I'll take the pay out. Think of how much I could have 26 years later if I invested it wisely.

I would take out about 10 million right away and take the rest out in payouts if possible.

One time payout. My BFF and I have agreed that we will split it if either of us wins.

I'd like the yearly payouts instead of the lump sum. That way, much less of a chance I'd blow it right away lol (even though it's $100 million, but people can go crazy with money and piss it all away). This way, I'd be assured to be taken care of financially for at least the next quarter century. But if I happen to die in that time, I'd want to remaining payments to go to family, hopefully it would work that way...

"One-time payout" and I'll do the investing!

I would just receive the payments, the thing about money is that you have to think long term. What if there was another recession/depression and someone you cared for lost a job or something?

I'd do the long-term payout. It's like a built-in accountant that would make life awfully comfortable without the overwhelming issue of having the lump sum. The lump sum is kind of greedy - unless the circumstances of debt, expenses, etc. absolutely call for the hefty chunk of cash to right monetary wrongs.

One time payout!

The only smart way is to take the one time payment. With proper financial advice you can invest the one time payment and grow it to a much larger sum than the total you would receive over the 26 yrs. The payment system is not transferrable. If you die you cannot leave the remaining payments to your family.

Lump sum. Ec will have financial people multiply his money, not the government yo...

payout...I won't live long enough according to statistics to really see all of it...,besides what on earth would I do with 100 million? true I could make a difference in some friend's lives ..but 100 million?--assuming that I won it in Canada where it is nontaxable income.

Definitely take the full sum. If you took just half of that and invested in low to medium risk investments, i would come out quite well after 26 years. Even with market fluctuations, unless the US is totally destroyed, odds are that overall the market will give me a profit over that period of time.

I will take the $50 million without a second thought. Investing this properly my income needs will be more than met. Whatever is left after meeting my personal needs will go to charity.

I want it NOW. I might die next year. I could do a LOT with that $. Always take the sure thing

Give me it now please. I can live on 50 million.

I would take the annual payouts. I don't have a lot of outstanding debt that I need a lump sum to pay off, and the annual payout would ensure that I don't overspend and waste much of it. It would definitely give me the opportunity to live extremely comfortably for years to come, and be able to help a lot of people, too.

The one year pay out! I can invest it and make more than they can! As if I need more money now!

One time payout - it's worth more now than that exact amount in the future. Net Present Value of Money -

One time pay out. I can live with 50 million...so long as I get a restraining order against my sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

I'll take the payout. I wouldn't know what to do with that much money at one time.

I would take the one time payout. Even poor return investments would yield more than the yearly payoffs. Then live happily on the interest alone. :)

Ultimately, I'd probably go with the lump sum as I'd have complete and immediate control of it but I'd be fine with the installments too.

Hmm, hard choice... let me run some numbers really fast... $100 million in 26 years comes out to roughly 3.84 million a year. Considering the fact that at my last job before I was laid off, I was earning roughly $20,000 a year and more than meeting my needs, I believe that at $40,000 a year I could live quite comfortably. So, with that first $3.84 million, I could purchase a decent piece of property - say 10 acres, a 3 bed 2 bath house - not more than $200,000 in my neck of the woods - and a vehicle that can get me to work and back - no more than $15,000. That leaves about $3.59 million just off of the first check. I could put away... say, 5 million in two years for retirement, and proceed to give the rest to those who need it more than I. See, the thing is, I'm not the kind of person who would stop working and live off of that money if I won it. I fully adhere to the saying, "He who does not work shall not eat." And even if I didn't... I need a job because I enjoy working. I don't know how people can stand life without a job - I go stir crazy in about a week. So... in the end, I would take the payout - I can help a heck of a lot more people in the long run that way.

I'D TAKE THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO START MY GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO DELETE GLOBAL WARMING, BY HIRING PEOPLE FROM EACH COASTAL CONTINENTS. ESPECIALLY AMERICA, MY OWN COUNTRY.

I would have the money in installments. Think about Mike Tyson how he blew 300 million. Some financial adviser steals your money, you just know that you had money for next year coming to you. I would make sure I got every bit of money that was due to me.

Pay me out

ONE TIME PAY-OUT, I MIGHT NOT BE ALIVE THAT LONG.

A solid gold '48 Cadillac.

I would take the money and run.

LESS THAN HALF. I MIGHT NOT BE AROUND IN 20 YEARS AND BY TAKING IT ALL NOW, I CAN HIRE EVERYONE AND TURN THE ECONOMY AROUND FOR ALL ON EARTH.

Have you compared the income tax on a lump sum payout compared to the income tax over a 26 year period? lets not forget the interest accumulated. The answer is interesting.

I would take less than half in 1 time payout. You may get more over 26 years but depending on your age, you may not live long enough to collect it all.

I'D TAKE IT ALL JUST INCASE I'M NOT HERE IN 5 YEARS TO TURN ALL THE ECONOMIES AROUND.