Two Aussies became overnight multi-millionaires this week, each scoring half of a $200 million Powerball draw.

After hours of suspense, a Brisbane woman finally claimed the second winning ticket on Friday after realising lottery officials had been looking for her since Thursday night.

She said she plans to go on a holiday, help others and “change the course of her career” with her $100 million.

This comes after a New South Wales woman who scored the other winning ticket said she would stop work and travel the world, while her partner “loves his job” and would likely think twice before quitting.

Quitting jobs and travelling the world seem to be top of the agenda for the many Australians who have since spoken out about what they’d do with millions of dollars.

“Not a winner, back to work tomorrow,” one disappointed punter posted on X, formerly Twitter.

sitting in my office contemplating the shit day I’m going to have

DIDN’T WIN THE $200,000,000 POWERBALL LAST NIGHT

I planned my escape with my husband today to a tropical island. Sadly, we’re now not going.

Congrats to the 2 winners – $100,000,000 each pic.twitter.com/GWUeAIPkIE

— Claire (@KyloRenButIDo) February 1, 2024

Anyone lucky enough to win a huge chunk of money should be wary of the pitfalls – or they could find themselves right back where they started, or even worse off.

American man William Post won $US16.2 million in 1988, at a time when he reportedly had just $US2.46 to his name.

Within two weeks of receiving his first annual payment of $500,000, he blew two-thirds of it.

Before his 2006 death, Post went through numerous divorces, an attempt on his life by a hitman hired by his brother, and a stint in jail for firing a gun at a debt-collector.

And UK woman Jane Park, who won £1 million in 2013 aged 17,  said she wished she’d never won the money.

While she admitted to splashing the cash, it was the unhealthy attention she struggled with the most after going public with her win, which included stalkers and death threats.

“It’s a very dark fairy tale that I think no one actually warns you about,” she said on Doctor Phil in 2023.

Key to a good life

Despite negative stories, research published in 2020 found large-prize winners experience “sustained increases in overall life satisfaction”.

Researchers also found little evidence that the surveyed lottery winners squandered their wealth on extravagant purchases.

The key to finding happiness post-lottery win could lie in keeping the news quiet and managing your money well.

Luckily in Australia, winnings from the lottery, instant scratches and prize draws aren’t taxed, Chan & Naylor managing director Cindy Su told The New Daily.

But if you win money from a financial institution, such as a bank or credit union, the funds will be taxable.

While it’s fine to spend your new money however you’d like, the key to making it last is coming up with a good plan – preferably alongside a licensed professional.

Su said her company saw clients who had completely spent millions of winnings within a few years.

“Accountants and financial planners are probably the joint partners in this space to give clients the best advice. Financial wisdom is always important when people manage their money,” she said.