Produce a series of traffic safety commercials with a very sarcastic flavor.
How to merge, etc. Bicycles, motorcycle & other awareness.
A splash of cash at a few charities.
Build a nice workshop/garage/hanger in the Dirk Pitt mode, and stock it with a hot tub and wet bar. Not that many toys, though. No reason to compete with Jay Leno.
Now if it was a Billion freaking dollars, I'd run for Governor, on the "send 'em all to prison" ticket. In NY, I might win.
You all disappoint me, because EBR would become a force to be reckoned with if I came into that much bread. I have other fledgling but worth investing-in companies on the mind too, such as Labiche Aerospace
I'd buy the company I work for, and replace all the trucks with brand new ones.
All my independent contractors get all their notes paid (truck, cars, house, credit cards).
All office staff get notes paid and a new car.
Everybody gets to keep their jobs, and I would staff up a bit. New, larger location closer to the airport, and the current location would become the sales office.
Close family gets the same deal, notes paid, new cars.
Beyond that, I'm pretty sure I need a yacht with helipads at the bow and stern, because who wants to walk that far?
If I HAD won, the first thing I'd do is buy my town new police cruisers... Some have rusted out fenders and quarters. I can't imagine the mileage on these things. Then I'd turn my eye to EBR.
Told my daughter last night as we left her house that if she didn't hear from me in the future I either won the lottery or died. Well.....she heard from me.....
I have an accountant who would become very happy, and busy. I may leave a couple of text messages then I'd disappear off the grid until I could figure things out.
Oh the stress that would accompany such a load. What ever you say you would do would surely change once the check is deposited. No one will "let" you do anything I'm sure. Best to ride the 'anon' ticket.
There was a winner in Tennessee, no one I know of.
I dunno if it's urban legend or not, but I heard of a couple who hit a big one, and sat on the ticket silently, up until the last day they could claim it and not lose it.
During that time they had assembled a legal and financial plan, and carefully strategized where every last penny went. When they finally "broke cover" and turned it in, the barrage of meats and beggars had nothing to grab at- EVERYTHING was taken care of.
I'd get a few Tesla cars, start collecting other moto-toys, and grab some great real estate somewhere on the globe worthwhile. A few charities would be part of the plan. My very own original IMAX theater in the new house.
I'd honestly be afraid for my life if I hit a jackpot that huge. I know in NY at least you have to come forward to collect your winnings, so everyone will know who won, putting a target on their back. Knowing my luck I'd end up getting kidnapped or something for ransom money.
Froggy, that would be a valid concern. You can't collect anonymously, but I bet you could set up an LLC or something to collect it through that. The FIRST thing I would do is talk to a lawyer and good accountant/financial adviser.
With that kind of money, you could hire personal security and get kidnapping ransom insurance... Plus armored vehicles.
You have to hire a great accountant, a very good security firm, and a team of lawyers, just to keep alive and don't forget security on kidnap prone relatives.
Totally messes with a normal person life.
You will want to hide for a bit. Vegas?
A lot of lottery winners end up broke, in debt, and addicted. Usually booze.