Porn shop lottery winner doesn't reveal himself

Nov 12, 2010, 5:22 pm (36 comments)

Mega Millions / Powerball

Michigan Lottery pays out record $268.6 million on two multi-state jackpots won a week apart

By Todd Northrop

LANSING, Mich. — So who bought the huge winning lottery ticket at the porn shop in Highland Park?

Nobody is saying, not even Mike Greer, 49, of Farmington Hills, who came forward to collect the $128.6 million in Powerball winnings on behalf of Team Victory, a lottery club.

"I didn't buy it," Greer said today. "I never play. I'm sorry."

Greer acknowledged he was being intentionally vague about the club, which he said has "more than two and less than 100" members. The Uptown Book Store on Woodward Avenue in Highland Park is an adult novelty store that rents pornographic videos, which prompted snickers around Detroit when the Lottery announced it had sold the winning ticket.

Greer described club members as a group of family and friends who are lifelong acquaintances. He said he intends to continue to run his digital imaging business and plans to spend some of his share of the winnings fixing up his house. He likes where he lives, but says the place could use some updating.

"I'd be lying if I told you that we weren't going to indulge ourselves," he said, though he hadn't settled on how to spend it.

Members of his group decided on a lump sum payment, which means they will split $69.6 million, before taxes, said Abbey Brewer, a lottery spokeswoman. The lottery is required by law to deduct 4.35% of the winnings for state income tax, and another 25% for federal taxes, Brewer said.

Greer said he would give some money to the church, though he wouldn't say which one.

Lottery rules require someone to publicly claim the prize. Greer said he agreed to be the face of the club, "because they asked me."

Ticket sales are up at the bookstore since the news broke, said owner Sam Soof, who wasn't as lucky as his customers. "I'm sort of sad," he told told local media. "I had a ticket, and all I got was four bucks."

But don't shed too many tears for Soof: His store gets $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Big Mega Millions winner too

The other winner was Steve Mays, a retiree who also was tight-lipped about himself. He said he retired about 10 years ago from "a major corporation" and was comfortable until the economy tanked in 2008, when his fixed income came under strain.

"We're going to retire again and start all over," Mays said.

He bought his winning Mega Millions ticket in at the Grape 'N' Grain, a party store in Gladstone that he frequents to pick up up "beverages." He played a single dollar and let the computer pick the numbers. He also played a dollar in the Powerball, hoping to win the jackpot that Greer's group won.

He said he learned he was holding the winning ticket while standing at the machine. He saw he had the Mega Ball, so he knew he had some money coming.

"I checked the first number and I had it," he said. "They just kept coming out."

Mays said the first person he told was his wife. They have four children and six grandchildren, who can expect to share in his new wealth "eventually."

Mays chose to receive his winnings in annual payments instead of a lump sum. He'll receive $5.4 million a year, before taxes, for the next 26 years, Brewer said. Mays said he has sought professional guidance on how to invest his money "because nobody knows everything."

Greer wouldn't discuss the unusual business where the winning ticket was purchased, saying he didn't buy it and didn't know who did. A member of the group of family and friends bought it and wanted to share the wealth, he said.

"Why us?" he said. "I can only assume the Lord trusts us. It will allow us to support things we believe in."

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Some portions sourced from the Detroit Free Press.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

charmed7's avatarcharmed7

Congrats to the BIG WINNERS

Who cares where u guys brought ur tickets, They r WINNERS, and both of u r going home with some$$$$$$$$$$$$$

people will talk no matter what.   SO NJOY guys

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Mr Greer didn't buy the ticket.

Check.

Mr Greer never buys lottery tickets.

Check.

Mr Greer never plays the lottery.

Check.

Mr Greer belongs to a lottery club though.

Check.

Well alrighty then.

Glad we got that settled.

Perfecttiming2's avatarPerfecttiming2

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Nov 12, 2010

Mr Greer didn't buy the ticket.

Check.

Mr Greer never buys lottery tickets.

Check.

Mr Greer never plays the lottery.

Check.

Mr Greer belongs to a lottery club though.

Check.

Well alrighty then.

Glad we got that settled.

rdgrnr, you are too funny!

 

I must say though,

I got the impression that "Team Victory Lottery Club" ( that is what's written on the mock Powerball check in the photo) was formed AFTER the person who actually purchased the winning ticket (at the adult book store) decided to split it with family and friends. 

It is possible that Mr. Greer really is telling the truth and has never purchased a lottery ticket.

I think people will say what they want about the person who actually bought the ticket at that store, but you have to consider the fact that they shared the winnings..........and did not keep it all for themselves says alot about that person...........even if they were doing so to keep from being embarassed, it still says a lot about the person willingness to share it.

And if Mr. Greer is telling the truth about never buying lottery tickets, then he never would be on the receiving end of so much money unless someone gave it to him.

Congrats to them all and may they receive good, solid financial advice and stick with it!

Perfecttiming2's avatarPerfecttiming2

BTW, many lottery jackpots have been won by people who purchased their winning tickets at the local

7/11 Store.........and you can see the "adult mags" right behind the counter.......

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

"Porn shop lottery winner doesn't reveal himself"

Well, I guess we're lucky he didn't. That would've really been a freak show then.

LOL, good one Todd.

gonnawinwatchme's avatargonnawinwatchme

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....I wouldn't reveal myself either!  Maybe money CAN buy you brains?

rukiafae's avatarrukiafae

congrats to the winners!

 

so we have a porn shop winner and it sounds like possibly a liquer store winner?

 

I'm thinking i need to re-evaluate my hobbies and where i buy my tickets LOL

 

now, if i t were me, and i bought my winning ticket at a pornb shop, the only one i wouyldnt want to know would be my grandparents. everyone else in the family wouldnt care (i would however be the butt (haha) of jokes for a bit) and the general public- i dont care what they think anyways!

nice of the winners to share the wealth!

momof2boys

WOW...Congratulations to the winner/winners! God bless you and your family.  Enjoy your riches.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Perfecttiming2 on Nov 12, 2010

rdgrnr, you are too funny!

 

I must say though,

I got the impression that "Team Victory Lottery Club" ( that is what's written on the mock Powerball check in the photo) was formed AFTER the person who actually purchased the winning ticket (at the adult book store) decided to split it with family and friends. 

It is possible that Mr. Greer really is telling the truth and has never purchased a lottery ticket.

I think people will say what they want about the person who actually bought the ticket at that store, but you have to consider the fact that they shared the winnings..........and did not keep it all for themselves says alot about that person...........even if they were doing so to keep from being embarassed, it still says a lot about the person willingness to share it.

And if Mr. Greer is telling the truth about never buying lottery tickets, then he never would be on the receiving end of so much money unless someone gave it to him.

Congrats to them all and may they receive good, solid financial advice and stick with it!

Thanks Pt2.

I'd say you're right about the club being formed after the win by someone who wanted to share with his loved ones.

God bless him.

CowboysFan's avatarCowboysFan

Well I guess God isn't against gambling or porn.

gonnawinbig's avatargonnawinbig

It was being said that the ticket was bought by a security officer at Greektown Casino named Tonya.  It was reported earlier that she was telling coworkers about the huge win.  she supposely came to work and exited just as quickly as she had entered. Congrats to all involved, stay underground, and move and start enjoying a lot of life.

victorl3ichiban's avatarvictorl3ichiban

People are talking about this story in a funny way but I saw on the news and they show a clip of the store and the book store have a window where they sell lotto tickets. I am assuming the person bought it outside of the store and didn't enter the store. Who knowsBig Grin

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Did "Greer" just set himself up to be audited by the IRS by saying he's never "participated" ?  What could he have been thinking?

Nino224's avatarNino224

"played a single dollar and let the computer pick the numbers."

Love it.

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