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SoCal family claims $112M Mega Millions lottery jackpot
SoCal family claims $112M Mega Millions lottery jackpotPosted: 5/19/2007 10:22:19 AM  A Southern California family claimed their winning ticket Wednesday in the $112 million Mega Millions lottery drawing.
Robert Stafford and his adult children, Robert Jr. and Cynthia, said they bought a $2 quick-pick ticket from a Hawthorne market for Friday night's drawing. Their purchase became the fifth winning Mega Millions ticket sold in California. "I'm just so excited, I'm happy. It's a dream come true," Cynthia Stafford said with a wide smile and a giggle. The family chose to take a cash prize of approximately $67 million and split it, California Lottery officials said. Cynthia Stafford said she planned to use some of the money to start college funds for four nieces and nephews she adopted after her youngest brother was killed in a car accident. "I'm going to put it to good use," she said. The winning numbers were 28, 30, 33, 48, and 54. The Mega Ball number was 25. Source: AP
United States Member #4194 March 23, 2004 645 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 19, 2007, 11:29 am - IP Logged |
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WOW~~~ Only spend $2 = $112 million. Dreams can come true. 
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Sunny SW Florida United States Member #25708 November 5, 2005 4070 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 19, 2007, 11:37 am - IP Logged |
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Congrats to the winners!! In Florida only one person can claim the lottery prize. AFAIK, if you split the prize, there is some heavy duty gift tax to pay. A trust can be created, but then the prize needs to be claimed by the trust before any money exchanges hands. I am not an accountant or an attorney, but I read a lot of stories where the winner says "I plan to buy my daughter a house" and similar statements and wonder if these people are aware of the stiff tax penalties. I have no idea what the laws are in CA regarding lottery prizes, but gift tax is federal. As always, comments by more knowledgable members (or those who are guessing too!) are welcome. Still, let me win a jackpot and worry about sharing later. 
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kent, washington United States Member #3576 January 26, 2004 323 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 19, 2007, 1:32 pm - IP Logged |
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well my dream is over. i have to start dreaming again.
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North New Jersey United States Member #5812 July 18, 2004 10419 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 19, 2007, 5:01 pm - IP Logged |
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Good for them...! I wish all works out for them as they become accustomed to their new lifestyle....  Peace at last..
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United States Member #39325 May 7, 2006 25 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 19, 2007, 6:39 pm - IP Logged |
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I'm always happy to see the jackpot won by a good person - the sister din't HAVE to raise her deceased brother's kids, after all. I know, plenty of not-so-nice people can and do win, too. It's just that one gets the feeling that the money will get used to help a lot of people, not just the direct recipeint. Though I hope she isn't truly "spoiling" the kids as she alluded to in one of the articles. I wanna die in my sleep - like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling - like the passengers in his car. 
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United States
Member #16902
June 2, 2005
3493 Posts
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| Posted: May 19, 2007, 10:29 pm - IP Logged |
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Congratulations to California and the Stafford family taking home cash value. I hope they don't have financial problems later in life.
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NY United States Member #24178 October 16, 2005 1379 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 20, 2007, 1:54 am - IP Logged |
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Congrats to the winners!! In Florida only one person can claim the lottery prize. AFAIK, if you split the prize, there is some heavy duty gift tax to pay. A trust can be created, but then the prize needs to be claimed by the trust before any money exchanges hands. I am not an accountant or an attorney, but I read a lot of stories where the winner says "I plan to buy my daughter a house" and similar statements and wonder if these people are aware of the stiff tax penalties. I have no idea what the laws are in CA regarding lottery prizes, but gift tax is federal. As always, comments by more knowledgable members (or those who are guessing too!) are welcome. Still, let me win a jackpot and worry about sharing later. How any given lottery makes payments and who owns the ticket are separate issues. Just because a particular lottery will only write a check to one person doesn't mean a ticket can't have multiple owners. Taxes are based on ownership of the ticket, which determines ownership of the prize. If you give somebody a share of a $2 lottery ticket there are no gift tax implications since the value is well below the $12k threshold. The story suggests that the family bought the ticket jointly, and that everyone was therefore an equal owner.
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Westchester, New York United States Member #49802 January 27, 2007 164 Posts Offline |
| Posted: May 20, 2007, 9:36 am - IP Logged |
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That's a perfect example of how you don't need to spend tons of money to win. Just believe in your dream, and it will come true :-) "If you just keep believing, that dream that you wish will come true" 
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