8, 2026
Personal FinancePowerball

Financial planner to winners of tonight’s $910 million Mega Millions jackpot: ‘Don’t quit your job’

Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
Alicia Adamczyk
By
Alicia Adamczyk
Alicia Adamczyk
Senior Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 12, 2023, 10:17 AM ET
Win the lottery? Don't quit your day job.
Win the lottery? Don't quit your day job.Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

We’ve all had dreams of striking it rich and quitting a job we hate in a blaze of glory. And Friday’s $910 million jackpot presents the perfect opportunity for winners to live out the fantasy. But as tempting as it may be, a financial planner is warning caution.

Recommended Video

Not because you need to keep working (it’s not like you’ll need the money). But because it’s never prudent to make major lifestyle changes immediately upon coming into money, whether it’s a lottery jackpot or something more routine like a significant raise or an inheritance. Take a few months to think through any life-altering decisions, and let your emotions even out.

“Don’t make any visible life changes. Don’t quit your job, don’t go out and buy a Ferrari, don’t buy a mansion,” Emily Irwin, managing director of advice and planning at Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management, tells Fortune. “Maybe you have student loans you want to pay off, that makes sense. But try to avoid that mega purchase.”

In fact, Irwin advises winners not to do anything at all for the first day or so. Take some time to scream into a pillow if you need to, and soak in the news, she says. Then get down to business. Take a few days to really consider what your goals are and where you want to go in your life.

“I would try to take a moment and enjoy it privately before all of the chaos begins,” she says. “Because once the chaos begins, you have to make some tough decisions.”

Before accepting the prize, Irwin advises winners to assemble a team of professionals who can help them manage it effectively, such as a lawyer, a financial advisor, and even a philanthropic advisor. Scope out professional organizations to find someone trustworthy, and aim to hire advisors who have experience with tax planning and ultra-high-net-worth individuals (yes, it’s a thing). “This is a real circumstance where paying the rate for the help makes sense,” says Irwin.

Not only will these professionals be able to help you with the immediate issues of collecting the money and paying taxes, but they can also help you think through what you will do with the money going forward.

Then, check out your state’s public disclosure laws. Some states, including Georgia and Illinois, allow winners to collect their winnings anonymously. But others, like New York, do not. If you bought the ticket in one of those states, Irwin says you may want to consider creating an LLC, trust, or some other entity to claim the prize that does not require you to reveal your name.

Not only will that help prevent people from trying to scam you, but it allows you to tell your loved ones and friends about your newfound fortune on your own terms, if at all.

“Really try to work with someone on a communication plan amongst your family,” she says. “Instead of making big gifts right away, think about putting a sort of mission statement in place where you set expectations for individuals.”

And while the lump sum is enticing—and what most winners opt to take, over the annuity—Irwin says the best choice comes down to knowing yourself and your money habits.

In theory, the lump sum could lead to potentially higher investment gains over time. But the truth is, many lottery winners burn through their winnings quickly and impulsively, ending up financially strapped later in life.

“If you think depending on your circumstances or your personality you might not be able to say no, you know you’re going to cave when the ask comes, you might consider taking the annuity because that’s a built in, every year, you’ll have something you receive,” says Irwin. It gives you a little cover for the next 29 years.

Update 7/28/2023: This article was originally published on 7/12. It has been updated to reflect the new Mega Millions jackpot.

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Alicia Adamczyk
By Alicia AdamczykSenior Writer
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alicia Adamczyk is a former New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering personal finance, investing, and retirement.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
SuccessBillionaires
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of gold as of July 9, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of July 9, 2026
By Danny BakstJuly 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for July 9, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for July 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for July 9, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for July 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Top CD rates from major banks July 9, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on July 9, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 9, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of July 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 9, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
Success
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
3 days ago
Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil
Newsletters
Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil
By Jim EdwardsJuly 8, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of gold as of July 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of July 8, 2026
By Danny BakstJuly 8, 2026
1 day ago
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
4 days ago
Mining CEO worth $24 billion nearly drowned and had to break his own leg in a freak hiking accident—he used the recovery time to go back to school
C-Suite
Mining CEO worth $24 billion nearly drowned and had to break his own leg in a freak hiking accident—he used the recovery time to go back to school
By Eleanor PringleJuly 8, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of July 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 8, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.