A man, wearing a marijuana-themed hat and sunglasses, is pictured at the Vancouver Art Gallery during the annual 4/20 day, which promotes the use of marijuana, in Vancouver, British Columbia April 20, 2013. REUTERS/Ben Nelms
One man, not pictured, directed $1 million of his winnings toward 420 Day, an annual event supporting marijuana legalization.
Thomson Reuters

If you win the lottery, what would you do?

An Illinois resident is pondering the question after claiming a Mega Millions ticket worth over a billion dollars.

Winning the lottery can open a world of possibilities for lottery winners, who may be able to buy a new house, find a new job, or create an organization focused on a cause they care for.

It can take a turn for the worse if you land the big one. Many lottery winners blow it all.

Fourteen different lottery winners spent their money.

Matthew Michaels and Kathleen Elkins were involved in the story.

Deputy Editor, Life Insider Ali is Deputy Editor of Life Insider. Based in the London office, she oversees and often personally contributes to Insider's lifestyle, entertainment, digital culture, health, and royals coverage, working with a team of reporters who cover travel, food, fashion, beauty, fitness, nutrition, relationships, film, TV, celebrities, and influencers, just to name a few topics. While in the UK Ali has previously been editor of The Daily Muse by Fenwick and sports, food, and drink reporter at Marketing Week. She graduated from the MA International Journalism course at City University London and is proud to be Canadian. You can follow her on Twitter at @AL_osaurus. Selected stories: I've visited the Greek island of Santorini twice — and if you think it's just a tourist trap, you're going to all the wrong places What it's like to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a misunderstood illness that leaves people in wheelchairs and derails entire careers I moved from Canada to the UK 7 years ago, and while I love London, I can see why Meghan Markle prefers my home country I compared economy and premium economy on British Airways one week apart, and for less than $200, I'd upgrade every time I've lived in London for 6 years — here are the places where you should actually eat
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