A retired Sullivan County, New York, school principal drew the sole winning ticket from a $326 million Mega Millions game two months ago, making him the biggest winner in state lottery history, officials said Monday.
Harold Diamond, 80, purchased the winning multi-state ticket at a Valero gas station in Middletown on Nov. 4.
Diamond had 60 days to contact lottery officials, and the Wurtsboro resident finally did so just before Christmas.
Diamond was identified during an event at that Valero on Monday. The lottery winner and his wife arrived in a limo, were cheered by onlookers and handed a giant bouquet of red roses.
He'll get to select his winning payout — either 30 annuitized payments or a lump sum of $197.45 million, which accounts for state and federal taxes.
It's the biggest payout in Empire State history, as Diamond topped "The Albany 7," a group of state employees who divided a $319 million jackpot in March, 2011.
A San Jose, Calif., man, David Bruckner, claimed a $202 million payout on a ticket he purchased when visiting family on Long Island in late 2011.
Aubrey Boyce, an MTA collections agent from Kew Gardens, scored a $133 jackpot in 2009.
The owner of the Valero station where Diamond made the lucky purchase will get $10,000.
"We were all excited," station owner Michael Nafash, 53. "It's a big event for the store to sell a winning ticket."
Employee Irma Reyes, 22, sold Diamond his winning ticket.
"I only found out last night. The manager kept it a secret," Reyes said. "I was surprised excited ... everything at the same time."
The employee admitted she didn't recall Diamond's face.
"I probably see 100 faces a day. It's pretty hard to remember who you sold it to," she said. "I'm just happy it's someone from around here."
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
$10 INVESTMENT TURNED INTO $326 MILLION.
WOW congrats to him .
quick picks are the way
Time for a permanent cruise, around the world. Nice!!!.
Congratulations Harold & the Mrs.
Wow- talk about a 80 year old " Diamond in the rough"-you earned it Big guy, enjoy your wealth & live long and prosper. .
More than anything else, I love to see a picture of the winning ticket. Quick pick #2 was the winner.
Congratulations Mr Diamond. I'd change my name to be Mr Platinum
At 80 years young, I would venture to guess that he will take the lump sum thus bypassing the 30-year annuity. The cash payout is $197 million BEFORE any taxes are deducted and his net take home pay after all New York state and local tax obligations are met will be roughly $95 million.
I hope he has many wonderful years left to enjoy his windfall.
Congrats to Mr. Diamond on his big win!
That's a nice win but the reality is that his offspring will truly enjoy it. Congrats!
With CLAIMED stampped on it, retailers don't have to worry about someone trying to cash it again.
Congrats to the Diamonds and the Valero gas station owner.
Lesson here that we only have 60 days to contact the lottery commission.
That's news to me thought we had one year to claim the prize. Is that a N.Y. state requirement or Mega Game requirement?
I better read the back of the betting slip next time to be sure.
Thanks Todd for the copy of the winning ticket.
All quick picks, just an amazing wager and winning prize.
The 60 days or a yr doesn't matter to me, I'll collect the next business day.
Someone on YouTube, a young man named Toppy Nikci is claiming he won the Nov 4 , 2014 Mega Millions jackpot.
To view it just type in NY Mega Millions Nov 4 2014 to view it .
Just amazing what folks will do to draw attention to themselves.
Just a few extra words on Quick Picks ... if you remember the 24 yr old woman from Michigan that won a nice jackpot last June ... she played $10 a week ($5 + $5) for five years and got lucky ... but four number sets of the five number set were her own numbers and the last number set was a Quick Pick. I don't know if all the numbers were on one ticket or five separate tickets.
The QP set were the numbers that won the jackpot ... she's lucky she went with one QP.
This was on Friday the 13 (June 2014) and the MB was also 01 ...
Friday the 13th was a mega lucky day for Kelsey Zachow.
But for 11 days, the 24-year-old Port Huron resident didn't know she had the winning $66-million Mega Millions lottery ticket — purchased June 13 at Sonny's Mart in Mt. Clemens — in her purse.
On her way to work June 13, she bought five Mega Millions plays, four with her regular numbers and one easy pick. Her easy pick numbers of 07-38-46-49-56 and Gold Mega Ball of 01 matched the Mega Millions numbers drawn that night.
...
Self pick or QP- it matters not to the outcome; those balls that are spinning are not having a conversation between themselves saying " Hey guys,just a reminder-we only spit out numbers for QP plays ..ok?"
BTW- why is the vendor payout so low?- out on the West Coast, that vendor would have pocketed a cool $1 million or thereabouts. .
Frank Sinatra was right" It's up to you NY NY!"
A lot of states don't pay % on prizes...they just pay a flat amount for big prizes and higher (or not) commission on volume of tickets sold.
Congratulations to the winner. I hope he and his family enjoy the winnings.
(Now it should be my turn
)
Eighty year old man waits six weeks to claim his winning mega millions fortune. Why did he wait so long. His wife was a math teacher. What was she trying to figure out. The theory of everything.
Congrats to Mr. Harold Diamond
Here he is at the press conference.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=11026304
Personally, I would have skipped the event.
He took his time claiming his winnings so that he could get everything in order like finding a new place to live and getting his finances organized with his family. Do you really think at the age of eighty he would return back to his home and expose himself along with his family to all the lunatics out there? we are talking about New York and I am willing to bet many of them would feel entitled to a portion of his winnings.
He most likely headed to the airport shortly after his press conference and I am pretty sure it's nice and warm wherever he may have landed..
I suspect the grandkids will visit møre often?
Wait until your 80!
Thanks, PrinceRene, for providing a link to this fun video.
I hope he does not just hand it over to his children and grandchildren. Maybe give then $100,000 each, for those under 25 on their 25th birthday. Live on the rest and when he and his wife pass on, the remaining money to go to a charity.
I think it is a pity he has to be identified, because he has to move house now; which is more difficult at 80. New York should reconsider it's policy and allow winners to remain anonymous. If you live in New York, contact your state politicians.
...and pray that one of them is not a shiiiiithead that will try to kill him for that money
.
Why not fire Mr Diamond & his Grandkids an email with your suggestions Mr Turner,lets see how they respond. Who knows,your input might work..
Congratulation to Mr. Diamond and family.
I doubt, they'll probably call more often. A visit requires more time and often result in actually having to preform some physical work like mowing the lawn or helping out in the garden.
Exactly ... I didn't have time to post another story dealing how it matters not about self picks or quick picks.
I think this happened around four years ago ... the jackpot was $380 million and won by two people living in Washington and Idaho ... they only lived about 125 miles apart, give or take ... a young woman in Idaho had a Quick Pick and a man in Washington used his own set of numbers as I remember.
So a self pick and a quick pick split a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot ... they were neighbors and very lucky.
CW
I'm very familiar with town where the ticket was purchased, the town where Mr Diamond worked, and the town where he lives. (lived?)
We're talking about a rural area, most of which is economically depressed. It's a tough place to hide because there isn't much there. It's small town America, a place where everybody knows everybody else.
Something tells me he's not there to be found. If he was smart enough to hold off coming forward until he met with financial pro's, he's smart enough to know it's time to disappear. I'd do the same thing were I him.
Which makes you wonder, why these boneheads at the lottery, keep parading winners around, like livestock. The stakes are very high and winners ought to be given a choice. They should always publish the winning tickets not the winners, unless they opt-in.
Love the fact they found a former student who stated that Mr. Diamond always gave back to the community. I bet that one of the "charities" that he takes care of will be his former school. Congrats to future recipients of the Diamond foundation!
Too bad he has to live incognito but after a lifetime of service, it's definitely time to drop out of sight, truly relax and enjoy the warmth of some tropical paradise. What goes around a life, comes around!
Todd - Thanks for posting the ticket. Please do continue to post these huge winning tickets. We love it.
Familiar with that story CW: as l recall that winner from Idaho was beaten up by her low-life husband - there was pics posted of her eyes, lips swollen ..( if memory serves me correct again) people were saying that since they were * separated, he was entitled to " HALF" her winnings.She eventually moved out of Idaho and ended up in CA.. away from the
and started a New life in a new Town/City...Good for Her!!!
No, they'll probably call and say their in jail and need bail money.
"why is the vendor payout so low?"
The vendor already got a commission, just like they did for every other ticket they sold. Why do they get anything extra for selling this one? What extra work did they do in selling it?
I think action is with the Megamillions with only 15 Mega balls to choose from. I play $12 (6 combinations) every week. Most probably, that is how to win big at the Mega game.
it is nice to see someone with a modicum of intelligence win a big prize. I'm sure you are right, he has thought all of this out and will live out the rest of his years in comfort and hopefully peace.
I live in an anonymous state, however, if I won in a non anonymous state I would have someone claim as an entity or use a disguise. I would then change my name.
noise-gate ... didn't have time to respond earlier, I remember all that now about what you posted about the low-life husband and the abuse. I did not know she had moved to CA ... did she have to give him any money? ... or maybe she just gave him a little just to be rid of him. I will have to search around later today ... hopefully she's a little smarter and having a better life.
CW
Thanks for the info on how you are playing ... I often wonder if the MM people ever regret not going to 20 Mega Balls instead of 15 ... some of those jackpots may have went a little longer. Of course they would make people mad if they did it now ... going to 20 Mega Balls, but when the Mega Balls were over 30 and dropping to 20 would have been more accepted at the time.
I am thinking of starting another thread about playing or how various people are playing the Mega Millions these days ... I would like to keep it strictly Mega Millions ... start throwing other jackpot games in also and it all gets confusing.
Every time a MM jackpot is won I'm always interested in all the facts I can find out ... was it hit with a QP or self pick set of numbers ... how many tickets were played and so forth.
It's fascinating information to read what worked for this person or that person !!!
... are all your numbers QP every week including the Mega Balls ?
Here's a funny story with me for last Oct and Nov ... I played the MM every play during those two months ... at the time the Mega Ball 7 had come out more than any of the other Mega Balls ... I either played my own numbers or a QP but always with the 7 MB ... the 7 never came out in those two months ... I dropped the 7 MB in Dec and went total QP ... the 7 MB came out twice in Dec ...
It's a tough game ...
CW
Congrat's to Mr. Diamond, on his win. The annual payments are just once a year, take the lump sum. Do what ever you all ways wanted to do! Just enjoy it.
I've given some thought to that scenario; my own situation would be different since I have no children, but I would give my kinfolk the max $14k/yr and tell them I'll probably keep doing that until I die, but also inform them the bulk of my estate will go to the foundation I have set up in my grandmother's name...even though I WILL have willed them substantial money. I don't think any of my nieces or nephews would murder me for their inheritance, but I've been around long enough and have read more than enough to realize that some desperate people will do horrible things for even fairly small amounts of money. Also, with the annual gift, they might not be so apt to pull the plug if there's a chance I could recover.
not always pero es hermosa...(but it's beautiful!)
many won by electing their own numbers,as i do!
Then at times i choose a few add'l quick pick,so nice,early 80s,seem like a great healthy couple
so they can enjoy HAWAII and with their kids,grandchildren maybe a few great-grandkids by now
so beautiful to see this ...
adios
Felicidades todo!!!(CONGRATS!!!)
CHARITY,why would he do that.
CHARITY begin at HOME with his NY familia,and all over,wherever he has "good family members at."
Donate some maybe pero,familia es numero uno adios...
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!
"I don't think any of my nieces or nephews would murder me for their inheritance"
There's a fair amount of truth in the adage that money brings out the worst in people. I've got a nephew who's basically a good kid, but also an accomplished f-up. While I doubt I'd have to worry about him, I wouldn't trust that he'd never have a friend that's that stupid.
If I won a large amount I'd give some to plenty of friends and family (remember that as of 2 weeks ago the estate tax exemption lets you gift $5.43 million in addition to the annual exclusion), but I'd make sure everyone knew that what I give them as a lump sum and/or annual gifts is all they'll ever get. That whatever I don't spend or give to charities before I die goes to charities when I do die would be worked in casually by way of telling them not to plan on anything extra down the road, and to use what they're given wisely, but making sure to deliver the message is just good planning.
As for using that estate tax exclusion, remember that you can set up a trust to set money aside for somebody now while still preventing them from using it until later. Not having the exclusion left for your estate only matters if you die while you've still got money. Sure, we can die unexpectedly, but if you don't you should have plenty of opportunity to make charitable gifts along the way. Whether you spend it on hookers and booze or making gifts to noble causes, the goal is to have enough to last the rest of your life and spend the last dime 30 seconds before you go. Of course a bit of estate planning helps make sure you don't give a huge chunk to the IRS as a result of hoping not to die so soon.
Interesting. So you just play the lottery for charities? this reply is to member named MYTURN
Principals actually make a very good salary. I never knew that until the replacement principal of our local junior high had his hiring salary published in the paper. 100K a year. WOW! I'm sure NY pays more also. But this way he can travel and care for his family more extensively than he could have before. Best of luck to him.
No, but if I was fortunate enough to win a large sum, especially if I was 80, I would like to do some good.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
When you win that much money there's no shortage of friends, relatives, inlaws and outlaws who can suggest ways of you doing something good(for them).
Congrats to the lucky winners! That's a lot of money. I would definitely donate a percentage to charity. My family wouldn't have any financial hardships. Even the Bible says a good man leaves an inheritance!
Where does it say that?
My question was not advocating that the NY vendors should be getting " paid more" l was merely comparing that payout for a multi million dollar jackpot in relation to what a vendor would pull down out here... that's all.For instance the Subway restaurant owner who sold the winning $400 mil plus jackpot ticket in Milpitas in Feb 2014- got a check for a Mil. California ( at present) does not tax lottery winnings, and that is a good thing.
I can't post with Palemoon browser Todd. Writing box doesn't show.
Anyway, if showing my face is required, I'd hire the best making artist there is and completely disfigure my face. Long hair, moustache, tanned skin, the works.
Wow. To each their own, I suppose, but rest assured my children would get the bulk of a JP winner like this passed down to them in some form...a trust, whatever.
Yes, there'd be a large chuck for various charities, a helping hand for local businesses and services, etc. There's plenty in a JP this size to go around.
But just $100,000 to each kid and the rest to people/faceless organizations you don't know?
That's certifiably insane, in my humble opinion.
The Mega Millions jackpot for 01/16/15 is now a whopping $270M.
Only need one ticket to be "in the game".
Diamonds are valued higher than platinum...at least if you are a Medallion member with SkyTeam. Diamond Medallion is the top elite level and Platinum is second. So no change of name is necessary to be considered top dog. Now it is time for a 44 year old honest hard working stiff like myself to win.
I'd be very generous to local services where I live---police, fire, libraries, schools, playgrounds. New equipment, facilities, building updates. Tangible stuff everyone can benefit from and can see the results of.
Wow! Biggest winner in NY lotto history! Congrats to him!
I was told the guy stopped there to get a Subway sandwich.
Good for him. He is 80 and can enjoy the rest of his life FULL! Bet he never thought this would happen while working at a school. You just never know. Luck has to land on someone. Hope he sees the world on his private jet. At 80, he probably feels like 50 now. Money can do that.