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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Florida Powerball winner claims $50 million jackpot Powerball: Florida Powerball winner claims $50 million jackpot54 Rating:ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Christopher McGurran overnight went from living a modest life to living large. The 30-year-old and his wife claimed the $50 million Powerball jackpot drawn last month in St. Petersburg. "It's always somebody, someplace else, and you wonder if somebody won it. It's nice," said neighbor Bud Patten. McGurran, a heating and cooling technician, bought the winning ticket at a Sweetbay grocery store just minutes from his home. Little did he know at the time that it would be his golden one. The winning ticket was a Quick Pick. "One of the mission statements of Sweetbay is to support our community. What better way to do that than to give somebody in our community $50 million," said assistant store manager Owen Henry. He won't quite get $50 million, lottery officials say. He opted for the lump sum payout of $32.4 million. Despite the figures, officials say he and his wife were calm while collecting the winnings. They've already reached out to financial advisors for help dealing with all that cash. "They were prepared for this. They were subdued, but they were excited. I asked them what they did for living and now they said they're both retired," said David Bishop, deputy secretary of the Florida Lotto. Their stroke of luck is spurring others at the Sweetbay to get their tickets there, hoping for lightning to strike twice. The Sweetbay store, located at 2139 34th Street North, will receive a bonus incentive of $25,000 for selling the winning ticket. Lottery Post Staff We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 60 comments. Last comment 4 months ago by . British Columbia Canada Member #116120 September 4, 2011 2442 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 10:30 am - IP Logged | |
Congrats  Quick Pick eh  $32.4 Million can buy alot of cheeseburgers  "You have to be in it to win it!" | | |
5+1 Winner Arizona United States Member #116287 September 7, 2011 14810 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 10:31 am - IP Logged | |
Nice win. 32.4 million after bloated government got their share. And the store gets a $25k tip. | | |
Boise, ID United States Member #94311 July 17, 2010 1053 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 10:46 am - IP Logged | |
Yay for quick picks. 
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5+1 Winner Arizona United States Member #116287 September 7, 2011 14810 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 10:48 am - IP Logged | |
That's what I call a "quicker picker-up'er" | | |
5+1 Winner Arizona United States Member #116287 September 7, 2011 14810 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 10:49 am - IP Logged | |
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Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians Way back up in them dadgum hills, son! United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 12453 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 11:32 am - IP Logged | |
Nice win. 32.4 million after bloated government got their share. And the store gets a $25k tip. That $32.4 Million is before the government gets their share. There's no way they'd let him keep that much money. | | |
Nutley, New Jersey United States Member #131067 August 1, 2012 577 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 11:43 am - IP Logged | |
Nice win. 32.4 million after bloated government got their share. And the store gets a $25k tip. 50 million is the annuitized jackpot. The winner opted for the 32.4 million lump sum but they will never see that amount because 25% is taken out for tax withholding and even more taxes will be due April 2014. With a top federal tax rate of 39.6%, they will get to keep roughly 19.5 million. Good thing for the winner Florida has no state tax on lottery prizes unlike New Jersey which tacks on an additional 10.8%. | | |
United States Member #93192 June 23, 2010 646 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 12:54 pm - IP Logged | |
Congratulations to this last jackpot winner in the year 2012. | | |
S.E.Iowa United States Member #120520 December 21, 2011 534 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 1:21 pm - IP Logged | |
Congratulations to the McGurrans.Hopefully they can enjoy their jackpot without the leeches coming out of the woodwork to ruin it for them. When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers | | |
Wannabe Won Percenter Republic of Texas United States Member #58035 January 9, 2008 766 Posts Online | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 2:10 pm - IP Logged | |
50 million is the annuitized jackpot. The winner opted for the 32.4 million lump sum but they will never see that amount because 25% is taken out for tax withholding and even more taxes will be due April 2014. With a top federal tax rate of 39.6%, they will get to keep roughly 19.5 million. Good thing for the winner Florida has no state tax on lottery prizes unlike New Jersey which tacks on an additional 10.8%. Sheesh, with that much being taxed, and at only 30 yrs old, you'd be hard pressed to live large on $16m for the rest of your life. Comfortable yes. Congrats to the winners, and congrats for living in a state with no income tax.  Clear eyes, full hearts, Texas forever!  PROUD MEMBER OF THE 85% (what's left of the 99% after you take out the lefties and the OW anarchists) Wannabe member of the 1%. | | |
Nutley, New Jersey United States Member #131067 August 1, 2012 577 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 2:29 pm - IP Logged | |
Sheesh, with that much being taxed, and at only 30 yrs old, you'd be hard pressed to live large on $16m for the rest of your life. Comfortable yes. Congrats to the winners, and congrats for living in a state with no income tax. 16 mil is nothing to sneeze at but my issue is the 50 million annuitized jackpot is usually what is advertised on billboards and the number that grabs all the headlines. Little do most people know what they'd actually win after taxes isn't even close to the advertised amount. In other parts of the world like Canada and Europe, the advertised amount is exactly what you get since money won from the lottery is 100% tax free. | | |
Boise, ID United States Member #94311 July 17, 2010 1053 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 3:02 pm - IP Logged | |
Sheesh, with that much being taxed, and at only 30 yrs old, you'd be hard pressed to live large on $16m for the rest of your life. Comfortable yes. Congrats to the winners, and congrats for living in a state with no income tax. Spend 1 M on a house and furnishings and put 15 M in a low risk tax free investment. He'd get at least 200K per year right now, even at today's low rates, and that's tax free. If he can't live really well on that amount, with no mortgage payment, there's something wrong. When the return rates go back up to 6% like they were 10 years ago, he'll be getting 900K tax free. And his initial 15 M stays untouched. | | |
Oklahoma United States Member #82920 November 12, 2009 3461 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 3:22 pm - IP Logged | |
Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. McGurran...... Win BIG everyone..... I Love Pink & Green....1908 | | |
Massachusetts United States Member #37842 April 14, 2006 967 Posts Offline | | Posted: January 14, 2013, 4:47 pm - IP Logged | |
16 mil is nothing to sneeze at but my issue is the 50 million annuitized jackpot is usually what is advertised on billboards and the number that grabs all the headlines. Little do most people know what they'd actually win after taxes isn't even close to the advertised amount. In other parts of the world like Canada and Europe, the advertised amount is exactly what you get since money won from the lottery is 100% tax free. I love the idea of tax free lottery winnings. The reason behind my belief is that winner will spend that money in this economy and will end up paying sales taxes, property taxes, excise taxes, capital gains taxes and dividend taxes, interest taxes  | | |
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