The Illinois woman knew on Dec. 18, the winning lottery ticket she held would change her life.
On March 19, she was claiming an oversized check from the state and answering questions from news media.
That the winner picked up the $81.5 million prize, her half of a $163 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing, is a big deal.
That it took three months is a rarity. She spent the time to work with lawyers and financial advisers to maintain anonymity and protect assets — something the state lottery agency wants other potential winners to note.
Sporting large sunglasses, the winner, a pharmacist, came forward, but she refused to provide her name or where she lived. An occasional player, she bought the winning ticket at a gas station at 851 S. Sutton Rd. in Streamwood.
"I came back home. My husband said, 'Let me check your ticket,' " she said. A quick confirmation through an Internet site and the two were screaming in delight. "It was a shocking moment."
The first step wasn't to get the money. A family member referred them to Wood Dale attorney Terry Zimmer, who assembled an advisory team, including estate planner Richard Kuenster.
"I told her get an unlisted number A.S.A.P.," Kuenster said.
The team helped the family create the JYS Family Limited Partnership and put together entities to keep the winner's identity from the public, and shield the money from some taxes, creditors and frivolous lawsuits while providing for her, her husband, children and any future grandchildren, Kuenster said.
"We're so proud of them for taking that time," said acting Illinois Lottery Superintendent Jodie Winnett. "What a sharp winner we have in Illinois and we hope that the rest of our community will hear this and that they'll take a deep breath and consider protecting themselves."
Thanks to JackpotWanna for the tip.
Awesome story about a smart lady - congrats!
I wonder if that's a wig...
Much more responsible than those others who recently claimed winnings within days of winning. Hats off to people who use their heads!
Congrats to her! It looks like she really did her homework.
Very smart lady. This is something that I said I would do when I WIN big but now, seeing that someone really did it, I know that I am really on to something. Maybe it is fate or something. I'm Next!
Very smart indeed...! Potential winners could learn a lot from this lady...
Congrats to her and the family.
I saw this on the 9pm news on WGN last night and wondered if it was gonna be on this website today.A very,very smart lady,indeed.
I wonder if the winner of the January 16th (?) Powerball drawing in Louisiana is doing the same thing.
I wonder if they took 1/3 of her winnings.
Very smart and responsible lady. I am very happy for her.
Very, very smart move. She had a good make-up artist too. I think the nose and the chin were fake, but the smile was real.
Congratulations!!!
I can't tell from this angle....if it were a frontal view I could tell better. She may have extensions...lol...for added fullness.
Now I feel like she's an LP FAMILY MEMBER if she's not a member she is indeed the spouse of a member. She has exhibited some strong LP family member traits ya'll.
NOW THAT'S APPLYING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED!!!!!
o....sorry .......and congrats to the lucky lady .....wtg
but it could be a guy in drag ......that would really throw everyone off
Lmao!!!! very funny and i thought the same thing.
I can honestly say that I would have taken the same approach they have taken. I am so glad to see someone finally take time and get all ducks in a row b4 takin a dive into the "money ocean".
I was thinkin about driving up to Illinois to play my Mega Millions numbers but decided against it after learning that you have to do the press conference. So I went to Ohio instead. I have been waiting to see how this person would be treated and how the media would pick up on the story and its been reletivley low key. i think I will be going back to Illinois. i need a state that has more than 10 advance draws....lol I would go to Michigan but thats an 8hr drive from here and that would turn into a weekend type ordeal and I just wanna go, get the tkt, come back home. I'm very happy for the winners though
congrats........
Were they really that smart?
$80,000,000 minus 25 per cent for Tax=$60,000,000
Invested at 3 per cent yields: $1,800,000 per year!
So waiting 3 months to claim the prize money cost: $450,000
Sorry Im not taking 3 months to claim my money. Im so poor I could use that NOW. If I ever won Id be at the headquarters the next day. If you dont know how to manage money like that on your own, you dont deserve it IMO.
Not true. The money earns interest if you wait to claim it. They lost nothing by waiting.
I'm not waiting 3 months, what if something happens the last week or two and you can't make it in time
I wasn't aware of that Destined .thanks for that information.
WTG lady! Wish you the best!
And I am a professional of desguises. No. She isn't disguised.
Original Post by ConstantlyB
Now I feel like she's an LP FAMILY MEMBER if she's not a member she is indeed the spouse of a member. She has exhibited some strong LP family member traits ya'll.
I am also one of those who would try to get things together, but I would also not wait 3 months to do it.
So much for Illinois not being an anonymous state!
Actually it is a misconception that wealthy people manage their money on their own. Most all truly wealthy people...people who run businesses, long time successful celebrities and athletes, entreprenuers, and inventors utilize a team of advisors that include lawyers (for the specialized areas of need), financial and estate advisors, CPAs, and business advisors to help them make sound decisions with regards to their wealth. The do it yourself fad that swept over us in the 90s largely was taken up just by the middle class, which might explain why the middle class is worse off today than a decade ago despite the run ups in both the stock and real estate market. So just say no to all those "do it yourself" investment company commercials. So it is not a bad reflection on a person if they have a competent and trustworthy team of advisors helping them out. On the contrary, I believe it is a person with poor judgement who thinks they can handle every aspect of managing their wealth WITHOUT the aid of legal, financial, tax, and business experts. You say that you are poor now...hmmm, take a look at the people with which you surround yourself...take their incomes and divide it by the number of people involved to arrive at an average. If the average income is just about where you are now, I highly recommend that you change your circle of friends...IMMEDIATELY!!! It is true that the company you keep has a direct reflection on you...and how successful (or not) you will be in the future.
FYI: You can purchase up to 15 advance draws in Illinois. The only place I know of that is much better than that is Virginia. I don't know about Michigan, but I don't make the drive to MI unless I have some other business to do in that state, so I prefer to just play locally here in IL for MM. Yes I know you can claim the prize anonymously in MI, but I would handle it just like the lady did in this case...disguise included!
No, I don't think that was the case. That only typically happens in the area of lawsuits because of the amount of work that has to be done to be successful in court, and the likelihood that they may not win or get the judgement amount they were seeking. When it comes to using lawyers for business, tax, estate, and patent planning, you can hire them by the hour. Just be sure to review and endorse the compensation contract beforehand...after all, you are dealing with lawyers. But on the real, don't be penny wise and pound foolish by trying to do without such expert advice...this lady is indeed pound wise by not pinching pennies to do without expert advice. I don't think we are going to be reading about her in the same light we have with Jack Whitacker, Bud Post, David Edwards, etc. See living in the Land of Lincoln is grand!
Where does it state that at? I'm sure it is collecting interest while sitting in the bank but where does it say that the winner also gets accured interest from it?
it may have cost them 450k in short term but think of how much they saved with potiential frivilous lawsuits and the peace of mind that comes with anonymity.