NY lottery winner contemplates moving to Paris

Jan 16, 2014, 3:00 pm (63 comments)

New York Lottery

GREENWICH, N.Y. — Bill Bracken grew up in Averill Park, spent much of his life on Mount Desert Island in Maine, and now lives in Vero Beach, Fla.

At least for now.

"Maybe I will move to Paris," the 74-year-old Bracken said during a New York Lottery press conference Tuesday morning at the local Cumberland Farms just before he received a giant ceremonial check for $3 million. "I have been many times, because I am an artist. I would like to go back."

He will have that opportunity — and also plans to pay off his mortgage and buy real estate — after collecting a payout of $1,667,736 because he took the lump-sum option and the state and federal government took their share of taxes.

Bracken's son Christopher, a Greenwich resident, actually bought the scratch-off "Three Million" ticket in October.

"I gave him $50 and told him to buy five $10 tickets," Bracken said. "He came back out and said, 'You won,' and showed me the ticket."

Bracken, who had been staying with his sister in Averill Park in Rensselaer County, returned to Florida, and when he returned for Thanksgiving, he and his son went to lottery headquarters to cash in the ticket.

When asked why he took so long, Bracken smiled and said, "I am 74. You take your time with these things."

The winning ticket is the first lottery jackpot winner in Washington County since Jeffrey Henderson of Hudson Falls won the "$1,000 a Week for Life" game in 1996.

Two years ago, Magen MacDavid of Queensbury won that same game on a ticket purchased at the Cumberland Farms store on Quaker Road in Queensbury.

Bracken, dressed casually in a dark shirt, black corduroys and horn-rimmed glasses, was relaxed and joking with the small crowd in the store. He received the oversized check from the lottery's John Schnur.

The money will be deposited into Bracken's bank account in a few days.

Bracken, who works in watercolors, had a studio and gallery on Mount Desert Island.

"I was there for 40 years," said Bracken, who is not married. "Being an artist, it was a great place to live."

Bracken said his son had mentioned he'd been having some luck with lottery tickets, so the pair went to the Cumberland Farms.

"He said he was feeling lucky, so I said, 'Let's go out and buy some tickets,' " Bracken said. When they arrived, he said, the elder Bracken waited outside, talking to a friend.

"He came out and said, 'You just won $3 million.' 'I said, 'Let's go back home,' " Bracken recalled.

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Comments

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Congratulation Mr,Bill Bracken Spend WiselyParty

noise-gate

Europe in general is not cheap-l sure hope William has counted the cost before moving abroad.

Nevertheless.. . .Congratulations Mr Bracken. Its a great way to start the year off.

Party

Jordi88

Congrats!! Spend it wisley Paris is pretty expensive ;-)

hjones

Good for him, but he should consider Italy instead.   Even though taxes may be higher in Italy "payola" is easier, thus "saving" you money.

TNPATL

Wow what a story.  "I am 74.  You take your time with these things."  He sounds like a sweet, humbled man.  I hope he does move to Paris, and enjoys it.

Toronto

Exactly where I'd like to move

Igamble's avatarIgamble

isn'T  his SON thats the  right reciepient of the jackpot SINce he was at The right place at the right time ??the money from his dad justbfacilitated the transaction.since hes old he may have walked to store slower then his son and then from a physical ,mathematical perspective b late and not b at the righ time in the store.his son was exactly at the precise time to colect the tiket and should give back the 50$ and demand his jackpot..

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Good job Mr Bill Bracken for not flinching while dropping the $50 on the 5 tickets and also for trusting his son's instincts and also for taking his time and planning this money out before claiming. 

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Wow he beat me to it!  My fave story so far. An artist CAN win!!! I can taste those crepes with orange marmalade now.

Shelby Mustang

Here we go another old person winning LOL. I dont know about living in Paris I heard it's kinda expensive. If I won 3 mil I think I'd stay where Im at probaby change neighborhoods though

mikeintexas's avatarmikeintexas

If I win the lottery, I'd think about moving to Paris, too.

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on Jan 16, 2014

Wow he beat me to it!  My fave story so far. An artist CAN win!!! I can taste those crepes with orange marmalade now.

Paris sounds delicious to me too. Might be expensive but when you're 74 yrs old, what the heck?

Paris...Tennis anyone?

French Open

Piaceri

Great story! Congrats to the winner.

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

He currently lives in Vero Beach, FL. That ain't so bad either. Beautiful sand, water, palm trees, golf, tennis...

golf in vero beach, fl  vero beach, fl disney vero beach, fl tennis vero beach, fl

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