Illinois Mega Millions winner to come forward

Apr 17, 2012, 9:32 am (30 comments)

Mega Millions

RED BUD, Ill. — The final winner of the record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot will accept a check for $218.6 million on Wednesday in the southern Illinois town of Red Bud where the winning ticket was purchased, the Illinois Lottery said Monday.

The single winner is from Illinois, lottery officials said, but would not reveal any other details. The other two winning tickets already have been anonymously claimed in Maryland and Kansas. Around Red Bud word that the winner would soon be revealed left the town buzzing.

"We'll finally get to see who this person is," Red Bud Mayor Tim Lowry said. "At least the name will be out there, and Red Bud still gets notice in the history books that the winner came from here. It is exciting."

The winning ticket was purchased at the MotoMart convenience store on Main Street in Red Bud, a tiny farming community of about 3,700 residents south of St. Louis. The winner will accept the check at Red Bud Village Hall.

Maryland and Kansas allow lottery winners to claim their prizes anonymously, but Illinois generally requires winners to come forward publicly. Illinois Lottery officials say that helps prove the lottery is paying out its prizes.

The jackpot in the March 30 drawing was the biggest in Mega Millions history.

"We are thrilled to announce that a single claimant has come forward and been confirmed as the official Illinois winner of the world record setting MegaMillion's Jackpot," Illinois Lottery officials said in an email.

Lorraine Liefer, a longtime Red Bud resident, wondered if the soon-to-be-revealed winner even calls Red Bud home, given the town's status as an oasis along well-traveled Illinois Route 3.

"This brings in a lot of headaches for that person," she said. "But I don't know. It's very exciting. There's no one in Red Bud who has any kind of money like that. I think we'll just have to wait and see, I'm afraid."

AP

Comments

winsumloosesum's avatarwinsumloosesum

Take the entire town out for a party.

This person or person(s) will sure have many new friends.  Time to move out of Red Bud and move to Beverly.  Hills that is.

rad242

"This brings in a lot of headaches for that person," she said.

 

I think the winner should be able to scrape up enough cash to purchase some aspirin

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Tomorrow will be great!

The Illinois winner will be revealed & the Pennsylvania Winner will be set to get a wire transfer of $61,050,000 after the Powerball Drawing!  Dance

NightStalker's avatarNightStalker

Congrats to the winner!  The next big drawing is just right around the corner.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

Quote: Originally posted by winsumloosesum on Apr 17, 2012

Take the entire town out for a party.

This person or person(s) will sure have many new friends.  Time to move out of Red Bud and move to Beverly.  Hills that is.

I've often wondered if there as any real 'wisdom' in throwing a party after a jackpot win, since a lot of people attending think they are going to be given a cut of the prize.

That's just the way it is.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Apr 17, 2012

I've often wondered if there as any real 'wisdom' in throwing a party after a jackpot win, since a lot of people attending think they are going to be given a cut of the prize.

That's just the way it is.

The only "party" will be for my household!

Sharing will be on my terms ..... as it should be in the USA ........... certainly not on the terms of the "Progressive" Regime currently in power!

I can't wait to move to a "Red State" ....... US Flag 

just what the Founding Fathers had in mind for the 2nd Amendment!

Kindly remember that one of our advantages in 1776 was that we had rifles and the Brits had muskets! And today we are free!

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

congrat's again to the Ill. winner. Since there is no way you can claim this prize anonymously in Ill.  your picture is about to be spreaded all over the USA.US Flag

manali

Congrats to the winner. Unhappy

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Quote: Originally posted by dpoly1 on Apr 17, 2012

Tomorrow will be great!

The Illinois winner will be revealed & the Pennsylvania Winner will be set to get a wire transfer of $61,050,000 after the Powerball Drawing!  Dance

Such a positive attitude! I sure hope your big payday comes in the near future Smiley

winwi5

She better move out of red bud now because she will have so many people at her door she will not be able to sleep

The town isn't but so big so anyone will be able to find her their I would have already made a move.

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Apr 17, 2012

congrat's again to the Ill. winner. Since there is no way you can claim this prize anonymously in Ill.  your picture is about to be spreaded all over the USA.US Flag

Moving your family to an affluent, guard gated private community should be a top priority otherwise be prepared to be hounded relentlessly.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Apr 17, 2012

I've often wondered if there as any real 'wisdom' in throwing a party after a jackpot win, since a lot of people attending think they are going to be given a cut of the prize.

That's just the way it is.

Depends on who's throwing the party.  It doesn't have to be the jackpot winner, after all people don't always throw their own birthday parties and guests don't expect a gift, they usually bring one.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Quote: Originally posted by Jill34786 on Apr 17, 2012

Such a positive attitude! I sure hope your big payday comes in the near future Smiley

Thank you ............ you are most kind!

I   have to remain positive in the face of adversity.

Best wishes to you also!

Party

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Quote: Originally posted by winwi5 on Apr 17, 2012

She better move out of red bud now because she will have so many people at her door she will not be able to sleep

The town isn't but so big so anyone will be able to find her their I would have already made a move.

Congratulations to the winner,whatever the sex is.

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