Calif. lotto winner remains hidden

Jul 18, 2006, 1:24 pm (26 comments)

California Lottery

New millionaire avoiding the spotlight

Somewhere in California, a man named Richard Furness Roberts is quietly sitting on $110 million.

The SuperLotto winner presented the coveted ticket he purchased at a South Pasadena liquor store to lottery officials Friday — nine days after his six numbers were called on the evening news.

But, apparently, mum is the word for the bashful millionaire — at least for now.

Lotto officials told disappointed members of the media that there would be no official press conference with Roberts — and therefore no picture in the newspaper of the smiling winner holding a giant check and no chance to hear him answer the question, "How does it feel to win the lottery?"

Officials said they couldn't even release the city their man of mystery hails from.

"This is kind of a different situation for us, a very strange situation" spokeswoman Catherine Doyle Johnston said with a sigh while relaying the news.

While attempting to remain diplomatic, Johnston said she tried to persuade Roberts to come forward — at least for a press conference — but his mind couldn't be changed.

"He said he would do his own press," Johnston said. "It was odd."

Roberts' $110 million jackpot was the largest California had seen in four years, and the sixth-largest in state history. The prize money kept building as the drawings went without a winner for 23 weeks.

Johnston said it is relatively unusual for a winner not to participate in scheduled lottery events — although it isn't unheard of.

Some don't want others knowing they have all this money, she said. "It scares them off."

As of Friday evening, Roberts had not chosen a payment option. If he chooses annual payments, they will begin at $2.75million and graduate to more than $5.6million by the 26th year before taxes.

If the cash option is chosen, he will receive a lump sum of roughly half the jackpot amount, about $57 million, according to Lottery officials.

At the Foremost Liquor Market at 301 Monterey Road, where the ticket for the July 5 drawing was purchased, lottery chatter was still circulating into the afternoon.

While interest had died down slightly over the last week, it picked back up again since a winner has been named, said store owner Singh Sidhu.

"People are still talking about it all day," he said.

Sidhu said neither he nor his customers recognized the winner's name.

But it doesn't mean he isn't local.

"It could be a regular — there are so many people who come here every day," he said.

Sidhu said that in addition to the $550,000 he received for selling the winning ticket, he is relishing an unforeseen benefit — his lottery sales have increased considerably.

"I'm seeing a lot of new faces come in here," Sidhu said.

Pasadena Star-News

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bellyache's avatarbellyache

While attempting to remain diplomatic, Johnston said she tried to persuade Roberts to come forward - at least for a press conference - but his mind couldn't be changed.

"He said he would do his own press," Johnston said. "It was odd."


I hope he decides to just remain quite.

nc6string

Roberts is a genius.

CalifDude

He will have to change his address and phone number, of course, because right now it is (probably):

346 Alta Vista Ave, Apt 582
South Pasadena, CA 91030-3502
(323) 344-3992

DoubleDown

As of Friday evening, Roberts had not chosen a payment option. If he chooses annual payments, they will begin at $2.75million and graduate to more than $5.6million by the 26th year before taxes.

If the cash option is chosen, he will receive a lump sum of roughly half the jackpot amount, about $57 million, according to Lottery officials.

 

Take the cash, Dude....nothing is guaranteed tommorrow....

...DD

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

"Sidhu said that in addition to the $550,000 he received for selling the winning ticket, he is relishing an unforeseen benefit — his lottery sales have increased considerably"

Hearing this always surprises me, although it's common for people to begin buying tickets at a store that sold a winner.

Regarding Roberts, I'd do the same thing and disappear for a while. BTW, if CalifDude was able to access his address so easily, I'd be afraid to sleep in my own bed, which is why I'd move before claiming the jackpot, even to temporary housing. 

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Take the cash, Dude....nothing is guaranteed tommorrow....

...DD

Had to post this separately - lost my connection.  Okay, I agree that anyone should be able to live a very comfortably with $57M less taxes.  However, some people have trouble holding onto money, even with the best financial advice. Some people are great with money, but get lousy financial advice. So, although I probably would never take the annuity, I think it's a good choice for some people. After all $2.75M is still a huge annual income. No matter how badly this man screws up by buying swamp land or investing in an Enron, he'll always get another chance the following year to start all over again.

DoubleDown

Take the cash, Dude....nothing is guaranteed tommorrow....

...DD

Had to post this separately - lost my connection.  Okay, I agree that anyone should be able to live a very comfortably with $57M less taxes.  However, some people have trouble holding onto money, even with the best financial advice. Some people are great with money, but get lousy financial advice. So, although I probably would never take the annuity, I think it's a good choice for some people. After all $2.75M is still a huge annual income. No matter how badly this man screws up by buying swamp land or investing in an Enron, he'll always get another chance the following year to start all over again.

Ohhhh Nooooo JXP...

Don't let CASH hear you say that..    Just kidding....

I also agree about the home address and phone number.

The information age we live in is good, but at the same time it scares the bejeezus out of me.

...DD

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

Anyone notice the nice cash payout CA has? Pot was 110 and the cash payout was 57. Much better than Powerball's.

If he's smart he will continue to stay low and take the cash. 

nc6string

I called the phone number you posted for Roberts, he said it was not him.  Try again.

CalifDude

I called the phone number you posted for Roberts, he said it was not him.  Try again.

LOL.  What did you expect him to say??? ROFLMAO

 

bellyache's avatarbellyache

I called the phone number you posted for Roberts, he said it was not him.  Try again.

LOL.  What did you expect him to say??? ROFLMAO

 

No doubt. I would say the same thing. lol.

CalifDude

From the liquour store located at 301 Monterey Rd to the address I gave above is less than 3/4 of a mile.  Hmmmmmm.  Still think it is not him????  LOL

 

MillionsWanted's avatarMillionsWanted

Even though the lottery is random, buying tickets in a store which sold a winning ticket seems like a waste of time. How big is the chance of this store to sell another winning ticket? It must be very low, though it probably has happened before.

Soon someone will say I am using a logical fallacy since the lottery is random...

wizeguy's avatarwizeguy

I called the phone number you posted for Roberts, he said it was not him.  Try again.

LOL.  What did you expect him to say??? ROFLMAO

 

No doubt. I would say the same thing. lol.

I wonder how many calls this guy has gotten about winning the lottery so far? He may have to change his number even if he didn't win.

 

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