(CNN) -- A few lucky folks across the country will wake up Wednesday a whole lot richer after hitting Tuesday night's $636 million Mega Millions jackpot. 
 
 People who play the lottery love to dream about the things they'd do if they won the big one. Telling the boss off might top your list (not mine, oh no, not mine). Maybe a new mansion and a fancy car and a gasoline-powered turtleneck sweater (right, Steve Martin?). 
 
 We know at least two people matched all the winning numbers: 8, 20, 14, 17 and 39, and a Megaball of 7. If those showed up on your ticket, there are a few important things you should do before you go out and blow your winnings. 
 
 1. Sign the ticket. 
 
 You didn't already? Are you crazy? What if the roommate "claims" it? What if your significant other isn't as significant as you thought? What if you are showing it to someone, say over a beer or 10, and it goes missing? What if you forget it on your desk and you suddenly have the richest cleaning person in the U.S.? Sign it -- if you didn't when you bought it -- because whoever has an unsigned ticket when it gets turned in can call dibs on it. 
 
 It's also time for a selfie. With you and said ticket. It might even be a good idea to run to the drug store and buy a camera with actual film in it. 
 
 And then find a hiding place for that ticket. A safe deposit box is probably, yes, safest. Or go get a portable home safe. Remember, this ain't Canada; no one is going to track you down to hand you your millions. 
 
 2. Contact people who have dealt with large sums of money before 
 
 And we don't mean your Uncle Eddie who says he's doing great with his online stock portfolio or a cousin who just passed the bar. Start with one experienced attorney and look for a seasoned certified financial planner. You don't want to contact more than a few people, lest the word get out before you even get the big cardboard check. 
 
 Your biggest decision right now is whether to take the cash prize (the actual money in the pot) or take an annuity (the estimated value of the cash option plus whatever interest it will earn over 30 years). 
 
 It seems like a no-brainer to get it all up front and do your own investing, but a bright financial mind will help you see if it's best to get 30 checks over time or one check. 
 
 The lawyer you pick will also need to hook you up with specialists in subjects like estate planning, taxes and such. You might want to know if it's best to buy Mom a house or just give her some cash each year or set up some sort of trust fund. I vote to buy the house and let her live there. Wait, is that OK? Need a lawyer. 
 
 Why you keep playing the lottery 
 
 3. Figure out if you can stay anonymous 
 
 Chances are, you can't. Only a few states like South Carolina allow it, so you may want to hire a media consultant or a PR flack. Let someone else plan your appearances after you claim your coin. And remember, you don't have to make your decisions right away. You might have as long as 180 days to claim your prize, but check state rules while you're looking to see if you can remain anonymous. 
 
 But it would be best if you didn't have to give out your name, some former winners say. 
 
 If you can't, lie low for a while. If you can't lie low, it might be prudent to hire a bodyguard. We don't want you to be like the winner in Florida who ended up buried under a driveway. 
 
 4. Plan a trip 
 
 Speaking of staying out of sight, it might be a good time to head to South America. We hear it's nice this time of year. Or someplace like the U.S. Virgin Islands if you don't have a passport. 
 
 One set of winners went straight from the news conference to the airport. They were gone for weeks. If it were me, I might have the news conference at the airport, in front of the private jet. 
 
 If you do duck out for a few weeks, you probably won't come back to find the news media parked in front of your house and people won't recognize you in stores. 
 
 Now there probably will be a pile of mail and e-mails from relatives you never knew you had and messages on the answering machine (if you still have your phone connected). 
 
 Sudden lottery fortunes not always for the best 
 
 5. Don't give up just because you didn't win the top prize 
 
 Every year, a few of the people who match five numbers and win the measly runner-up prize fail to collect their winnings. So check those tickets again to see if you might have won $1 million. You don't want to be among the 2% of people (OK, it's like one or two) who threw away a million bucks. Last year there were $800 million in unclaimed lottery prizes. That's everything from $1 prizes to the $1 million prize (that can be even bigger if you play the multipliers). 
 
 It might be, for instance, the guy I talked to at a sandwich shop in the CNN food court who says he plays only when the jackpots are huge. He checks to see where the big winner lives and if it's not here, he tosses his tickets. 
 
 $800 million in lottery prizes go unclaimed 
 
 But if you do get a piece of the top prize, you'll be in rare territory. The jackpot is near the U.S. record, which was a $656 million Mega Millions prize, shared by three winning tickets in March 2012. 
 
 The $636 million estimate for Tuesday's jackpot was the latest figure as of around noon ET, updated from $586 million a day earlier, Virginia Lottery spokeswoman Rachel Buhse said. If there's one winner, and the winner chooses the lump-sum cash option, the payout would be $341.2 million. Otherwise, the jackpot would be distributed over 30 annual payments. 
 
 If no one wins Tuesday's jackpot, it will rise to at least $950 million for Friday's drawing, Buhse said. 
 
 CNN's Devon Sayers contributed to this report. ||||| Mega Millions bet cards are shown at the Corner Market, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Lyndhurst, Ohio. The estimated jackpot for Friday's drawing would be the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history... (Associated Press) 
 
 Mega Millions bet cards are shown at the Corner Market, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Lyndhurst, Ohio. The estimated jackpot for Friday's drawing would be the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history with a jackpot estimated to exceed $900 million. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (Associated Press) 
 
 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Despite the terrible odds — one in 302.5 million for those keeping score at home — someone will eventually match all six numbers and win the Mega Millions jackpot, which now stands at $970 million. It could happen as soon as Friday night, when the next drawing is held. 
 
 That would leave most of us disappointed but some lucky winner beset by a host of questions. Here are some answers for someone holding that prized lottery ticket for what would be the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. 
 
 I'VE WON. NOW WHAT? 
 
 Lottery officials recommend winners take a deep breath, put their winning ticket in a safe spot and consult with a reputable financial planner before popping over to the lottery headquarters. Their first decision is whether to take the cash option, which would now be $548 million, or an annuity, with one initial payment and annual installments over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for cash, but the annuity has advantages, as it reduces the tax bill a little and offers a stable flow of income that climbs by 5 percent annually. 
 
 HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CLAIM THE JACKPOT? 
 
 States have different rules, so depending on where you purchased the ticket, you have from 180 days to a year. 
 
 DO I GET MY MONEY INSTANTLY? 
 
 No, you can't just cash one of those oversized checks shown in all the winner photos. Payment speed also varies by state, but a week or two is common. Carole Gentry, a spokeswoman for the Maryland lottery, said the requirement is seven to 10 days in that state. 
 
 CAN I KEEP MY NAME SECRET? 
 
 Winners can remain anonymous in six states — Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina. In Arizona, people who win more than $600 can keep their names secret for 90 days after claiming prizes, but after that names are public record. In Michigan, winners are anonymous unless they win Mega Millions or Powerball prizes. 
 
 WHAT ABOUT TAXES? 
 
 For winners of $5,000 or more, all states automatically deduct 24 percent in federal taxes but state taxes vary widely. Some big states, including California, don't withhold taxes from lottery winnings, and some like Texas don't have individual income taxes at all. For the others, the state takes a bite, especially in New York, where a winner would need to pay a state tax of 8.8 percent. Residents of New York City would pay an additional tax of 3.9 percent. In general, taxes eat up nearly half of winnings. 
 
 Melissa Labant, a tax policy expert at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, said winners should realize that while taxes are initially withheld when prizes are awarded, more money will likely be due at tax time as people suddenly are in up to a 37 percent tax bracket. 
 
 "That catches people off guard," she said. "You have to be prepared to write another check to the IRS in April." 
 
 WHAT ARE MY TAXES IF I DON'T LIVE IN THE STATE WHERE I BOUGHT THE TICKET? 
 
 This can get complicated, but for the most part winners pay taxes where they bought the ticket and then can get a credit on their taxes in their home state. The final tax bill can depend on if the state where you live taxes at a higher or lower rate than where you purchased the ticket. Rules vary by state, so this is a good topic for that financial planner.
– Tonight's Mega Millions prize could end up being the biggest US jackpot ever. It's already hit $636 million; by tonight, it could rise past the $656 million record, Reuters notes. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you win it (you won't). When you can breathe again, you'll want to take quick action to ensure that you deal with your newfound millions safely and effectively. At CNN, Steve Almasy offers a checklist: First, sign the ticket. You don't want to risk losing it, or having a "friend" claim it. While you're at it, you might want to take a selfie with the ticket, then drop it in a safe deposit box. Then, seek out financial experts, but not too many—you want to keep the news quiet as long as possible. "Start with one experienced attorney and look for a seasoned certified financial planner," Almasy writes. Big question: Is there any way you can legally remain anonymous? If you live in South Carolina or a handful of other states, the answer is yes, but generally you'll have a tough time hiding. You might want to hire a PR person. In fact, you might want to slip out of the country until the hubbub over the prize has died down. Didn't win? Don't forget to check if you've qualified for runner-up cash. Last year saw $800 million in unclaimed lottery winnings. Click for Almasy's full piece.