Virginia man claims $107M Mega Millions jackpot

Aug 16, 2011, 12:41 am (37 comments)

Mega Millions

Includes video report

MCLEAN, Va. — A 25-year old McLean, Virginia, man won the third-largest lottery jackpot in Virginia state history and his use of Facebook is partly the reason for his riches.

Brian McCarthy won $107 million in the Mega Millions lottery after buying a ticket in a Giant grocery store in Herndon.

McCarthy says he checked his ticket after reading an article posted on a local radio station's Facebook page that posted the winning numbers.

After checking the article, McCarthy phoned his family, who didn't initially believe he had won a massive amount of money.

"My dad kind of freaked out a little bit and mom started crying," McCarthy says.

Rather than taking $107 million in 26 annual payments, he opted for a $68.4 million lump sum payment.

McCarthy, who had been working as an account manager at Pepsi, informed his boss he was quitting, but wasn't allowed to tell his boss why.

"I didn't tell anyone but my family for the first three-and-a-half weeks or so," McCarthy says. "On the last Friday, when I met my boss and turned in my computer, I told him and he got a kick out of it."

He purchased a new car and took a trip to Ireland. He also donated $25,000 to two Herndon charities — Herndon-Reston FISH Inc. and the Herndon Optimist Club.

McCarthy says he plans to "go slow" with the rest of the money.

The $107 million jackpot is the third largest in Virginia lottery history.

J. R. and Peggy Triplett of Winchester won the largest jackpot in state history. They won the $239 million jackpot on Feb. 20, 2004. Steve Williams of Shenandoah, won the second largest jackpot of $200 million on Oct. 16, 2009, according to the state lottery, which says the lottery generates $1.2 million a day for Virginia's schools.

VIDEO: Watch the report

Thanks to hearsetrax for the tip.

WTOP, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

gocart1's avatargocart1

That was so cool..Lying in bed and hearing that the store you got the tickets from hit the jackpot.....granma was thinking  Brian was just pulling her lag and made him a grilled cheese...Too funny.. best of luck to the 25 year old

AmbientLight

Awesome he only purchased 5 tickets and the 2nd was a winner!

Isabella King's avatarIsabella King

When will i get that lucky :(

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by Isabella King on Aug 16, 2011

When will i get that lucky :(

Roll Eyesbeen asking my self the same question

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congrats to the winner..........

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to the winner , Enjoy !

konane's avatarkonane

Congratulations Brian McCarthy!  WTG!  Party

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

68.4 Million at 25 years old. Wow.

I'd like to try that in my next life.

I'd rather try it now though at my current age which is a tad older than that.

Piaceri

Congrats to Brian. Looks like a smart young man with a good head on his shoulders. Best of luck to him. White Bounce

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

Bananaway to go Brian McCarthy, congrats. enjoy it!!

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Congratulations to the jackpot winner. I didn't know why the Mega Millions Jackpot was revised upward when the jackpot was won.

diamondpalace's avatardiamondpalace

Been seeing old folks winning them jp, it's refreshing to see young ppl can win too! heh

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

So much the "old" winning all of the time ?!?!   LOL

master-g

cum on 108 6338

Subscribe to this news story