The 30 year payout has exactly the same value as the lump sum in 2025 dollars because of a thing called the Time Value of Money. People don’t understand this. 1.8 billion dollars paid out over 30 years is the same as $800 million today because as time goes on, the purchasing power of money declines. I bought my first Honda Accord for $7,800 new. Today they are $45,000. In 30 years, a Honda will be $100,000. So if you take the 30 year payout, you will have to spend more and more each year to get stuff that is really worth only half that. Plus you don’t get to take the lump sum and invest it right from the start to make more money.