If you want a shot at seeing serious money by New Year’s, now is the time to make a plan — and commit to it. The clock is ticking, and while dramatic wealth in a short window isn’t common, it isn’t impossible either.
True “get rich quick” outcomes almost always involve significant risk, rare opportunity or extraordinary luck. Still, history shows that for a small number of people, life-changing windfalls have happened in a matter of weeks.
1. Play the Lottery
Imagine hitting the jackpot with a winning lottery ticket that changes your life overnight. That’s what happened when two Powerball players — one from Missouri and one from Texas — split nearly $1.8 billion before taxes in September 2025, the second-highest Powerball prize in lottery history. However, the government withholds 24% of winnings over $5,000 and collects additional taxes at filing time, according to CBS News.
The odds of winning Powerball are about 1 in 292.2 million, although smaller prizes are more common, CBS reported. As the saying goes, “you have to be in it to win it.”
Lottery officials say players have left more than $1 billion in winnings unclaimed, CBS reported, so it may be worth checking old tickets.
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2. Become a TV Game Show Contestant
Television game shows have made contestants instant millionaires. “Jeopardy!” winners have taken home more than $1 million in a matter of weeks.
For example, Matt Amodio, a Ph.D. student affiliated with MIT and Harvard, won $1,518,601. Amy Schneider, a former engineering manager from Oakland, California, won $1,382,800 during a 40-game winning streak, according to Reader’s Digest.
Another high-stakes show, “Wheel of Fortune,” has also produced six-figure winners. In September 2025, contestant Christina Derevjanik of Stamford, Connecticut, won $1,035,155, making her the show’s fourth contestant to win the grand prize, ABC News reported.
3. Win a Reality TV Show Challenge
Another chance to win big money is to be a winning contestant on a reality television show. On the show “Deal or No Deal Island, ” David Genat was awarded $5.8 million, the biggest prize in primetime history, reported NBC.
4. Check for Unclaimed Property and Abandoned Accounts
An estimated 33 million Americans have unclaimed money totaling about $70 billion — roughly 1 in 7 people — according to Business Insider. Unclaimed property is turned over to state treasuries and can include uncashed paychecks, inactive bank accounts, insurance refunds and unclaimed safety deposit box contents.
To find out whether you have unclaimed money, check the states where you have lived through the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and MissingMoney.com.
5. Invest in a Crypto or Meme Stock
Bitcoin surpassed $1 trillion in value in May 2021. The win came after major financial investors and institutions like Tesla supported cryptocurrency earlier in the year, according to CNBC.
Dogecoin surged to 12,000% in 2021, making everyday investors into overnight millionaires. But it fell quickly. High-risk traders sometimes score big, but investors should know that crypto and meme stocks can be extremely volatile as long-term investments, according to CNBC.
6. Become a Sneaker Reseller
Cowen financial experts predicted the sneaker resale market will hit $30 billion by 2030, cited Fox Business. Resellers of special designs and limited editions, such as Freddy Krueger Dunk Lows, can fetch a resale market price between $40,000 and $95,000, making sneaker resellers rich overnight.
7. Try Your Luck and Skill at Fantasy Sports or eSports
Financial analysts at Cowen have predicted the sneaker resale market could reach $30 billion by 2030, Fox Business reported. Resellers of limited-edition designs — such as Nike’s Freddy Krueger Dunk Lows — have seen resale prices ranging from $40,000 to $95,000, creating the potential for significant profits.
Disclaimer: The Reality Check
Getting rich by New Year’s is possible; however, it’s rare. Most fast fortunes come with risk, upfront capital, and luck. If your goal is long-term wealth, the best approach is to make consistent contributions by investing regularly, paying down debt, and building income streams that accumulate over time.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Best Ways To Get Rich by New Year’s 2026
