MegaMillions $1.6 Billion Jackpot Drawing Tonight

As early voting is commencing in several states, the powerball and Megamillions drawings this week are worth a whole lot of life changing money.

The MegaMillions one that draws tonight is worth an all time MegaMillions record  $1.6 billion dollars.   If you take the cash option, it's only worth a measly $905 million.

The Powerball jackpot that draws on Wednesday night is worth $624 million

Even if you don't play it a lot, if you don't by at least one two dollar ticket, the only thing it guarantees by that non action is that you're NOT going to win the grand prize.  So it's why I'm going to take a chance at it and spend up to $6 maximum to get a few Powerball and MegaMillions tickets.

Yeah yeah,  I know I'll  have better odds of being struck by lightning twice or getting a date with Idris Elba than winning either jackpot, but what if I DO happen to purchase the winning ticket? 

For starters, I'm taking the cash option instead of the 30 year annuity.   After setting up my niece's college tuition trust fund, and a foundation that will benefit trans folks, may spend a hard cap amount  on some stuff I've always wanted.

The rest of that money would be invested wisely.   And yeah, I'd STILL be writing my blog, but from my own office space.

There is no doubt it would changes my life.  My family, and the trans community would benefit from my bank account getting a few extra zeroes in it.

And all you folks who hated on me before that jackpot win would get to stay in that corner and keep hating afterward.   No new friends, long lost relatives, or relatives who don't speak to me because I'm trans needed or necessary.   If you were ashamed to claim trans me before, frakk y'all afterward. 

But we'll see what happens at 10 PM EDT.   Time to go stand in line at the nearby convenience store and get my tickets.

TransGriot Update:  The winning ticket was sold in South Carolina.  

Powerball Jackpot Climbs To Record $1.3 Billion

Nope TransGriot readers, that's not a typo.

After 'errbody' in 44 states, DC, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico including the TransGriot didn't have the winning ticket numbers in last night's record $940 million drawing, it set the stage for a world record $1.3 billion jackpot on Wednesday which will probably go up between now and 10 PM CST.

Those numbers BTW were 16, 19. 32, 34, 57 with 13 being the powerball.

As to what would Moni do if she won it, I mused about it the last time a Powerball jackpot climbed to record levels back in 2012 and I took some time to write about it.

Not much would change in terms of what I would do with that kind of windfall, but there is a downtown condo or two I have my eye on, some nice office space, and setting up college education trust funds for my nieces.

On that note, time to go get in line and get another $2 Powerball ticket or two for Wednesday.

And hope that either I or somebody I know wins it.

$500 Million Powerball Musings

Texas is a Powerball state and like I did when the Megamillions jackpot hit that then record jackpot in  January 2011 I bought one ticket just to be in it to possibly win it.

The $500 million Powerball one could possibly be even higher by the time they draw the numbers for the jackpot at 10 PM  CST.   If you're thinking about buying a ticket, sales are cut off one hour before the drawing time.


If I were so lucky to win it, here's what would happen to Moni if I heard the news that the only winning ticket was purchased in H-town.    First up is all you friends and family peeps who didn't know me (or care to know me) prior to November 28, don't even bother trying to get to know a trans sistah.  

I'd be up bright and early the next morning hiring a good tax attorney, changing my phone number and making preparation for that trip to Austin to claim it.  

In the fine print of the Powerball ticket you’ll note that you only get the full $500 million if you match all six balls and you agree to take the payout in 30 inflation adjusted payments over 29 years.   Moni's taking all the money now so that means an adjusted $327.4 million payout.

That would still be a record jackpot amount for a single person.   I'd have to pay (and wouldn't gripe about it unlike you Republicans) the 35% federal taxes on that amount.  However since I live in Texas, I wouldn't have to pay any state income tax on that money.

That would leave me with about $213 million, and I'd be 'sliiiiding' some of it to Edenside Christian (my old church in Louisville) some peeps who helped me out (and who know who they are) when I was down on my luck, some family members and organizations and groups that prioritize helping trans people out.  

So yes, National Black Justice Coalition and Trans Persons Of Color Coalition, y'all would be the first organizations to get a call and a check from Moni. 

I'd blow $1 million just because and to get any wild spending spree out of my system.  There are a few shoe stores and clothing outlets that would see my statuesque behind in them, and a trip to Canada to visit a certain womanist mommy blogger would rapidly happen.  

Then I'd be make sure I'd have the bulk of my newfound millions invested wisely so I can live off the interest from it.  I have no desire to repeat the mistakes of far too many lotto winners who frivolously blew their windfall.   

Yeah, yeah, I know the odds.  But dropping $2 on a Powerball ticket and being blessed enough to have the correct five numbers plus a powerball would definitely be a life and bank account changing event, so why not?

And yeah, a TransGriot can dream a little bit can't she?


TransGriot Update:  White there were two people in the Houston area who received $1 million by matching 5 numbers but not the powerball, I wasn't one of them. My ticket was a dud this time