This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she's getting slammed for it

This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she's getting slammed for it

Updated: 2025-12-19T18:00:00Z

This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she's getting slammed for it

This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Now she's getting slammed for it

We've all dreamed of winning the lottery at some point or another. But have you ever thought about what you'd do if you actually won? A 20-year-old woman from Oregon recently made headlines when she decided to opt out of a $1 million cash payout and instead chose the annual lifetime annuity of $1,000 per week.

At first glance, this might seem like an odd choice. After all, who wouldn't want a cool million dollars? But according to reports, the woman is reportedly thrilled with her decision and feels it will provide her with financial security for the rest of her life. She even went so far as to say that she's not worried about "running out of money" anytime soon.

Of course, not everyone agrees with her decision. Some people have been quick to slam her on social media, calling her "irresponsible" and claiming that she should have taken the cash payout while it was available. But it's worth noting that taking a lump sum payment isn't always the best option – especially for someone who is young and just starting out in life.

After all, $1 million might seem like a lot of money upfront, but it can also be a curse if you're not financially savvy. On the other hand, receiving $1,000 per week for life provides a steady stream of income that can help her build wealth over time – and avoid some of the pitfalls that come with managing a large sum of cash all at once.

As one financial expert pointed out, "receiving regular payments can actually be more beneficial than taking a lump sum, especially if you don't know how to manage it wisely." And let's be real – we've all seen stories about lottery winners who have blown through their winnings in a matter of years. So maybe this young woman is onto something after all?

We'd love to hear from you: would you take the cash or choose the annual annuity? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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