Lotto's Powerball jackpot will be worth a record $18 million next week after last night's draw failed to find a winner.
And an existing member of the select few to win riches beyond their dreams has some valuable advice for the lucky punter: buy something silly for fun
- then seek expert advice and sit on your fortune until you've worked out how to spend it.
Last night a Hastings player took the $1.3m Lotto First Division prize but failed to add the $16m Powerball jackpot.
The draw rekindled memories for Auckland couple Geoff and Helen Henderson, who won $18m in May 2006.
At the time Geoff was 58 and a credit manager at Panasonic while Helen was 59 and a cook in a rest home.
The couple bought a house in Remuera, a couple of boats, paid off their children's mortgages, and took a cruise travelling first class.
Speaking from his oldest son's wedding reception last night, Geoff said he hoped the next member of the multi-millionaires' club would keep his or her family in mind.
He recommended waiting at least a few weeks before making any major decisions, but not before a little frivolity.
"First thing, go and buy something silly that you really want, just because you can, just for fun. Otherwise the sheer weight of all that money can make it not fun."
He splurged on a pair of light orange driving gloves. "When I wear them I sometimes get comments from a few truck drivers in the family."
Next, find a good lawyer and accountant, and seek sound, independent financial advice.
Consider giving some to charity - the Hendersons support Starship Hospital. Most of all, enjoy yourself.
"Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does give you a real absence of worrying. And it's given us the opportunity to be with our grandkids as they grow up, and that's really precious."
A Lotto spokeswoman said about an extra 500,000 tickets are sold on weeks with such a huge prize at stake.
