Woman and son claim Tennessee's first Mega Millions jackpot win

Jan 15, 2014, 8:18 am (58 comments)

Mega Millions

Will split $61 million prize

Includes video report

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bettina Still of Bellevue has been a faithful player of the Tennessee Lottery since it started with a simple belief that she could someday win.

But Still, 69, and family members needed more than a double-take after realizing her Mega Millions ticket was worth up to $61 million.

"Like it's unreal, really it's unreal," Still said Friday at the Tennessee Lottery office claiming their prize. "I don't know how I feel."

Still, a retired worker with the state of Tennessee, and her son Jonathan have played lottery games together for years and will split the winnings.

They chose the lump sum payout of approximately $24.5 million after taxes instead of receiving the amount by installments, lottery officials said.

The ticket was purchased at the Bellevue Shell on Old Harding Pike for $1 and matched the game's six numbers drawn Jan. 3. The Stills' buy tickets at several Bellevue locations.

"I am truly grateful for this blessing," Bettina Still said in a statement. "I have played the lottery since it first arrived in Tennessee and have always believed that I could win. As I keep telling my friends, you can't win if you don't play. Knowing you can win is one of the biggest thrills in the world. It's part of the fun of playing."

"But honestly, when I realized Id'd actually won, I was astonished and nearly fainted ... just absolutely astonished."

Still and her son waited nearly a week to claim their prize so they could consider their options and consult with a financial adviser.

The Stills are Tennessee's first winner of Mega Millions, which became part of the Tennessee Lottery in January 2010.

The Tennessee Lottery will celebrate its 10-year anniversary Jan. 20. Tennessee Lottery President and CEO Rebecca Hargrove believed the Stills' win could help spur on sales.

"When people see people do win, it does increase excitement," Tennessee Lottery spokeswoman Kym Gerlock said.

VIDEO: Watch the press conference

Thanks to rdgrnr for the tip.

Tennessean, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Win$500Quick's avatarWin$500Quick

Congrats to the lucky winners and t only took $1 to win.

hsg2000

US Flag

I am so glad to see them win, I think they will retire comfortably now.

smooth11484's avatarsmooth11484

TIRED of the $1 win story

Candlelight777's avatarCandlelight777

Goes to show with a buck and some luck anyone can win!!.....Congrats to the lucky winnersHurray!

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Jan 15, 2014

Goes to show with a buck and some luck anyone can win!!.....Congrats to the lucky winnersHurray!

I agree.
However it would seem that they each contributed 50 cents toward the winning Ticket. That's a great returns on their investment.

Congratulations to both.
Party

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

Quote: Originally posted by smooth11484 on Jan 15, 2014

TIRED of the $1 win story

Me too, Smooth.

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

Quote: Originally posted by Candlelight777 on Jan 15, 2014

Goes to show with a buck and some luck anyone can win!!.....Congrats to the lucky winnersHurray!

Anyone except me for god's sake!!!

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by golfer1960 on Jan 15, 2014

Anyone except me for god's sake!!!

Green laugh

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Win$500Quick on Jan 15, 2014

Congrats to the lucky winners and t only took $1 to win.

$1.00 and Quick pick is when most Winners are made Party

I Agree!

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congrats Mrs Bettina Still & momma's boy

Jill34786's avatarJill34786

The winner and her son actually bought several tickets at numerous locations in the Bellevue area. The winning ticket did in fact cost them $1.00 but they spent quite a bit more on the drawing.

Lottery officials love to give the impression that it only took a dollar and a dream to win. 

The Shell station that the winning ticket was sold at is less than 5 miles from our TN home so the good news got plenty of attention from our friends and neighbors. The clerks at the gas station stated that Mrs Still and her son were regulars who played different lottery games religiously.

Glad to hear they finally got lucky.Smile

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

The Tennessee Lottery President seemed a little curt with the media.

DDOH937's avatarDDOH937

Quote: Originally posted by Jill34786 on Jan 15, 2014

The winner and her son actually bought several tickets at numerous locations in the Bellevue area. The winning ticket did in fact cost them $1.00 but they spent quite a bit more on the drawing.

Lottery officials love to give the impression that it only took a dollar and a dream to win. 

The Shell station that the winning ticket was sold at is less than 5 miles from our TN home so the good news got plenty of attention from our friends and neighbors. The clerks at the gas station stated that Mrs Still and her son were regulars who played different lottery games religiously.

Glad to hear they finally got lucky.Smile

EXACTLY!! The same thing happened in Florida with Gloria Mackenzie, the winning ticket was that ONE that we all know about, but she mentioned that she had previously purchased others at other locations. If i'm not mistaken, the guy who just won the second half of the big jackpot in Cali also had bought tickets in different towns as he was driving around. I always do that myself, but just hasnt paid off yet. Sometimes i even have multiple tickets from multiple States. Glad iher deligence paid off for her and her family. Great Stuff!!

DDOH937's avatarDDOH937

Quote: Originally posted by smooth11484 on Jan 15, 2014

TIRED of the $1 win story

Sometimes when i go to the counter to purchase tickets, i may ask for 5 quick picks but the clerk does one of two things: either gives me one ticket with 5 lines, or sometimes they give me 5 tickets with one line each......without my input. Try not to make too much of it though i know and get where you are coming from. Just wish the winners well and hope lady luck smiles on you at the right time and place, no matter how many tickets you purchased. ; ))

But trust me, i know what you're saying. I get slightly, only slightly, peeved at times too btu more so because of my own buying patterns that wont even yield 3 numbers out of the 6. lol!! One day though, one day!!

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