Includes video report
By Todd Northrop
LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan woman found out she was the winner of the $310 million Powerball jackpot while sitting in the drive-thru at McDonald's.
Julie Leach, 50, of Three Rivers, Michigan, was introduced as the big winner during a press conference on Tuesday held by the Michigan Lottery.
Leach was a supervisor at Aquatic Bathware, a Michigan fiberglass factory, where she has worked for the past 23 years. Leach learned she was the big winner while she was at the McDonald's drive-thru on a lunch break.
"I was having a really bad night at work and I thought I better check my numbers," she said.
After reading the numbers, Leach went back to work and her co-workers looked at her numbers to help her verify that she had actually won. Minutes later, she quit her job.
"I quit automatically. I was done," she said. "I didn't go to sleep for over 30 hours when I found out."
Leach chose a lump sum of $197.4 million, or $140 million after taxes. It's Michigan's second-largest lottery prize.
Leach purchased the winning ticket at the Three Rivers West Shell gas station, located at 1223 W. Michigan Avenue. The gas station is 30 miles south of Kalamazoo.
The winning numbers in the Sept. 30 Powerball drawing were 21, 39, 40, 55, and 59, with Powerball number 17. The Power Play number was 3.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
As much as I would want to quit my job, I would try to be a little more cool about it. And no way would I take it for all to see. But Congrats to her.
I lost count how many times I said the same thing. If I win tonight it's goodbye.
When you're having a crappy time at work, nothing else matters but to get the heck outta Dodge.
Congratulations Julie Leach !! Your hard work at a 23 year career has been rewarded. Thank You for doing the press interview. I am happy to see winners live.
May you be blessed with wonderful life and please stay out of the news.
Just had a thought.
Can you imagine if this had been in Illinois???
Who knows when she would get her money.
23 years.?? You deserve this enjoy your life. Hurray!!!
Julie>>>Julie>>>Julie>>>U deserve a "break" after 23 year$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!
Congrats to you! spend it wisely! Oh, the things i could buy, places i could go! Would like to travel the USA! What a dream come true! Would have to put some away, to keep the IRS from getting it! What would y'all do with that much money? Good Luck everyone on the New Powerball...
Instant retirement. No more McD, better food from now on.
Do not quit your job before you have your ticket verified and validated. If the lottery officials say your ticket is not valid, you will have to go crawling back and begging for your job. If you have to, go home sick and then quit after you have verified and validated your ticket. JUST A THOUGHT!!!!.
I've had lots of bad days at work, still I think I'd wait till the check clears,
use vacation time or something.
But everyone has to make their own decisions to live with, so good for her.
Congratulations to the winner
She was still excited when she did the interview and probably exaggerated the circumstances. I personally know three jackpot winners of over $10 million each that basically did the same thing.
Julie Leach won $140 million after taxes and probably doesn't care if some people think she didn't act "cool enough" for their taste.
Being retired I wouldn't have that problem, all I would have do is take cash, cash the check and start spending.
finally, someone who had the gonads to do it right. quit the job immediately, don't even go back for the 2nd half of the day or night. nonsense waiting for the ticket to be validated. she knew she had the winner. just sign it and say sayonara to the job.
Congrats Julie.
Congratulations Julie.
You heard it here first.
I could live off the interest on the interest! the hardest part would be waiting for the money to hit my account.... ..... cmon already i got super cars to wreck.
Michigan Powerball winners seem to enjoy McDonald's. (Mr. Lawson name-checked them during his press appearance, stating that he'd continue to eat there.) I guess that's not so uncommon, but it's funny that the fast food giant is two-for-two in being mentioned by the state's individual Powerball winners.
Agree totally.
Nice going Julie. Time for some fun times now...
I suppose if someone never won a prize over five bucks, it would be difficult relating to winning a couple thousand and impossible to relate to winning $140 million.
May she enjoy life with good health and wealth .
congrats!
I thought winners now had the right to anonymity in Michigan?
Has anyone go any information on that?
If so, she was unwise to go public.
Julie:
Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your financial security.
You will probably be inundated with requests, stay strong, don't be a soft touch.
Also, get independent, professional financial and legal advice.
Wishing you all the best.
I think its still in the works. I just hope she's really careful. Now her name and her face is out there for all to see.
Congrats to the winner. Enjoy your new & improved life.
I'm sure she will wind up moving away from this small town she's lived in for at least 23 years.
Here's the most expensive home on the market in Three Rivers, MI at $715K. It has 5bd, 3ba and 2900 sq ft and built in 1988. I believe she can afford it if she wants it.
I think I like this one better. It cost $696K and has 4bd, 4bth, and 3283 sq ft, lake front.
Go Julie, GO!!!!!
Where's the other $600,000 worth of it?
Congratulations on the win & the early retirement! Now cash your ticket - assemble your team - and get outa dodge!
From a former Michigander, Congratulations Julie Leach. No one understands the sacrifices that factory workers make and are such an integral part of our economy. 23 years in a factory job and working your way up in a "man's world"...Good for you, go ahead and quit and enjoy your good luck with your family and friends. All the best to you!
Congratulations Julie! I always get excited when I see a solo woman win a jackpot in these big -- majority of our country-ranging -- lottery games!
wonder what the sales are like in Illinois? How long will PB & MM let them continue not paying? Sales MUST be droppping.
I just pulled up the state site, there is a 1 million dollar raffle going on this month - LOL!!!!
anyone got any updates on this issue?
Ha Ha! Good observation Ridley. That is so funny about the McDonald's thing. Speaking of Donald Lawson, he's on FB now as "Lawson Dino". There's a picture of him at his daughter's wedding. Something appears to be troubling him as he has a court date coming up and ranted for demons to leave him alone. Someone in the family bought a house in Alva, Florida. Huge.
Congratulations Julie!!! You deserve it for your 23 years of dedication to one company.
Congrats to Julie.
Hope she puts some of the money for her 11 grandchildren in a trust fund.
I think the only people who continue to work after a large jackpot win are ones that are mentally ill.
Myself being of very sound mind, would quit right away just as she did.
She's lucky it happened before the change. Don't blame her for quitting, the night shift is horrible especially with that fiberglass dust blowing around.
Congratulations on your win
I had the same thought, and that she should be grateful that she doesn't live in Illinois.
Julie, may you be happy with your winnings.
I just remembered from the news this morning, they said she would be using the money to help her family.
Congratulations
Good for her! Now she can put $140M cash to good use & feed the hungry.
Great idea! She can purchase a McDonald's value meal for 25 million strangers whom will care less who she is a week down the road.
In April of 2016 the IRS will come knocking for the balance of her federal taxes owed which should amount to approxamitely $30 million.... Who do you think will help her pay her obligations to Uncle Sam? Santa Claus or her fairy god mother unfortunately don't count.
Whether she likes it or not her life and that of her family are forever changed. She needs to start life all over in a different state with those closest to her, almost like a witness protection program but with a great deal of wealth as a bonus.
Her friendship from the past will never be the same and as tempting as it is to include them in your life going forward is in all reality a very bad choice. She will be hounded for money and those lucky enough to receive monetary gifts from her will only resent her due the fact it wasn't enough.
She needs to get out of town as quickly as she can. With about $110 million after all tax obligations are met she and her family should be able to live quite nicely for the rest of their lives...this of course is dependent on her having a good support group of attorneys and CFP's who can formulate a long term guidance to adhere to.
There are so many unknowns that she must find answers for.
Step 1., Create a Decision Free Zone. Each successful winner will take a different time frame for this zone. Counselors like Financial and Tax can answer some of her questions.
I noticed that her winning numbers were Easy Pick , EP, or Quick Pick here in California. The second line won.
I thought she was cool about the whole thing. She showed alot of wit, calmness, and brains. Its great that she did a press conference. I like that she won the whole pot. MM and PB pots should be won by one person. If you want to "spread it around" go to a picnic.
On a slightly different subject, but still Powerball the new matrix increased the pot by only $10 million, just as I had predicted.
Until the Powerball jackpot gets above $90 - $100 million it ALWAYS only goes up by $10 million each draw.
Congratulation to the winner Ms. Leach enjoy your new life!!
Congrats$ Spend it wisely??
Congratulations Julie
There is nothing wrong with saying no...no...NO!
This is what I told my family: When....I win the lottery, there is no need to call my phone. If you aren't with me when I go to collect.....don't even worry about it. Phone numbers I don't recognize will NOT be answered. For those numbers I do have in my phone, if you call me more than once a week....whatever I was going to give you will decrease...dramatically.
I check my numbers every morning after the drawing.....never know...I may have to call in....take a leave of absence....use up some vacation days......just until the check clears the bank.
...that will give me time to draw up my resignation letter and send it to that.... dot.com....or HR email address. Won't even go back to the job and get my favorite mug out of my locker.....LOL!
Exit interview???
.....that will be the P.S. at the bottom of the letter....a little something like this:
"I honestly believe the LORD puts us in place for a reason and a moment of time. The past 20+ years working for this company has prepared me for what's to come."
That's about as nicety (nice + nasty) as I hope to get.
Oh and if the outer voices get too loud.....make this announcement LOUDLY:"You don't have to go HOME...but YOU GOT TO GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE!"
Best wishes!!!
Remember not everyone can just quit with no advance notice both ethically and legally. If you have a professional license you could be up for dIsbarment without taking the time to file motions to withdraw representation, contact your client, etc.
Talk about hating your job, quitting the very same night
I actually like my job and would probably keep it, or at the very least stay on part-time. Where I work it would not really draw attention to drive very expensive car or to have fancy house etc. So I think I would be able to claim through a trust or something and be able to continue working without many peers bothering me.
If you just won $300 million, how much does disbarment really matter?
Sounds like hard work and accomplishments are a novel concept for you. Lol No amount of money can change your personal reputation so why make a fool of yourself in any area of your life?
People who win major jackpots and lose their basic good sense, seem to end up broke.