PowerBall jackpot: What would you do with tonight’s millions?
We look at the guilty-pleasure purchases of past PowerBall jackpot winners that prove money can buy a lot of eccentric happiness.
On Friday night, South Africans across the country (and South African expats watching from afar) will be clutching their PowerBall tickets with bated breath. Whether you are in a bustling Gauteng suburb or a quiet corner of the Western Cape, the dream is the same: waking up as the country’s newest multi-millionaire.
But once the shock wears off and the newly-won R179 million PowerBall jackpot hits your bank account, what happens next? While many winners sensibly invest in property or clear debt, others decide to “fork out” on the delightfully absurd.
From private jets to… water parks?
History is littered with PowerBall and lottery winners who skipped the boring financial advisor meeting and went straight to the guilty-pleasure aisle.
Take, for example, the famous case of a winner who used his windfall to build a private water park in his backyard – complete with 15-meter slides and a lazy river. Then there was the lucky soul who didn’t just buy a car, but bought the actual submarine car used in a James Bond film.
In South Africa, we’ve seen winners splurge on:
- Designer Fleets: Not just one luxury SUV, but a different colour for every day of the week.
- International “Homecomings”: Expats using their winnings to fly their entire extended family back to SA for a five-star bush safari.
- Extreme Hobbies: One winner reportedly spent a small fortune on a high-tech, professional-grade recording studio just to record a single karaoke-style album for friends.
Don’t let your millions go to waste
While dreaming of gold-plated faucets is fun, remember that “fact” is more important than “first” when it comes to claiming.
National Lottery tickets are valid for 365 days from the date of the draw. If you win Friday’s PowerBall jackpot, ensure you sign the back of your ticket and keep it in a safe place (or perhaps a literal safe) until you can reach an ITHUBA office.
What is the first ‘ridiculous’ thing you would buy if you won the PowerBall?
Let us know by emailing SA People or commenting on Facebook or X.