If I won just enough to provide me with a comfortable life and pay off my debt (i.e. one or two million dollars), I would not just up and run away from the life I know. While a couple of millions might seem like a pretty large sum of money to most of us living mostly paycheck to paycheck, the truth remains that after taxes, after paying off debt, and splitting up the remainder to serve as an income for the remaining years of your expected life, this grand total is likely not very much after all. I think if I won an amount of money in this range, I would ensure that I had paid off all my debt, put a nice amount of money away into savings and investments and securities for retirement before I went and told friends or family about my win. I would ensure they understood that although the win might seem like a significant sum, the money was already planned up to serve as a lifetime income source. This way, it becomes very clear that you have thoroughly thought about and planned the distribution of the money and are not splurging it on numerous pricey items. Oftentimes resentment and jealousy by others result when a large lottery win is used to purchase all types of gimmicks and new toys, such as new cars, motorcycles, mansions, trips around the world, etc, all things that most people would not be able to afford. If you ended up spending money on whatever caught your eye, those close to you would likely come to believe that you are mainly focused on instant gratification and obtaining the latest and greatest. They could then come to think “Well, if he/she is spending the money anyway, why can’t he/she just spend some of it on me?” Unfortunately, many people tend to think that they are just as deserving as other around them of random events, and so they would think that since the money was not yours to start out with and you just won it without working for it, you could share some portion of it with your family and friends.

I agree with dtvrivera I would just go on with the life I have now only more comfortably. I would buy my house and pay off my bills maybe help out the kids a little when I could but not buy big extravagant presents. My husband and I are getting older and retirement is just around the corner so, I would make it clear that it was going to be a retirement fund.

If it's small lottery, then I won't have enough to start elsewhere. It might not even be enough to buy a car let alone start a new life. If it's a big lottery, I dont think I'll just go away and leave everyone else. If I decide to go away, it means that I dont trust my friends and family to accept me and support me. If I stay, they might shun me, but at least I dont run away from my problems.

I would tell them and help out where I could. 1 million dollars invested at 2% is only $20,000 a year, so if you had 5 million and grossed $100,000 a year then paid taxes you would only have enough left for small gifts. Sorry but I hit the Lotto and my immediate family comes first.

I would be too happy to not say something. I would share with my family a little to make life a little better for them and then enjoy the rest for as long as possible.

I would never "run" with my fortune. I never want to be wealthy enough that it will cause others, or myself to act differently. I would insist on helping those I knew, it's just who I am. I would be sure that my family had a nice home, and our bills were paid with a bit in the bank, but I would still work everyday as I do now, and help others that needed it.

There is no sense in me living the high life, when all my friends are struggling. I would rather many peolple enjoy a higher level of comfort, that only one person being happy , while the rest are miserable.

I actually don't think winning a small lottery jackpot would have any effect at all on my personal relationships. I'm already capable of buying them big presents and bailing them out of debt. I don't. They're okay with that. After I won, would anything really be different?