News writer
Imagine scratching off a ticket or checking your numbers one morning and realizing you're now a millionaire or maybe even a hundred-millionaire. What would your next move be?
Are you dropping everything you are doing and heading straight to the lottery office, ticket clutched tight in a shaking hand? Or do you take a breath, sit with the shock, and start quietly plotting a financial reinvention that could take weeks — or even months — to prepare?
Turns out, both reactions are common. While some winners practically sprint to lottery headquarters, others spend days, weeks, or even months contemplating what to do. And then there are those who don't even realize they've won, or worse, misplace the ticket entirely.
From working with an attorney to the simple fear of the spotlight, the reasons why people wait to claim their lottery winnings can be as fascinating as the win itself. And in rare cases, the delay nearly costs them everything.
The rush: Winners who can't wait
For some lucky players, claiming the prize is a matter of urgency. Excitement, disbelief, and the sheer euphoria of winning can be too powerful to resist. Many lottery offices report seeing winners arrive the very next morning after a big drawing, still reeling from the discovery.
“I didn't sleep all night” is a common refrain among instant claimers. Additionally, some people no longer need to leave their homes thanks to online lottery accounts. The process is almost immediate because prizes that fall below specific thresholds are instantly deposited.
Take James Farthing, who recently won $167 million playing Powerball in Kentucky. It was the state's biggest jackpot win ever.
He won the jackpot on a Saturday, claimed the prize on a Monday when lottery offices opened up, posed with the commemorative check, and then was arrested and in jail on Wednesday for assaulting a police officer. Maybe it would have been better for Farthing to wait it out a little longer before claiming his prize? He could have calmed down and let the realization sink in more, and gotten a better team behind him to help him through the process.
The reasoning behind the rush is straightforward: Why hold out on receiving millions of dollars that may immediately change your life? Some people see winning the prize as a way to end a lifetime of financial burden, in addition to a big lottery win.
Rushing isn't always the best course of action, though.
The wait: Why some winners pause
Winners on the other end of the spectrum are those who wait, sometimes for a long period of time, to come forward. Additionally, the wait usually lasts longer when the jackpot is bigger. A player may have reason to celebrate if they win $10,000. That same player might have a few restless nights trying to decide what to do if they win $1 million. If that same player does, however, win a nine-figure jackpot, that kind of life-altering cash can come with scrutiny, pressure, and even dread.
To get legally prepared, these winners will need to work at establishing trusts and speak with tax experts, estate planners, and financial advisors. For those winners who can't remain anonymous, they will spend time working with PR specialists or lawyers on ways to handle the barrage of attention that is about to hit them.
On the psychological side of things, the winners are facing shock, paranoia, and skepticism. They also want to extend their “normal” life. They want to enjoy the peace and quiet of life because it's about to become very chaotic once they are named the big jackpot winner.
That is what happened in New Jersey when one lucky ticket holder won the $1.13 billion Mega Millions jackpot in March 2024. They waited nine months to get their ducks in a row before claiming their prize. And when they did, they did it anonymously, which is allowed in New Jersey. They took the cash value option and walked out of that office with $537.5 million before state and federal taxes.
Every year, a large number of unclaimed jackpots go unrecognized because they are misplaced in glove boxes, couch cushions, or the general chaos of life. And other people simply aren't emotionally prepared to take center stage, even when they know they've won.
Down to the wire: Winners who almost lost it all
For others, the delay is deliberate, but dangerously close to disaster. Nearly every state has a firm deadline for claiming lottery prizes, usually ranging from 90 days to one year. And yes, some winners cut it incredibly close.
In October 2022, a California player claimed a $38 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot with just hours to spare before the deadline expired. The winning ticket was from the April 30, 2022, drawing and had been purchased at the 7-Eleven store located on Spruce Street in the Bankers Hill neighborhood.
For months, lottery officials wondered whether or not the winner would step forward. They did, with just minutes to spare. The lucky winner ran into the San Diego claim center on the afternoon of October 27, 2022, just before closing time, and made the last-minute claim. The deadline to claim the ticket was set for that day, Thursday, October 27, 2022.
While it was nice to see the jackpot claimed, it definitely sent the public into a frenzy: Why wait so long for such a big prize? Most likely, they are preparing for the win and everything that comes with it.
What if you lose the ticket?
Of course, the most tragic delays happen when winners don't realize they've won — or worse, they lose the ticket.
That happened earlier this year in Ohio, as a winning Powerball ticket purchased in Huber Heights went unclaimed. The ticket matched all of the winning numbers during the July 3, 2024, Powerball drawing to win the $138 million jackpot.
However, the 180 days came and went and no one stepped forward to claim the prize. The winning ticket expired and the unclaimed jackpot went to a fund that supports the Ohio education system.
Lottery commissions urge players to sign their tickets immediately upon purchase to protect against loss or theft. In some cases, if the winner can prove ownership (via surveillance footage, receipts, or serial numbers), they might still be able to claim the prize, but it's never guaranteed.
And unlike fantasy novels, lottery tickets don't magically reappear at the perfect moment. If you lose it, it's gone.
Anonymity: The hidden motivator
A big factor that many winners contemplate and consider when they claim their winnings is whether or not a state allows anonymity. In states like Delaware, Maryland, and Kansas, winners can stay out of the spotlight completely. But in other states like California, Texas, and Florida, your name, your town, and sometimes even your photo are part of the public record.
In 2018, a New Hampshire woman won a $560 million Powerball jackpot and sued the state to keep her identity a secret. Her delay in claiming the prize was due entirely to this legal battle, which she eventually won. She used a trust to collect her winnings and never had to face the public.
The fear of being harassed, robbed, or hounded by opportunists is real. Some winners are bombarded with requests, threats, and even lawsuits after going public. Given that reality, it's no surprise some take extra time to think things through and why more and more states are trying to allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
What's the "right" amount of time?
So what's the ideal timeframe for claiming a big lottery prize? There isn't one, at least not universally.
If you know your financial goals, are emotionally ready, and have a team of trusted advisors, claiming early might be a breeze. However, if you are worried about taxes, privacy, or how this will upend your life, then taking a few weeks or months to prepare is not just reasonable, it's smart.
Some experts recommend creating a checklist for what to do if you ever win big:
- Sign the ticket immediately.
- Photocopy or take photos of the front and back of the ticket.
- Store it in a safe space, ideally in a safe deposit box.
- Contact a lawyer, preferably one with experience in estate planning or sudden wealth.
- Assemble a team, including a CPA, financial planner, and perhaps a therapist.
- Create a strategy for claiming the prize — whether you want to do it anonymously, through a trust, or publicly.
The most important thing is to take your time, but not too much time. Check your state's claim deadline and set a timeline that allows for careful planning without putting the prize at risk.
The bittersweet truth about waiting
When it comes down to it, how long someone waits to claim their winnings often says more about human nature than it does about money. While we all think that winning a lottery jackpot will solve all our problems, it often can lead to the start of a whole new set of difficult decisions and situations.
Some feel paralyzed by the pressure. Others are calculating every angle. A few don't even know they're winners. So, if you check your lottery ticket and see that you've won big, make sure to ask yourself not only what you'll do with the winnings, but when you'll claim those winnings.
Will you seize the moment with joy and speed? Or will you sit with the magnitude of the change, quietly building a new life in the shadows, one cautious step at a time?
Either way, time is ticking. Just don't lose the ticket before the deadline passes.
Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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