Includes video report
ATLANTA, Ga. — It's the most wonderful time of the year for Ira Curry. The Stone Mountain woman purchased one of two winning jackpot tickets in Tuesday's $648 million Mega Millions drawing.
She claimed her prize Wednesday morning at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
"It's unreal," said Curry, 56. "It's like I'm still dreaming."
Curry purchased her lucky ticket at Gateway Newstand, 3500 Lenox Road, Atlanta. A second jackpot ticket was sold in California.
Curry selected the cash option, which amounts to $173,819,742.50 before taxes for each jackpot winner. Georgia state income tax of 6 percent and federal income tax of 25 percent are withheld from prizes of more than $5,000 at the time the prize is claimed.
After final game sales were calculated, the jackpot increased from an advertised $636 million to $648 million. The jackpot was the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
Curry was driving Wednesday morning when she heard the retailer location and one of the winning numbers on the radio. She asked her daughter to check her ticket and was stunned.
"I was calm because it was unbelievable," she said.
According to Curry, she hasn't had a chance to think about future plans.
Winning numbers from the drawing were 8, 14, 17, 20, and 39, with Mega Ball number 7.
Curry said the numbers are a combination of family birthdays. She added that seven is the family's lucky number.
She purchased only one Mega Millions ticket for the drawing.
The owners of the Gateway Newstand store that sold the winning ticket will receive no bonus for selling the winning ticket because of Georgia state lottery rules.
Stone Mountain is just outside Atlanta. The suburb is frequently referred to as the hometown of fictional TV character Kenneth Parcell, played by Jack McBrayer, on NBC's "30 Rock."
Georgia Lottery Corporation president and CEO Debbie Alford said at a press conference that Curry will take the cash option and, after taxes, will rake in $123 million.
VIDEO: Watch a press conference clip
Congrats to the very lucky winner. Spent $1.00 and became a multi-millionaire.
"She purchased only one Mega Millions ticket for the drawing"
its always a person who purchased ONE DANG ON TICKET
Congratulations Ira Curry & Family Spend Wisely
Wow, another big next day Jackpot claim. Just like Paul White a few months ago.
Hopefully she has things in order as well. Best of luck to her!
And yeah, the single ticket must be the secret. Like many things, if you try to force it,(like buying lots of tickets) it won't happen. Just buy 1, and let the jackpot come to you. I think I'll try that winning strategy next time.
I always buy 1 ticket, well almost always, after this it will be always one !
Or maybe I'll wait til the JP gets big, but it'll still be one ticket.
I spent $27 and won $1
Did she honestly think she had to come forward asap or she wouldn't get the prize. Some people don't think clearly.
"Curry was driving Tuesday morning when she heard the retailer location and one of the winning numbers on the radio."
It's a lot easier to win when you hear some of the winning numbers the morning before the drawing.
That sure was fast. I imagine I'd be in a hurry to claim it, too, but I think it would take me at least a week to get things in order.
Congrats to Ira!
Too bad the Georgia retailer will get no bonus for selling that ticket. That stinks. In California, the San Jose retailer is probably getting a $1,000,000 bonus. I think there's a 1% cap the jackpot retailer bonus.
Wow one ticket and she picked her own numbers! Great job. I hope she is lining up her various experts ASAP.
Lol proof that buying A LOT of tickets is not beneficial at all whatsoever.
Our work pool got up to $135, and we won a total of $0. I wish I were joking, but I'm not.
I'm happy for Ira Curry and it's a blessing, but 2 things I disagree with which makes me wonder how this will unfold over the next 7 years, #1 she claimed her money to fast, I know she has no plans, no financial advisor did she even get an attorney, she didn't want to go public but didn't think to disable her Facebook before she claimed prize, so now she is public, #2 I believe that payments would have been a better option, but that's just me, may god bless and protect her!!
Yeah, I would be in a serious rush too with that winning ticket burning a hole in my pocket.
But I give them the benefit of the doubt on the quick claim. Main thing is, if they've got personal legal representation, that's enough to start. The rest like tax and estate and financial planning and all of that can come together in the intervening weeks between the claim and the actual prize payment.
They may have been up all night. But in that time, I'm sure they can arrange for alternate accomodations with a relative or friend. Go to Walmart and buy a new smartphone. Arrange for a hotel/car/transportation for the next day. I've done that many times before. Or what do most people do that want to avoid the press: go to mommy and daddy's house.
The main thing is the personal lawyer, and if they are upper middle class working professionals, they may already have that, or a good start on it at least.
I agree. I would have first got a attorney because now people know her and she maybe a target.
lol, good catch, I fixed the story.
I'm still waiting to hear the winning numbers of the lottery that will be drawn later that evening....l think we all are.
Even though she refused to do a press conference, there is already facebooks photo of her. A 56 year old grandmopther. And they already dug up a lot of personal information on her. I guess she was too late to delete her account.
http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/12/ira-curry-mega-millions-winner-pictures-photos-facebook/
That's why I never post any photos of myself on the internet. People could easily dig through the web for any photos of someone.
Maybe they were strapped for cash. I just don't see her claiming that ticket so close to Jan 1. She will have a whopping tax bill next year . I thought it was funny that she disabled her FB page so late in the game. She is going to have to go "under cover".
Vice president of insurance company, in upper middle class neighborhood. Shes probably already financially secure, figures /:
Looks like a nice Christian lady teaching her grandchild to pray in that one picture.
God Bless her.
I know lots of upper middle class people who are not financially secure. Many are in debt up to their eyeballs. If she did not need to work, she would not be working there.
Amen. Hopefully she will help out a few causes.
I agree and dumb dumb dumb move on her part for coming forward without consulting lawyers and tax advisors... Watch the money go POOF in 10 years or less just like the other winners have.....
Hope she uses that money for bodyguards, a home in a gated community and a name change after going public in less than 24 hours after the win.
She was probably too excitied and caugth up in the moment. It happens to people and they end up making stupid descisons.
Once again, proof that it only takes ONE ticket to win. No system, no formula, just the luck of the draw...
Merry Christmas Ira Curry
Im so happy for all the winners what a great Christmas gift.
Who knows maybe one of us will be the next big winner.
As other people have stated I would have waited to claim the money in order to stay out of the spotlight.
I would remove as much information as possible about myself from the internet.
Front top page of the Daily News is three pictures of her as well as exact city and age.
Wish she would have went to a lawyer first, but congrats to her regardless and good luck to her. Hopefully she finds a way to limit the amount of unwanted contact she is almost likely already receiving.
Congratulations, Ms. Curry...
Sometimes, duckman. However, in Jack Whittacker's jackpot winning case, I think he purchased 200 rows that Christmas Eve draw.
Congratulations, Ira Curry, on your huge, sharred Mega Millions half-jackpot win!
LUCKY score 4D gull's Ira & Gloria
I think this lady is sly as a fox......to be determined i suppose. GOOD LUCK NAD ALL THE BEST TO HER AND HER FAMILY!!!!!!
Watching TV, an Atlanta station, the reporter was broadcasting from in front of Curry's home and it was a large beautiful home in Stone Mountain, Ga. If she lives there I doubt she is strapped for cash. Also some folks around here thinks she may be a lawyer herself or related to one since the office building she works in has a law office with one of the partners last name Curry.
Congratulations Mrs. Ira Curry
Nice catch!
Happy for her that she won picking birthdays. Just curious how she came up with number 39? since she is 56 years old.
The press claims she bought only one ticket but did she have multiple picks on that ONE ticket?
Her Daughters Age plus I'm from the area where she lives and have mutaul freinds so I heard about her winning b4 the media
Wow?! she has a 39 year old daughter who has 4 children with the oldest being 20. Ira may be a Great-grandmother while still in her 50's. Glad that her entire family will have financial security but it will be awfully hard to keep the little one grounded.
Congrats to the winner! Wooo!!!
If i were a multimillionare Walmart would be the last place I would spend my $$$. They have enough already.
Yeah this woman is going to get no sympathy. Picture of her in a limo holding a glass of champagne. already well off. But on the upside she probably will spend it very wisely and live a boring life, in the eyes of the public.
I was surprised she came forward so quick!!!
Congratulations to her.
I'm reading the story. It's crazy she bought ONE ticket!!! Just ONE and look she won!!! LOL
Goes to show you don't have to purchase 20 tickets. I'm sure there are some folks who probably spent hundreds!!
I lived in GA for 12 years and never realized the stores don't receive a bonus. That sucks!!! I wonder why GA has those types of rules and other retailiers in states can do so? Wow!!!!
For all those being critical of her coming forward so quickly, this is her home.....seems it may be possible she already had a lawyer and financial planner!! YOU GO GIRL!!! GET THAT CASH!!!
Yeah, no more Walmart for Ira.
But the reason I mentioned Walmart in this context, is because it's one of the few places you can go and buy a new smartphone at 4:00AM in the morning.
That is scary that we have a picture of her house already. But I love it!!
She seems to be doing ok already, now she can cruise into retirement. It's a great story.
It would be nice if the media didn't prop her up as an "evil rich" who had no business playing the lottery. Her home pictured is valued at 155K and most of the other homes in her neighborhood are in the same range. They have taken a hit since the housing crisis as many of them paid $240-280k before the downturn.
There are people on other sites crucifying her for having such a "nice" house and saying she had no business buying a ticket.
It is a sad world when the vast majority of the population judge you in that fashion.
A photo of her holding a glass of champagne in a limo doesn't exactly make her well off. She could have been out celebrating on a special occasion. Does seeing a picture of high school kids riding in a limo on Prom night give the perception that they are "well off" ?
You may not enjoy shopping at Wal-Mart but I am sure her and many other affluent individuals will continue to do so.
Great follow-up Jillian. I didn't realize people are saying such terrible things about her.
Besides the lottery doesn't discriminate when it comes to who wins and who doesn't. You could be rich, poor or middle class. She seems to be middle class. The Atlanta suburbs are full of neighboorhoods like hers with nice properties at a low cost basis.
Plus we all have our dreams of what we'd do with the money if we won. I just read on this site that a rich guy from Canada won $40M in Canada and is donating everything to charity. Everyone has a different desire of what they'd do with the money if they won.
For me, it's to share with family and get out of this cold weather in NJ!!
Holla.
Property is extremely cheap in Stone Mountain. Why is this you ask? It is the founding place of the second KKK. I was incredibly surprised to find this woman was black. My husband and I thought about moving and looked into property in and around Atlanta a few years back. We saw all of these amazing 2 story homes for less or just at the $107K price tag our tiny 1200 sq ft home comes with that we have currently in south Alabama. I researched Stone Mountain and wowza ...I would never dream of moving my family there (including my mixed race son). But i'm sure things have changed. And i'm not trying to get anything started, im just explaining why she would appear to have such a luxurious home yet be middle income.
Thanks! I didn't realize the history of Stone Mountain. Things have definitely evolved since the 1950's and 60's so it's probably safe to say that it is much more pleasant these days.
After viewing her neighborhood online, it seems there are plenty of nice, affordable homes in the $110-140k range. Schools would be an important factor as well.
Truly not necessary to say! Congratulations would be just fine. We have all evolved from the KKK in Stone Mountain, and they have now moved to other regions as well. May God continue to bless us that think life no matter where it is is what you make of it. Mixed race or not.
Dr King has something to smile about. "Let freedom ring on Stone Mountain!!"
There it is # 39
she was 17
Winning numbers from the drawing were 8, 14, 17, 20, and 39, with Mega Ball number 7.
Curry said the numbers are a combination of family birthdays. She added that seven is the family's lucky number.
glad to hear it. I am sure you will have lots of people moving there now, it will be considered lucky
Took a look at SM property and I would say the houses are a bargain, but not extremely cheap. Some of the Homes prices are comparable with what we have in NY. What's cheap are your taxes. Your 1200ft home up here would probably be 3000-4000$ a year.
I live in a military town, that probably makes a big difference too. Not sure about the taxes, those are in escrow and i honestly haven't paid attention...which is a bad thing, I know.
Schools would be an important factor as well.
Just make sure the School newspaper does'nt have a Obituary section.
Congratulations Ira! Welcome to the Millionaire Club!
* For those who are curious to her comming forward so early etc,
everyone who wins isn't broke,poor or uneducated on how to handle $$$..look at her job description & how she was already living.lol People will always say what they will do
if they win,but what your mouth say an what you will do is 2 different things, I know!!!
Being a Millionaire has its challenges, Just like being Broke....The Key in Both is Mentality in Handling the Money and Not letting the Money Handle You!!!!
I was driving home this afternoon and thinking about Ira and her lucky stars. : ) And it got me thinking about my own life, what if i had won? Would I be able to come forward that quickly even if i wanted to?? And realized that i sadly would not. Not purely out of prudence or due diligence but rather because i would have SOOOOO many loose ends to tie up, it would be nearly impossible for me to step forward that quickly. At first glance its easy to be critical of her initial moves, but the reality is that maybe this lady does have her life together and there was really nothing holding her back from going to claim what's rightfully hers so soon after winning. I'm happy for her, genuinely so. But i'm also glad it gave me a chance to re-examine my own life and how much cleaning up i needed to do should i ever be so lucky. Not that i hadn't before, but this was a nice friendly reminder. GOOD STUFF IRA!!! BLESSINGS AND ALL THE BEST!!!!
Amen.
120 million dollars. I only won 1 dollar. Just one dollar.
Good for her but I know many attorneys and most are far from millionaires. I don't get this about her "not needing the money" just because she may have a good job and education. Maybe she sacrificed more than others? The days of unlimited OT for big clients ended years ago. There is also an old saying "An attorney who represents herself/himself, has a fool for a client."
She's a "vice president for property in the Atlanta office of Aspen Insurance"
according to an interview given by her boss.
But yeah, even people in high paying positions can have a lot of debt and expenses, so I'm sure this win comes as a nice surprise. I'm sure she had to study and work hard to get where she is. Also, what they dug up about her family, I'm sure she'll help them all rise up out of their situation.
When they wire the money to her account in 10 days, she'll be richer than Kim Kardashian.
120 million dollars
absolutely won't last long FREE MONEY Never does
TAXES!!! ALL the Family WILL want NEW cars, New homes, fabulous shopping spree's Galore, Vacations, College for them Grand kids paid maybe, etc..etc..etc...
oh yeah and it's CHRISTMAS
