A retired Sullivan County, New York, school principal drew the sole winning ticket from a $326 million Mega Millions game two months ago, making him the biggest winner in state lottery history, officials said Monday.
Harold Diamond, 80, purchased the winning multi-state ticket at a Valero gas station in Middletown on Nov. 4.
Diamond had 60 days to contact lottery officials, and the Wurtsboro resident finally did so just before Christmas.
Diamond was identified during an event at that Valero on Monday. The lottery winner and his wife arrived in a limo, were cheered by onlookers and handed a giant bouquet of red roses.
He'll get to select his winning payout — either 30 annuitized payments or a lump sum of $197.45 million, which accounts for state and federal taxes.
It's the biggest payout in Empire State history, as Diamond topped "The Albany 7," a group of state employees who divided a $319 million jackpot in March, 2011.
A San Jose, Calif., man, David Bruckner, claimed a $202 million payout on a ticket he purchased when visiting family on Long Island in late 2011.
Aubrey Boyce, an MTA collections agent from Kew Gardens, scored a $133 jackpot in 2009.
The owner of the Valero station where Diamond made the lucky purchase will get $10,000.
"We were all excited," station owner Michael Nafash, 53. "It's a big event for the store to sell a winning ticket."
Employee Irma Reyes, 22, sold Diamond his winning ticket.
"I only found out last night. The manager kept it a secret," Reyes said. "I was surprised excited ... everything at the same time."
The employee admitted she didn't recall Diamond's face.
"I probably see 100 faces a day. It's pretty hard to remember who you sold it to," she said. "I'm just happy it's someone from around here."
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
$10 INVESTMENT TURNED INTO $326 MILLION.
WOW congrats to him .
quick picks are the way
Time for a permanent cruise, around the world. Nice!!!.
Congratulations Harold & the Mrs.
Wow- talk about a 80 year old " Diamond in the rough"-you earned it Big guy, enjoy your wealth & live long and prosper. .
More than anything else, I love to see a picture of the winning ticket. Quick pick #2 was the winner.
Congratulations Mr Diamond. I'd change my name to be Mr Platinum
At 80 years young, I would venture to guess that he will take the lump sum thus bypassing the 30-year annuity. The cash payout is $197 million BEFORE any taxes are deducted and his net take home pay after all New York state and local tax obligations are met will be roughly $95 million.
I hope he has many wonderful years left to enjoy his windfall.
Congrats to Mr. Diamond on his big win!
That's a nice win but the reality is that his offspring will truly enjoy it. Congrats!
With CLAIMED stampped on it, retailers don't have to worry about someone trying to cash it again.
Congrats to the Diamonds and the Valero gas station owner.
Lesson here that we only have 60 days to contact the lottery commission.
That's news to me thought we had one year to claim the prize. Is that a N.Y. state requirement or Mega Game requirement?
I better read the back of the betting slip next time to be sure.
Thanks Todd for the copy of the winning ticket.
All quick picks, just an amazing wager and winning prize.
The 60 days or a yr doesn't matter to me, I'll collect the next business day.
Someone on YouTube, a young man named Toppy Nikci is claiming he won the Nov 4 , 2014 Mega Millions jackpot.
To view it just type in NY Mega Millions Nov 4 2014 to view it .
Just amazing what folks will do to draw attention to themselves.
Just a few extra words on Quick Picks ... if you remember the 24 yr old woman from Michigan that won a nice jackpot last June ... she played $10 a week ($5 + $5) for five years and got lucky ... but four number sets of the five number set were her own numbers and the last number set was a Quick Pick. I don't know if all the numbers were on one ticket or five separate tickets.
The QP set were the numbers that won the jackpot ... she's lucky she went with one QP.
This was on Friday the 13 (June 2014) and the MB was also 01 ...
Friday the 13th was a mega lucky day for Kelsey Zachow.
But for 11 days, the 24-year-old Port Huron resident didn't know she had the winning $66-million Mega Millions lottery ticket — purchased June 13 at Sonny's Mart in Mt. Clemens — in her purse.
On her way to work June 13, she bought five Mega Millions plays, four with her regular numbers and one easy pick. Her easy pick numbers of 07-38-46-49-56 and Gold Mega Ball of 01 matched the Mega Millions numbers drawn that night.
...
Self pick or QP- it matters not to the outcome; those balls that are spinning are not having a conversation between themselves saying " Hey guys,just a reminder-we only spit out numbers for QP plays ..ok?"
BTW- why is the vendor payout so low?- out on the West Coast, that vendor would have pocketed a cool $1 million or thereabouts. .
Frank Sinatra was right" It's up to you NY NY!"
A lot of states don't pay % on prizes...they just pay a flat amount for big prizes and higher (or not) commission on volume of tickets sold.
Congratulations to the winner. I hope he and his family enjoy the winnings.
(Now it should be my turn
)
Eighty year old man waits six weeks to claim his winning mega millions fortune. Why did he wait so long. His wife was a math teacher. What was she trying to figure out. The theory of everything.
Congrats to Mr. Harold Diamond
Here he is at the press conference.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=11026304
Personally, I would have skipped the event.
He took his time claiming his winnings so that he could get everything in order like finding a new place to live and getting his finances organized with his family. Do you really think at the age of eighty he would return back to his home and expose himself along with his family to all the lunatics out there? we are talking about New York and I am willing to bet many of them would feel entitled to a portion of his winnings.
He most likely headed to the airport shortly after his press conference and I am pretty sure it's nice and warm wherever he may have landed..
I suspect the grandkids will visit møre often?
Wait until your 80!
Thanks, PrinceRene, for providing a link to this fun video.
I hope he does not just hand it over to his children and grandchildren. Maybe give then $100,000 each, for those under 25 on their 25th birthday. Live on the rest and when he and his wife pass on, the remaining money to go to a charity.
I think it is a pity he has to be identified, because he has to move house now; which is more difficult at 80. New York should reconsider it's policy and allow winners to remain anonymous. If you live in New York, contact your state politicians.
...and pray that one of them is not a shiiiiithead that will try to kill him for that money
.
Why not fire Mr Diamond & his Grandkids an email with your suggestions Mr Turner,lets see how they respond. Who knows,your input might work..