This following example from the hugely popular 'Friends' TV series is how some people mess up lottery odds without thinking through it - because the answer seems so logical. 

Here's how this episode from 2003 - The One with the Lottery - worked out with an answer from Chandler, played by Matthew Perry who died last month.

Joey wants to borrow Monica's Porsche to buy lottery tickets.

Powerball has a prize of $300 million and Monica gets excited about the idea of buying some tickets.

Rachel, Monica, Chandler and Phoebe decide to all contribute $50 but the always-sensible Ross doesn't want to be involved.

"Do you know what your odds of winning the lottery are?" explains Ross.

"You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning forty-two times."

Here’s the punchline:

Chandler then says, "Yes, but there are six of us, so we'd only have to get struck seven times".

Joey: "I like those odds!"

ABOUT

"The One with the Lottery" is an episode from the popular American television sitcom "Friends," which originally aired on NBC. This episode, the 18th in the show's ninth season, was first broadcast on April 3, 2003.

In this episode, the main characters of the show - Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe - pool their money to buy lottery tickets, hoping to win a massive jackpot.

The storyline humorously explores their reactions and interactions as they fantasize about what they would do with the winnings.

"Friends," which ran from 1994 to 2004, was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman.

It became one of the most popular and enduring sitcoms of its time, known for its ensemble cast and relatable storylines.

Characters

The main characters of the TV show "Friends" are portrayed by the following actors (from top left):

Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay - Phoebe is a quirky and eccentric masseuse and musician with a mysterious past.

Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green - Rachel starts as a waitress at the Central Perk coffee shop and evolves through various jobs in fashion.

Courteney Cox as Monica Geller - Monica is a chef known for her obsessive-compulsive and competitive nature.

David Schwimmer as Ross Geller - Ross is Monica's brother, a paleontologist with a Ph.D., and is known for his three failed marriages and love for dinosaurs.

Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani - Joey is a struggling actor with a heart of gold, known for his simple-mindedness and love for food.

Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing - Chandler works in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration, known for his sarcastic sense of humor.