Mega Millions Jackpot Now $62 Million — But Could Winning Ruin Your Life?

The Mega Millions jackpot rose to $62 million after the September 12 drawing proved to be the sixth straight without a big winner — but what if you did win? If you believe what you’re likely to read in the press, your newfound wealth will bring nothing but misery. Tales of suicide, divorce, targeting by criminals and other unspeakable woes brought on by sudden wealth certainly exist, and are widely reported in the press.

But take heart. Science tells us otherwise. Confirming pretty much what everyone who buys a lottery ticket dreams and expects will be the case, several scientific studies of lottery winners reveal that winning a huge amount of cash — believe it or not — actually causes most people to experience an increase in their quality of life.

The studies also show that lottery winners are well-adjusted individuals who enjoy better mental health on the whole than people who have not won the lottery. Many even continue working and leading their normal lives, even after winning Mega Millions, or at least millions.

But the media, and the vast public who eagerly consumes the stories the media churns out, seems to thrive on stories of misery — particularly the misery of people who should not, by any objective standard, be miserable.

Or perhaps, people simply cling to the conventional wisdom that “money can’t buy happiness.” As a result, the lottery stories that receive the most publicity include:

• Jack Whittaker, who won a $314 million jackpot in 2002 only to lose it all to thieves, as well his own bad choices including drugs and alcohol.

• Billy Bob Harrell, who won $31 million in the Texas state lottery and spent it all so quickly that he became depressed and killed himself.

• Evelyn Adams, who won more than $5 million in the New Jersey state lottery only to blow it all on continued gambling.

But according to the first major study of lottery winners, most winners were “were well-adjusted, secure, and generally happy from the experience.” They didn’t squander their money of hookers and booze, instead using their windfall on quality-of-life purchases such as new homes, better cars and travel.

Later studies have come to similar findings, showing that winners also use the cash to free themselves from debt, and enjoy a greater degree of overall life satisfaction.

So if you happen to win Tuesday’s $62 million Mega Million jackpot, fear not. Science tells you what you already know — money can indeed buy happiness, though of course, it doesn’t work every time.

Here are the winning numbers from the Friday, September 12 Mega Millions drawing:

18 — 28 — 33 — 36 — 42 Mega Ball 7

Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot carries an estimated cash value of $36 million to a winner who takes the prize in a single payment.