Editorial: Meat-packing plant millionaires

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006 | 8:20 a.m.

Let's admit it upfront: We all have fantasized about winning a Powerball lottery and what we would do with the jackpot. Maybe share some of it with family and friends. Donate a portion to good causes. Quit the job and retire to a beach-front house in Hawaii.

Well, eight lucky Nebraskans who work at a meat-packing plant are getting ready to live out their dreams. On Wednesday they came forward and claimed a U.S. record lottery prize of $365 million, which they will split equally. Since they will take a lump sum payment, rather than having the payments spread out over 30 years, they each will pocket $15.5 million once taxes are taken out.

Of course, there have been plenty of lottery winners before who came from modest circumstances and rejoiced when they won - only to lose everything later, from money blown on bad business deals to relationships destroyed by jealous friends, family members and ex-spouses.

We don't know what will happen to these eight brand-new millionaires. And while it's possible that some of them will fall on hard times even with all that money, it still won't stop the rest of us from wishing we could take their place.