What is the safest way to collect your powerball winnings without getting brutally murdered on the way home?

I think you have to mail in your ticket for awards more than $500 and you receive a check or can apply for direct deposit. For cash less than $500 I would head straight to the ATM and deposit it right away and have only $25 cash on me to remove the threat of being robbed. If all they get is $25, that's not a big loss. Also, I wouldn't go around telling people you won until after the check deposit has cleared. Don't set yourself up by bragging, you know what I mean?

You wouldn't. It's not like they give you a suitcase with half a billion in Benjamins and wish you the best. They prefer to do a direct-deposit to a bank account. You won't be carrying any more cash money on your way out than you carried going in.

The worry isn't just on the way home. The winner's name is gonna be plastered in every newspaper all over the planet. Life for that "lucky" guy is going to become a living nightmare.

I wish him/her the best - I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

If you won a lot it will go straight into your bank account.

Wait.

Most everyone doesn't have to worry about that. It's moot.