It's Friday the 13th, but possibly one American will be the lucky winner of the next Mega Millions Jackpot after the drawing on Friday night. The prize is $1.35 billion, the second-highest in the game's history, and the sheer size of the winnings is pushing some reluctant gamblers to buy a ticket.
"To be honest, I'm not much of a lottery guy, but I'm jumping on the bandwagon this week," said Tom from New Rochelle, New York, from a deli counter.
What will he buy if he wins? "A couple of Lamborghinis… maybe the New York Giants."
But figuring out your first big purchase is just one of many things to consider if you hit the jackpot. Rebecca Walser, a financial planner and author of Wealth Unbroken: Growing Wealth Uninterrupted by Market Crashes, Taxes, and Even Death, offered three tips.
— "Number one, tell nobody and do not sign your ticket. Make sure you take selfies with it and make copies of it, but put it in a secure location. Only tell potentially your spouse."
— "Number two, come up with a financial budget. Most lottery winners actually declare bankruptcy within three to five years of their winnings." (Check out this MIT study from 2011 if you need any convincing.)
— "Number three, make sure that you hire a team of legal experts, tax lawyers, and financial experts to not only implement your legal strategy for accepting your winnings but also to come up with a financial budget."
In short, she said, "seek professional and legal help immediately."
An Idaho judge overseeing the trial of the man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students has banned members of the media and public from using cameras and audio recording devices in the courtroom.
Four people were injured after a man opened fire at a Walmart store in Beaver Creek, Ohio just outside of Dayton. The suspect then turned the gun on himself.
The leader of Hamas said that a truce agreement is close and would reportedly include a multi-day ceasefire and the release of at least 50 hostages in exchange for Palestinian women and children detained in Israel.
For years, Geoffrey Holt was known as a mobile home park groundskeeper in a small New Hampshire town. Now, he's being remembered as a millionaire who gave his $3.8 million fortune to the community.
A Navy plane flying in rainy weather overshot a runway Monday at a military base in Hawaii and splashed into Kaneohe Bay, but all nine aboard were uninjured, authorities said.
Senior Hamas officials said Tuesday that an agreement could be reached soon in which the militant group would release hostages and Israel would free Palestinian prisoners.
