$75M Texas Lotto winner a 'regular player'

Apr 10, 2007, 8:24 pm (10 comments)

Texas Lottery

Someone shopping at a League City, Texas, convenience store is millions richer today, but right now, no one knows who the person is.

A customer at the Quick Mart, 2100 FM 2094 in League City, bought the only winning ticket for Saturday night's $75 million drawing, lottery spokeswoman Robyn Smith said.

The winner will have to claim its prize at the organization's headquarters in Austin within 180 days of the drawing.

Nizar Karim Ali, a store clerk at the Quick Mart, said the man came in shortly before the Saturday night drawing and bought $20 worth of tickets.

The winning ticket was a Quick Pick, in which the machine randomly selects numbers instead of players choosing numbers themselves.

Ali said he didn't know the customer, but the night clerk who sold the tickets to him said he was a regular lottery player at the store.

The customer came back to the convenience store to tell them he'd won, but Ali said he didn't know his name.

"I wasn't sure if someone really won until that," Ali said. "A lot of people kept calling up here and everyone has been stopping by."

Now, two window signs advertise that a winning ticket was sold at the store.

Smith said winners of $1 million or more have to go to Austin to claim their prize. Generally, winners call in first and start the claiming process, she said. The winner hasn't contacted the Houston area claiming center or the state, she said.

Only one ticket selected all six of the winning numbers for the Saturday night drawing, Smith said. Fifty-two players selected five of the six numbers and will get prizes of $1,811.

The winner selected the cash value option when he bought the ticket, meaning that instead of annual payments he would get a one-time payout less than the jackpot amount.

Smith said the estimated cash value payment for the Saturday night game is $44.5 million.

The winning numbers were 7, 9, 11, 30, 33 and 53.

The Daily News

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Just6ntlc

Congratulations to the $75 million dollar winner. I hope the winner steps forward and takes cash option.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by Just6ntlc on Apr 10, 2007

Congratulations to the $75 million dollar winner. I hope the winner steps forward and takes cash option.

From the article:

"The winner selected the cash value option when he bought the ticket, meaning that instead of annual payments he would get a one-time payout less than the jackpot amount."

 

I don't think he has any choice, Just6ntlc!  Wink

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

I'm not sure that's set in stone. I think the lotteries let people make final decisions on that before they get paid.

MegaWinner's avatarMegaWinner

Are you allowed to claim anonymously in Texas?

OldSchoolPa's avatarOldSchoolPa

Quote: Originally posted by MegaWinner on Apr 11, 2007

Are you allowed to claim anonymously in Texas?

I don't think so...even the people who claim in trusts are identified (beneficiaries).  Besides, if I were that winner, I would cheese for the cameras and media, and looking directly at the camera, I would say I would like to make one last statement:  "Taxguy on LP, don't bother to come calling me...I'm quite fine with my $44.5M (before federal taxes) and I don't mind paying my fair share to Uncle Sam.

Also, Cointoss:  No it is not set in stone, but it is set in writing which is just as binding in our day and time.  This is from the Texas lottery FAQ section:

When do I choose Cash Value Option or Annual Payments? Can I choose when I come to collect the jackpot?

Currently, the choice must be made at the time the ticket is purchased, and cannot be changed. This is a Texas Lottery policy established in response to I.R.S. rulings that impact the way the jackpot is taxed.

 

I would say that is pretty much set...whether you want to say it is set in stone, concrete, plaster of paris...it is fairly and clearly set.

DoubleDown

Quote: Originally posted by Just6ntlc on Apr 10, 2007

Congratulations to the $75 million dollar winner. I hope the winner steps forward and takes cash option.

All I can say is Bang Head , followed by  Thud

MissNYC's avatarMissNYC

I don't think I would ever claim a lotto win anonymously, no matter how big. Yeah people will ask for money and possibly follow you around, but it is no different for the countless celebrity millionaires out there, many of which are actually worth less than some lucky lotto winners. As always, the hype would calm down, so if anything I'd hire a security team for the 1st month or so if I felt I was really in danger. As far as my friends and family are concerned, I know who I'd help and could care less if I insulted anyone else. Besides, the 15 minutes of fame could be fun ;)

Gimmietheloot

Take the Cash-option and claim anonymously (if you can). Form a strong team of personal, and business advisors. Stay out of the public eye, move away and change your number. LOL!

TonyB

I have seen winners announced in Texas where the lottery said that minimal publicity was requested.  They would release the name and city, but nothing about the person's work, age, or anything else.

I remember one case where the winner was a limited partnership.  A limited company was the managing partner and accepted the money.  The family's lawyer was the president of the company and handled the entire thing.  The family's surname was in the name of both the partnership and the company, so I really wouldn't call it anonymous.

Every large lottery winner should go through that much trouble.

chasingadream's avatarchasingadream

wow congrats.......

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