A Nicholson man won a $500,000 top prize playing $500,000 Hold ‘Em Poker, a Georgia Lottery instant game.
James Whitley won $500,000 in the Georgia Lottery's Texas Hold-'Em game.
Hard workers usually don't see all that $$$ at one time. It's your money. Do with it whatever you want. Tell all your "new" friends and family to take a hike.
A little bit of unsolicited advice... too many people who come into a 'windfall' of money, have nothing to show for it a few years down the road. See a financial planner!
While it's great to pay off debt, mortgage, buy a car etc... That's great for the short-term. Think long-term!
If you put the money into an account earning interest, even if it only earns 1% per month, you are getting $5,000 per month on your money just sitting there. That's interest, your $500k stays there, untouched.
Of course, you'd want to put split your money into a few seperate accounts as the FDIC only insures $100k per account. It's $250k per account right now, but that will expire at the end of '09.
Use it wisely, and have fun w/ some of it!
Congrats!