This 20-year-old lotto winner refused $1M in cash and chose $1,000/week for life. Which option would you pick?
Mar 19, 2026
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Winning the lottery comes with a big decision: take a smaller lump-sum payment now or receive the full jackpot through annual payments over about 30 years.
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If you'd rather not rely on luck, new platforms allow you to invest in real estate for the price of a lotto ticket. For instance, you can access the Fundrise Flagship Fund for as little as $10.
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Even small steps, like moving extra cash into a high-yield savings account on a consistent basis, can help you build a 'jackpot' of your own.
Would you rather be a millionaire — or collect reliable income every week for life?
That’s the choice 20-year-old Brenda Aubin-Vega from Quebec, Canada faced. After scratching three piggy bank symbols on her Gagnant à Vie ticket, she realized she’d won the top prize.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes! I checked my ticket over and over again,” she told Yahoo News Canada.
The prize came with two options: $1 million upfront or $1,000 weekly for life. Aubin-Vega chose the annuity — sparking debate online about whether steady income beats a windfall.
Why weekly payments work
An annuity guarantees predictable income. At $1,000 per week, she’ll reach $1 million by age 39 and about $3.1 million by 80.
Backed by the province of Quebec, the payments are secure, similar to a government bond, more than Canada’s 10-year yield of 3.4%.
Treating part of that payment like a paycheck, she could set up automatic investments into low-cost index funds.
Apps like Acorns make that incredibly easy. The app can match her with one of five automated portfolios based on her goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
Plus, Acorns has a feature that rounds up everyday purchases and invests the spare change. Over time, even small amounts grow, and recurring contributions keep money compounding on autopilot.
New users can even get a $20 bonus with a recurring deposit.
Another popular strategy is investing in dividend-paying stocks, which generate passive income through regular payouts.
Services like Moby offer expert research and recommendations to help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by advice from former hedge fund analysts.
In four years, and across almost 400 stock picks, Moby’s recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Moby’s team spends hundreds of hours sifting through financial news and data to provide stock reports delivered straight to you.
Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a wiser investor within minutes.
Got a complicated tax return? File by March 21 for just $150 all-in with TurboTax. Start for free and get expert help every step of the way.
The trade-offs
Weekly payments mean less flexibility. A lump sum could be invested across different assets with potential for stronger long-term growth.
Another concern is Inflation. Fixed payments lose purchasing power over time; $1,000 a week could be worth less than half by Aubin-Vega’s mid-50s.
The annuity delays the milestone of being a young millionaire, and limits bragging rights — something some winners find hard to resist.
But even with these trade-offs, investors have options to protect and grow their wealth — from assets that can hedge against inflation to alternative investments that diversify beyond traditional cash or stocks.
Alternative assets
Aubin-Vega could put a portion of her winnings into precious metals to guard against inflation.
Companies like Priority Gold make it easy to move savings into physical assets, which historically retain value even as the cost of living rises.
They offer free IRA rollovers, storage for five years, and up to $10,000 in free silver for qualifying purchases.
To learn more, you can download their free 2026 gold investor bundle.
New tax laws making your IRA feel like a puzzle? Match with a TurboTax expert and get audit support for the life of your return. File by March 21 for only $150 all-in.
She could also invest in real estate, another tangible asset that can grow her wealth while helping hedge against inflation.
Whether through rental properties, REITs, or other real estate investment vehicles, real estate offers both potential income and long-term appreciation.
The good news is you don’t need to be a lotto winner to invest tap into this market.
For instance, the Fundrise Flagship Fund¹ is a $1 billion private real estate fund that lets you invest in an expertly crafted strategy without needing hundreds of thousands of dollars. You don’t need to be an accredited investor, and you can get started with as little as $10.
With 4,700+ single-family homes and 2,500+ residential units owned by the Fundrise Flagship Fund, you get exposure to institutional-style scale and diversification.
Industrial
215 Interchange
Las Vegas, NV
Build-for-rent
Pine Ridge
Fountain Inn, SC
Build-for-rent
Omnia
Richmond Hill, GA
These are a few examples of properties powering the Fundrise Flagship Fund. For a full list of the Fundrise Flagship Fund's portfolio properties see the Flagship Fund website.
After you place your first investment, the Fundrise Flagship Fund will work to find and add new assets to your portfolio over time and send you transparent updates along the way.
It only takes a few minutes to sign up now and become a real estate investor today.
If you’re an accredited investor, or have hundreds of thousands of capital to deploy — like Aubin-Vega — you could explore platforms like Lightstone DIRECT, which provide access to real estate deals sourced by The Lightstone Group, one of the country’s largest private real estate companies.
Founded in 1986, Lightstone manages roughly $12 billion in assets, including more than 25,000 multifamily units.
Featured
Residential
Columbus, OH
Featured
Industrial
Tobyhanna, PA
Featured
Residential
Beverly Hills, MI
These are a few examples of past properties or acquisitions from Lightstone. Explore more investment opportunities when you register with Lightstone DIRECT.
Through Lightstone DIRECT, investors can participate in single-asset multifamily deals with a minimum investment of $100,000 — and invest alongside Lightstone itself, which commits at least 20% of its own capital to each deal.
Unlike many crowdfunding platforms, the model removes intermediaries such as brokers and middlemen, which can improve transparency and potentially reduce fees.
How it works is simple: Just sign up with your email, and you can schedule a call with a capital formation expert to assess your investment opportunities. From here, all you have to do is verify your details to begin investing.
Safe, steady options
Aubin-Vega could also set aside a portion of her winnings in safe, interest-earning accounts to grow her money while keeping it accessible.
For instance, a platform like CD Valet can help her find higher-yield Certificates of Deposit (CDs).
CD Valet tracks over 40,000 verified rates from FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions nationwide, giving her a complete view of the market.
Rates are updated continuously, so she can shop, compare, and open CDs with ease, ensuring a portion of her portfolio grows safely with reliable interest.
Another option is a Wealthfront Cash Account, which currently offers a base variable APY of 3.30%, with new clients eligible for an extra 0.75% for the first three months on up to $150,000 — a total variable APY of 4.05%².
That’s roughly ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s January report³.
With no minimum balances or fees, 24/7 withdrawals, free domestic wire transfers, and FDIC insurance up to $8 million through program banks, her funds remain safe and accessible at all times.
If you’re sitting on any extra cash, it may be worth comparing a few high-yield savings accounts.
Many online banks currently offer 4% or more in annual interest, and opening an account can take just a few minutes. Some of these accounts also come with $0 monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements.
For instance, customers can earn up to 4.00% APY when they set up qualifying direct deposits with SoFi, including a limited-time 0.70% APY boost. New members may also qualify for a welcome bonus of up to $300, depending on deposit activity.
If you want to explore more options, check out the Moneywise list of the best high-yield savings accounts of 2026 to help you compare rates and features.
By combining CDs and a high-yield cash account, Aubin-Vega — or anyone looking to grow savings safely — could keep a portion of their money secure while still earning meaningful interest, giving them flexibility and peace of mind.
Professional guidance
Even with careful planning, managing sudden wealth can be tricky.
Aubin-Vega could benefit from personalized advice to make the most of her weekly payments or a lump sum.
Services like Advisor.com can connect you with fiduciary professionals who specialize in sudden windfalls, whether it’s a lotto win or an inheritance.
A fiduciary is a professional legally bound to put your interests first. They can help create a custom asset-allocation plan that balances growth, safety, and long-term financial goals.
Simply answer a few quick questions through their online form and the platform will match you with a vetted financial advisor in 5 minutes.
You can set up a free, no-obligation-to-hire call to see how they can help you create an actionable plan and whether their approach and pricing model make sense for you.
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The Moneywise Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Moneywise Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.
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