Spanish lottery player wins €123M Euro Millions jackpot

May 14, 2011, 7:53 am (25 comments)

Euro Millions

By Todd Northrop

One lucky lottery ticket sold in Spain won the entire €123 million (US$174 million) jackpot in the Friday Euro Millions drawing.

The mega jackpot became so large so fast because the 11 countries participating in Euro Millions boosted the grand prize to €100 million this week to promote the new Tuesday drawings.  When no ticket matched all five numbers plus the two lucky stars Tuesday, the jackpot grew to €123 million Friday.

"This huge jackpot has been really exciting for players all over the UK and Europe," a spokesman for the UK National Lottery said.  "Even though a UK player wasn't lucky enough to scoop the big one this time, Euro Millions Millionaire Raffle has created two millionaires here in the UK this week."

In the United Kingdom, Euro Millions players are automatically entered in a raffle drawing that is guaranteed to produce two winners of £1 million (US$1.6 million) each week.  In the UK, tickets for Euro Millions cost £2 (US$3.24) each.

"With a second Euro Millions draw now on Tuesdays, players have two chances a week to win a life-changing prize, as well as boosting returns to the Good Causes in the process," the UK lottery spokesman explained.

The winning numbers for the Friday, May 13, Euro Millions drawing were 9, 11, 17, 36, and 47, with Lucky Stars numbers 1 and 2.  One ticket sold in Spain was the only ticket to match all five numbers plus the two lucky stars to win the jackpot.

Euro Millions also offers 12 ways to win non-jackpot prizes ranging from approximately £2.50 to £250,000 (US$4.05 to US$405,000).  The non-jackpot prizes vary by country and are pari-mutuel (based on number of tickets sold and number of winners in each prize category).

Lottery players from around the world can participate in any Euro Millions drawing through Lottery Post's lottery service partner.  This month, a player using the service won a $250,000 Mega Millions prize.

Tuesday's Euro Millions jackpot reverts back to the customary starting point of €15 million (US$21.2 million).

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congrats to the winner......Hurray!

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations!!! I have a feeling that the winner is an American who bought this sole jackpot winning ticket last week from <snip> above link; with their agent purchasing the ticket, on their behalf, at a retailer in Spain.

If this is correct, does anybody know the jackpot percentage that <snip> will keep as their "share"? Also, does anyone know if the American winner will have to pay more than the U.S.A. Federal's max Income Tax rate of 35% plus their max hometown/resident State Income Tax rate?  Lastly, what additional "foreigner" tax charge will the American jackpot winner have to pay to the country of Spain; since they are the lottery ticket purchased location origin? 

Thanks, in advance, for sharing your hard-to-obtain know-how, please provide sources if possible ... Conehead

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

OwlCreekBridge's avatarOwlCreekBridge

Quote: Originally posted by HaveABall on May 14, 2011

Congratulations!!! I have a feeling that the winner is an American who bought this sole jackpot winning ticket last week from <snip> above link; with their agent purchasing the ticket, on their behalf, at a retailer in Spain.

If this is correct, does anybody know the jackpot percentage that <snip> will keep as their "share"? Also, does anyone know if the American winner will have to pay more than the U.S.A. Federal's max Income Tax rate of 35% plus their max hometown/resident State Income Tax rate?  Lastly, what additional "foreigner" tax charge will the American jackpot winner have to pay to the country of Spain; since they are the lottery ticket purchased location origin? 

Thanks, in advance, for sharing your hard-to-obtain know-how, please provide sources if possible ... Conehead

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

if an American citizen won, he or she would have to pay the max federal income tax, as you mentioned 35%, plus state income tax. No, they won't have to pay taxes from Spain. According to wikipedia, the only country in Europe that taxes Euro Millions winnings is Switzerland.

If I was the winner, I'd collect the money anonymously, move to a tax friendly country and then renounce American citizenship. No way I'm giving the IRS $60+ million for something they had no part in whatsoever but then again, that's just me.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I hope it was Manuel.

He's from Barcelona.

louise black

Quote: Originally posted by OwlCreekBridge on May 14, 2011

if an American citizen won, he or she would have to pay the max federal income tax, as you mentioned 35%, plus state income tax. No, they won't have to pay taxes from Spain. According to wikipedia, the only country in Europe that taxes Euro Millions winnings is Switzerland.

If I was the winner, I'd collect the money anonymously, move to a tax friendly country and then renounce American citizenship. No way I'm giving the IRS $60+ million for something they had no part in whatsoever but then again, that's just me.

Before someone jump all over me, I know the tax law ,but it would seem winning money this way would leave the USA taxes out but who am I to say they have no part in this winning.Bang Head

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by louise black on May 14, 2011

Before someone jump all over me, I know the tax law ,but it would seem winning money this way would leave the USA taxes out but who am I to say they have no part in this winning.Bang Head

The government needs all that money to pay for that "free" healthcare now, Louise.

You don't want to deny anyone healthcare now, do you?   No No

OwlCreekBridge's avatarOwlCreekBridge

Quote: Originally posted by louise black on May 14, 2011

Before someone jump all over me, I know the tax law ,but it would seem winning money this way would leave the USA taxes out but who am I to say they have no part in this winning.Bang Head

as long as you are an American citizen the IRS feels they get a cut of any income you make from wherever the source, even if you are living in another country while you made the income.

US citizens are taxed by their citizenship not by their residency. Look up "Expatriation Tax" on google if you don't believe me.

"Unlike most countries, the United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income, whether or not they are resident in the United States" source wikipedia

That means if you ever go to Canada and win money there, you must report that income to the IRS because the IRS considers it taxable income.

If I ever win a jackpot like 123 million euro, I'd kiss the USA good-bye. The standard of living here is one of the best in the world but like I wrote in an earlier post, the tax bill would be well over $60 million, and I could have a high standard of living somewhere else and save myself $60 million. Plus, in principal, I think the IRS is wrong to tax me on money I made outside the US. Not saying everyone should do this, make your own choices.

James1's avatarJames1

Id leave USA first flight and denounce citizenship immediately. even if it was only $1 million bucks

time*treat's avatartime*treat

Quote: Originally posted by James1 on May 14, 2011

Id leave USA first flight and denounce citizenship immediately. even if it was only $1 million bucks

Plenty of people still here denounce it. They still gotta pay. LOL

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

i wonder if extradition is avail for tax evasion?

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats to the winner, ENJOY.Sun Smiley

OwlCreekBridge's avatarOwlCreekBridge

Quote: Originally posted by savagegoose on May 15, 2011

i wonder if extradition is avail for tax evasion?

depends on the country. Most countries in the world tax their citizens only on the income made from their country, so it wouldn't be a crime in most countries. The main reason a country would extradite someone for this would not be on principle but only to appease the US.

If I were ever in a position to do something like this, I'd move to a country that doesn't care what the US thinks about them, a country that isn't the US's b......

On another subject, Australia's Saturday lotto is going to be 30 mil in July, I think this would be my best opportunity to win millions abroad.

TonyZinc

IRS :Nigthmare for its citizens

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by TonyZinc on May 15, 2011

IRS :Nigthmare for its citizens

Hey Goombadi! Eh Cumpari!

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