Includes video report
By Todd Northrop
A married couple from Melbourne Beach, Florida, have claimed their one-third share of the world's biggest lottery jackpot of all time.
Although the prize money was claimed under a trust, the winners identified themselves in a press conference Wednesday afternoon as David Kaltschmidt, 55, and Maureen Smith, 70.
The winners, originally from Long Island, New York, have been residents of Melbourne Beach since 1991. They have no immediate plans to move.
Although the annuity share of the $1.6 billion jackpot was $528.8 million, the winnings were claimed with the lump-sum cash option, which amounts to a payment of $327,835,077.79 before taxes. Maureen said that the decision to choose the cash was based on her age.
Because Florida does not impose state tax on lottery prizes, the couple only has Federal income taxes to worry about.
Lottery officials said the winners had up to 180 days to claim the $528.8 million or 60 days to take the lump sum of $327.8 million.
The winning numbers from the Jan. 13 drawing were 4, 8, 19, 27, and 34, with Powerball number 10. The couple said they frequently shop at the Publix, located at 3830 Highway A1A in Melbourne Beach, where their winning ticket was purchased.
The historic jackpot was won by three tickets sold in California, Florida, and Tennessee. (See Record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot won by 3 tickets, Lottery Post, Jan. 14, 2016.)
David is an employee of Northrop Grumman, a job he's held since 1980. He plans to retire, saying that instead of designing airplanes he will now concentrate on tax strategies, investments, and charities. Maureen is a homemaker.
The couple has been keeping the win a secret from everyone, including family, friends, and work, since winning the massive prize on January 13.
Keeping the secret was not easy. The first day after the win David arrived late for work, prompting employees to ask him if he was the winner. He told them he didn't purchase a ticket. (He didn't lie, because Maureen was the one who bought it.)
Finally the couple notified family members about their win about a week ago.
Their biggest concern is security, now that their identities are revealed. David said that he has been adding some security systems to the couple's home.
They refused to speak about children, citing privacy concerns. "Certain things we want to keep to ourselves," Maureen said during the press conference.
Maureen worried that she would become less friendly overall due to their security concerns. She said that winning the jackpot is "scary and unknown". She has been dreading the press conference.
The winning ticket was played with numbers that the couple has been using for the past 30 years, although not regularly.
The couple does not have immediate plans for the money, other than a new car. "My truck is falling apart, so it's time to get a new vehicle," David said.
Marueen said she has plans to "help special people in [her] life", but the only immediate plan was to get a massage.
It takes 2 days for the Florida Lottery to wire transfer the money into the winners' bank account, but they do get the entire amount in one fell swoop.
There is still one unclaimed ticket from the record Powerball drawing — the one sold in Chino Hills, California. The Tennessee winning ticket was claimed by a couple two days after the drawing. (See Tennessee couple claims share of $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot, Lottery Post, Jan. 15, 2016.)
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
From a distance in the picture, this lady looks good to be 70 years old [He is 55]. Wonder if they are married to each other, or related, or not ??
Florida is a Cougar State.
The second piece of the puzzle is in and while we're waiting for the third, we can sit back and read some negative criticism the LP members suffering from jackpot envy.
Check the second word in the story.
I don't get why they went public. They obviously know the risks and are concerned about their security. What in the world would make them wait this long to claim under a trust, then do the press conference? Is this something Florida requires?
Did they use the same lawyer from Tennessee? Let's go public to control the interest lol.
Why go to a claiming conference if you took the time to set up a trust?
Oh and let me be the first to admit to jackpot envy.
Congratulations David and Maureen!! May you enjoy your newfound wealth!
The press conference is optional.
But in Florida, they post the trustees of the trust no matter what. It is public record and open to public access, unfortunately.
Again, only the press conference part was optional.
Thank you for the info. I was not aware the trustees are listed and all info has public access. I still would never go to the press conference.
Anyway good luck to the winners. Hope they find security and some sort of privacy.
Even if a trust can't keep you anonymous there are other reasons to claim it that way. It might be a prudent move for estate planning.
I have read a lot of information from various lotteries on winning a large jackpot and one thing they all say, even when a press conference is optional, is to do the press conference. Supposedly it will get it all over with and the press will leave you alone. Now, I don't really believe that and think it is pretty self serving advice from the lottery but I imagine to some people it might make sense when presented like that.
Claiming via a trust or LLC is more for legal reasons.
If you are (G-D forbid) in an accident, the other person can sue you for every penny you have. If you have an LLC it is an entity on its own and protects your assets.
It takes a few weeks to form a trust / LLC.
Sure I get that, but if you are willing to expose yourself to the masses, why wait all this time to form a trust, why not just claim the next day, like the country-boy lawyer and his clients who went on national TV and then form a trust?.
I get all that. But the article clearly stated, "Their biggest concern is security, now that their identities are revealed". Apparently they did not want their identities revealed, but rules are rules. So Florida lottery decided to screw them just for cheap publicity, like they really need it. SMH.
Jeebus... more lottery winners making bad decisions. These guys aren't as bad as the 1st announced winners who did the press conference based on the advice of their 2 bit, 3rd rate ambulance chasing lawyer in a cheap suit... but they're not far behind.
Dear lottery winners: the big advantage of claiming the money in a trust (I'm assuming it's a blind trust) is to avoid publicity. If you were planning to reveal your identities, you shouldn't have bothered to put it in a trust in the first place. Because of your decision, you'll now start receiving phone calls, texts, letters & e-mails from thousands of people, asking for money. People will be following you around, writing down your schedule & places you frequent. Strangers will stop you on the street to ask for money... or even come to your home to do so. It's possible your home will be burglarized, your car & mail stolen as well. You're about to be hounded by every salesman of high net worth items (cars, planes, boats, real estate); expect high pressure tactics from non-profits & charities as well. Every grifter, thief, flim flam man, scam artist & criminal now knows who you are, what you look like & where you live. Your family, friends & neighbors will probably ask for money, and/or will change the way they think about you & how they treat you. In short, you should never have agreed to the publicity and the press conference. I wish you well, 'cause, sadly, I have a feeling you're going to need it...
Congratulations!
Way to go. I knew they took the cash value option.
I'm sorry, but you are partially incorrect.
Florida is a Public access for information State Law state which applies to everything you can imagine.
There is no way to hide this in Florida.
The only part that I guess they did "wrong" was do a press conference, which is not part of State Law.
The Florida Lottery arranged the press conference, all the winners had to do was say "no".
Congratulation to this Florida couple on their Power Ball Jackpot win. If this couple are out going people . They now have to be careful about other people they socialize with. This lady looks great for 70 years old.
Sweet Jesus must be nice.. Congrats on to them!!
One can hold their breath for only so long, this concept that anonimity equates to safety and security is silly. People are at risk everyday.
At some point the truth comes out, best to build your portfolio and secure the home ( which they did) . A trust is the way to go to keep the funds in the family. Congrats and may this opportunity fulfill their community outreach programs.
Congrats to the Florida couple on winning part of the 1.6 billion Powerball. They should not be naive about their good fortune since winning the lottery has had its share of good and bad windfall. Now that their names are public the husband should grow a beard the wife dye her hair, change they're names and move out.
Hold the check over your face, give yourself a fighting chance.
Maybe they took so long to come forward because she was recovering from her Dolly Parton level of plastic surgery.
I stand corrected. As I understand it, how it works is the bare bones minimum the lottery commission is required by law to do is have available the winners name & city for anyone who requests it. That's it. These people chose to court publicity & do the press conference... thus ensuring anything bad that could happen to them has a much better chance of happening to them. Sad. Well, in the positive, at least they're not using it to bail out a drug selling relative/friend for the 4th time... as far as we know... :)
Firstly, congratulations to the winners!
Secondly, these people look a little spooked about revealing their identities. I don't know why there cannot be an anonymous way to collect your winnings in EVERY State. As long as your win is confirmed by three separate lottery officials (or whomever) and an independent auditor, you shouldn't have to reveal your identity. I understand the lottery wanting to promote their "transparency" and the lottery itself, but c'mon...at the possible risk of the winner(s) life? South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, North Dakota, Ohio and Kansas don't have a problem selling tickets and they allow anonymity for winners, so you know it can be done.
No. Bare minimum varies depending on the state. So stop acting all tough and knowledgeable about how they were idiots when you don't even understand the basics of what you say they screwed up.
There can't be anonymous ways to claim winnings due to the past corruption in lotteries.
Even with non-anonymous there still is some corruption, but it is at least a little easier to ferret out.
Classic - Hot Lotto is most recent example.
McDonald's Monopoly, at one point, was another where all the big winners were friend's or relatives of people involved with the game.
Plus if you go back even further, there are tons of stories.
Edit - not lots... stay away from hyperbole... it's bad for you
Congrats David and Maureen.
Whoa she looks good to be 70 years old. Congrats to the couple!!!!
Hopefully they have more sense that the Tennessee couple. She looks great for 70.
Why does every lottery winner say they are going to give a cut of their winnings to charity? It's ad if they are now obligated to give due to their good fortune. Do a little checking and you'll find that a very small percentage of the money actually goes to the intended cause. That's why the charities are not called "Paint the CEO's house," or "Buy the CEO a new mercedes."
Congratulations to the happy couple. Maureen looks pretty good for 70. Probably a dancer in her youth, 110 lbs soaking wet & a multi millionaire to boot.
You go girl.
Congrats to them!
Makes you wonder. The Tennessee people claimed they only bought "4" tickets.
In this thread they say:
"Keeping the secret was not easy. The first day after the win David arrived late for work, prompting employees to ask him if he was the winner. He told them he didn't purchase a ticket. (He didn't lie, because Maureen was the one who bought it.)"
Is the "it" being only one ticket they purchased?
The rest of us must be crazy buying more than 4 tickets then? If that's all it takes to get extremely lucky?
If nobody hits in the next 8 draws we are back to the 1 billion plus JP?
Only in the USA
That was nice of him to bring his mom.
he works for northrop gruman and has been improving their security! I bet he has some pretty swish security installed now.
WoW!!! You guys are mean here!! They are a MARRIED couple!
I wish them well and hope the money brings them much joy.
I see that they set up a trust, wise.
I thought they would be buying professional advice. Such as, They did not have to do a press conference. Gloria MacKenzie, the $599.5 million winner from Zephyr Hills, Florida did not do a press conference. But the press was alerted to her presence in the building.
Winning a major jackpot would make me nervous. It is a big change from everyday life.
God bless the both of them, their family, and their friends.
Thanks for the laugh to warm me up after walking 2.7 miles with the pooch in cold azz Kentucky.
What Florida Lottery did to Gloria was very wrong.
Gloria just showed up by surprise. She declined press.
However, the Florida Lotto called the press and probably stalled Gloria for a while.
And now they have footage of her running to her car trying to get away.
So a self pick winning amazing