Automatically decide to take the up-front cash. Supposedly some 70% of lottery winners end up broke again, many within a couple or few years. Let's say that you can choose to get $172 million up front, or you can choose to receive a payout of $300 million slowly over the course of a lifetime (30 years or so). Most people choose the lump sum rather than the annuity payment. After all, it is instant empire-making money. Go see a reputable and visible tax professional and a reputable investment advisor at a top money management firm with a widely recognized company name and a long corporate history. This theme of "reputable and visible" will echo throughout. Do this before you automatically make the decision about a lump-sum or annuity option.