Winning the Lottery vs. Earning $172 Million: Which Is Harder?

Both winning the lottery and earning $172 million are incredibly difficult, but which is harder?

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The odds of winning Powerball are about 1 in 292 million—far less likely than getting struck by lightning twice.

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Even at $1 million per year, it would take 172 years to reach that amount.

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Lottery winnings are heavily taxed, cutting a $172M jackpot to about $60-70M after taxes.

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Earned wealth is also taxed, but often more strategically with investments and deductions.

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Many billionaires (e.g., Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos) built businesses that generated far more than $172M.

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Elite athletes and A-list actors can earn $172M in a few years, but it requires extraordinary talent.

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Winning requires one lucky ticket but keeping millions requires financial discipline.

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