Would you share?

[swea_pea1]

Back in February, three women that work for the company I used to work for won the Powerball lottery for $14.7 million. I still know folks at that company and was talking to one of them recently when the subject came up. I was curious if she knew them (I didn't), are they still working, etc.

Well, she told me that these women plus one more used to go to lunch every Friday, and afterwards would go in together on the Powerball tickets. That particular week, one of the women was on vacation, so the three of them bought the tickets without her. When they actually won, they refused to share with their absent friend because she didn't put in her share.

Now I have no idea whether the story is true or not, but it got me to thinking. In our office, there are about 8 of us who go in on the MegaMillions together. I think (I'd hope) that if one person wasn't there to put in their $3, and we actually won, we'd share anyway. I mean $14.7 million four ways is still a heck of a lot of money!

What about you? Would you be able to split the money or would you say "too bad so sad"?

 

[SPAM]

i dont know thats really hard.

 

[Serena]

I would share.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I'd probably share. I'd like to think I'm a generous person. But since I've never been in that situation I can't say with 100% certainty that I would.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

Oh wow, that is a tough one. If the person had been in on it for years then I would split it with them as well. Things happen and sometimes people miss and it isn't their fault. It wouldn't seem fair to fault her for one missed time.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Well put it this way I would hope they would share if I was the one of the vacation that missed that week, and in turn I would share as well. Toughy but I think I would. I mean seriously 2-3 million is way more than I'd have anyhow so why not share the love.

 

[Tiggeroo]

If had been an ongoing thing for awhile and that person had always been involved except for that week I would share. Otherwise, doubt it.

 

[poohandwendy]

Hmm, I am thinking no. If all three who put in for the lottery agreed to share, no problem. If even one had a problem with it, it would not be fair.

Another thing to think about, when this person came back from vacation...would she have offered to put her 'normal' $3 towards the tickets (if they lost)? I doubt it. Nor would it be expected. I mean, if it was really that important to the vacationer, she would have left money with the others to make sure she was 'in'.

I am thinking, in my opinion, the winners are those who took the gamble...ie put the money up to lose before the numbers were drawn. The other employee didn't.

(I would feel differently if she mentioned it beforehand, like ''don't forget to include me in the lottery, I'll pay you my $3 when I get back'')

I would probably do something for her, but I don't think I would split the winnings.

 

[denisem]

At the office I previously worked, maybe half the staff were "regulars" at Mega Millions each week; if someone was absent, one of us would ante up their share until they returned (and were promptly paid back). It was kinda an unspoken agreement.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I can tell you that it wouldnt be hard for me at all . The right thing to do is to share

 

[disykat]

I'm with poohandwendy on this one. If the deal was that they were always in and the absent person paid in too, then I'd share. If the deal was that whoever was there paid in and that amount of tickets were purchased, then I wouldn't share. I assume they won on less tickets than normal?

It seems weird to me that someone on vacation would expect to be put in. It's not like she'd want to come home from vacation and say "I hear we lost the lottery, here's my share". In this situation, I would come home from vacation and say "man, I have the worst luck - if I had been there to participate I would have been a winner too."

 

[MariettaC]

The lady on vacation should have put her money up front before vacation so there would be no decision to make.

 

[kaylajr]

The lady on vacation should have put her money up front before vacation so there would be no decision to make.

thats what i would have done

 

[jrydberg]

I'll let ya know when I win

 

[greenban]

Hey....

When I'm in office pools (for large jackpots). I make sure to leave some money in the envelope in case I'm out of the office. If there was no prior, we'll cover you, pay us back later arraingement, oh well too bad.

But if there was a 'cover' arraingement then lady # 4 is owed a share.

-Tony

 

[Dreamer04]

I would share.

 

[golfgal]

I wouldn't even think twice about it, yes I would share with her. Her "share" of the ticket was a dollar, not like they forked over several thousand for the ticket.

 

[Disney Doll]

If the absent person was always in, and they had been doing it for an extended period of time, then I'd share.

But if the absent person was "spotty" about participation, then I would probably not feel an inclination to share.