MUNFORD, Tenn. -- If they're wise, the three mystery winners of the world-record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot were preparing Thursday to talk seriously with experts in tax law, financial planning, privacy, security and other safeguards before they become known around the planet.

The lucky trio did not identify themselves immediately, but they bought their tickets in the small working-class town of Munford, Tennessee; in the modest Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills; and at a supermarket in affluent Melbourne Beach, on Florida's Space Coast.

They overcame odds of 1 in 292.2 million to land on all the numbers: 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10. They can let their winnings be invested and thereby collect 30 annual payments totaling an estimated $533 million or take their third of $983.5 million in cash all at once.

Getting such a windfall is the start of a "new journey," and the winners should be prepared with lawyers, accountants and financial planners before they come forward, California Lottery spokesman Russ Lopez said.

Too many lottery winners unaccustomed to sudden wealth have gone bankrupt, been victimized or experienced other losses because they were unprepared for an onslaught of unwanted attention, said Andrew Stoltmann, an Illinois attorney who has represented winners. He compared it to "throwing meat into a shark-infested ocean."

But they shouldn't wait too long: California gives its top winners up to a year to contact lottery officials before the money automatically goes to schools. Winners in Tennessee and Florida must claim their winnings within 180 days of Wednesday night's drawing.

State and local taxes can eat up nearly half the winnings for many lottery players around the country, but these three could be even more lucky if they live in Florida or Tennessee, which have no state income tax, or California, which exempts winnings from lottery tickets bought in-state. They would owe federal taxes, topping out at 39.6 percent.

The huge draw also produced eight $2 million Power Play winners and 73 $1 million winners nationwide who matched all five white balls but missed the red Powerball, said Sally Lunsford of the Kansas Lottery.