Psychologist's advice for winner of $35m Powerball
Saturday, 22 February 2020
If you win the $35m Lotto Powerball on Saturday night psychologist Dr Dan Goodkind has a piece of advice: don't spend it all at once.
'Put the money in the bank. Live more comfortably over the longer term as opposed to spending huge amounts,' he said.
The life changing amount will be the second-largest Powerball prize in nearly 20 years of the game if it is all won by one person.
Previous international studies on millionaire Lotto winners has found rather than the cinematic-like scene of people turning into different people, moving to remote islands or decorating their houses in gold, often people just stay who they are, albeit living a more comfortable life.
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Goodkind said there were lots of potential effects of winning millions, including stress and anxiety about how people viewed you, or it can be problematic for addicts, but for most people winning $35m would have a good impact.
He said money relates to wellbeing only below a certain level. Once you are comfortable, it's less relevant.
'It's very stressful to live without money.'
But it can also raise questions.
'If everybody knows about it, does that change the way that they view you; and how do you know whether people like you for who you are or for how much money you have?'
But: '10 years after they've won, most people reflect back on it and say it was a good thing.'
The largest-ever Powerball win came in November 2016 when a couple from the Hibiscus Coast won $44 million after purchasing their ticket from Dairy Flat Food Mart and Liquor.
Powerball 2 is the most common number, having been drawn 165 times. Powerball first division has been won 184 times in the history of the game.
Shops were proving busy on Saturday morning with Lotto ticket buyers getting in at the last minute.
On New Plymouth's main street, Mainly Magazines was busy with hopeful customers, with foot traffic increased due to the Americarna Festival.
Shop co-owner Wendy Marshall said it had been steady all week, and sales had increased as the jackpot did.
'Lots of dreams, lots of stories of what they'll do with it,' she said.
People are quite hopeful and excited.
'A lot of people do also comment that they hope it's shared, that it's too much for one person.'
Customer Trevor, who preferred not to give his last name, said he had been buying 10 rows with the same numbers for 14 years.
'I always buy the triple dip if there's big prizes like this weekend.'
Tui MacDonald said they purchased tickets when they remembered.
And if they won? 'We've talked about this a lot actually. We would help our families, and donate, and I'm sure my husband would love one of those Americarna cars.'