Gen Z woman divides internet after winning lottery by rejecting $1 million guaranteed lump sum
A 20-year-old Canadian won a $1 million lottery but sparked controversy after she chose $1,000 weekly payments for life instead of taking the lump sum.
Published: 02:02 GMT, 12 January 2026 | Updated: 03:41 GMT, 12 January 2026
A 20-year-old woman sparked controversy after she won a million dollar lottery prize but rejected the guaranteed lump sum.
Canada native Brenda Aubin-Vega discovered she won the $1 million lottery prize, but instead of claiming the entire pot, she chose to receive a payout of $1,000 a week for the rest of her life.
A lump sum is a one-time payout that most lotto winners claim, instead of an annuity, which is a set amount of money received over a period of time.
Aubin-Vega will receive $1,000 a week for life, but her choice has divided the internet, with people debating whether it was the right decision.
The Canadian lottery is not taxed like the US, so the Montrealer could have claimed the million dollar prize tax-free.
Even cryptocurrency moguls are drawing criticism on her decision with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao speaking out.
The crypto CEO wrote on X that she should have taken the lump sum, invested it in a fast-growing asset like Bitcoin, and grown her prize instead of receiving $1,000 a week.
Canada native Brenda Aubin-Vega won the $1 million lottery prize but sparked outrage when she decided to choose weekly payouts of $1,000
Others agreed with Zhao, further criticizing her choice, one user writing on social media, 'I saw this this morning and instantly I knew it was bad decision. She needs 20 years to get her million.'
'Some people still think the $1k weekly is the right choice, couldn't be me,' another user wrote on X.
Some cons that Yahoo News reported was the lack of flexibility she has by choosing the annuity payments.
The weekly payout is guaranteed, but the lump sum can be invested to grow faster and bigger over 30 years.
Inflation also could play a role because it can make her prize pot lose value over time.
Many supported her decision, agreeing that weekly payouts are safer, with some noting that if she works and saves the $1,000 per week, it’s like having an extra pension.
'At her age it makes sense unless she had some amazing investment plan. It also guarantees that she will never be broke,' one user wrote on Reddit.
Join the debate
Is playing it safe with steady income smarter than risking it all for a shot at millionaire status?
Cryptocurrency moguls are drawing criticism on her decision with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao speaking out