12/11/2025
A lot of folks think the annuity option is the “safe” play… but here’s why I disagree. 👉
If you win more than $5,000, you’ll pay 24% federal income tax on your lottery winnings.
(And for my fellow Tennesseans no state income tax here.)
So that “$1,000 a week for life”?
After tax, you’re really pocketing about $760 a week.
Sounds amazing...Until you factor in inflation.
What cost $760 in 2005 now costs $1,263.94 in 2025.
That means your weekly payout is losing purchasing power every single year.
This is why the lump sum would be my pick:
A $1,000,000 win becomes about $760,000 after taxes.
Now let’s look at what happens if she invests it and follows the 4% withdrawal rule:
Weekly withdrawal: $584 (yes, slightly lower than $760 but stick with me)
Since she didn't have to touch the principal here's what the balance looks like years later...
At 40: $1,742,237
At 50: $3,060,325
At 60: $5,709,023
That's all based on a 7% annual return.
And at age 60?
She could withdraw $4,391 per WEEK without ever touching principal.
That my friends is why Albert Einstein said "compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world".