$50 million Lotto Max winners finally revealed after 2-year fight to remain anonymous

Dec 18, 2015, 6:24 pm (16 comments)

Canada Lotto Max

The winners of the $50 million Canada Lotto Max ticket, sold in Langley, British Columbia, in March, 2014, say they will be continuing with their lives, like normal.

Friedrich Mayrhofer, 67, his wife, Annand, and his son, Eric, have been named as the claimants of the prize — only the second $50 million jackpot in B.C. history.

The family tried to stay anonymous and claim the prize, but that's against British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) rules.

The winning ticket was presented to officials just days before the one-year deadline to claim the prize was set to expire. It was submitted by Mayrhofer's lawyer as ownership of the ticket had been signed over to a trust before it was presented. The beneficiaries of the trust were not initially disclosed to the BCLC.

The prize claim review took so long because the ticket was claimed by a trust, which has never happened in B.C. before. In June, 2015, the Inter-Provincial Lottery Corporation ruled only an individual, or group of individuals, can claim a prize, not a trust. As a result, the family had to come forward and consent to their identity being released.

Mayrhofer, who has been married to his wife for 42 years, has three children in total, but only one is named as a claimant of the prize.

"It was completely unexpected, but it was a nice surprise," he said of the win.

He said they will be investing the money and already have a team of investors picked out. They will also be renovating their home, buying some new furniture and maybe taking a vacation in the sun.

"I'll just be continuing with my regular life," he said.

This isn't the first time Mayrhofer has won the lottery. He won $1,000 about 30 years ago and kept a photo of him with the cheque taped to his fridge. He also won about $3,000 "a number of years ago", but couldn't remember the exact date.

"When I claimed the $3,000 I told the clerk at the prize claim counter that I would see her again," said Mayrhofer, "but I never imagined it would be for a win this size."

Since it was announced that there was a winning $50 million ticket, there has been a lot of controversy about who won.

In December, 2014, a woman filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court, claiming her co-worker was hiding the ticket that was part of a workplace pool. The BCLC says this claim is not related to the winning $50 million ticket.

The winning numbers were 3, 4, 5, 7, 31, 33, and 40, with bonus number 49. The ticket was purchased at Shoppers Drug Mart, on 48 Avenue in Langley and more than 700 people inquired about the prize since the winning numbers were announced.

"Throughout this process we have been guided by the principle of maintaining integrity of the lottery system — which we uphold by ensuring prizes are paid to the right people and by publicizing winners," said Jim Lightbody, BCLC president and CEO.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

CBC, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Ain't that a snip snip?. Anything for free publicity even peoples' safety huh?.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Congratulations Mayrhofer family!  Noel

Sorry that the newly formed trust didn't serve you well, those are expensive.  Perhaps your country's lottery organizations will come around soon to accept trusts and the lawyer's appearance as enough.

I wonder how much province and national income taxes they had to pay, initially, this year.  Any Canadian citizens who would be willing to share this information?

starchild_45's avatarstarchild_45

i am a US citizen and i play up there a lot.

the rule is that they get the whole thing and not pay any tax on it for the first year. in the second year it becomes income and you pay taxes on your income. so it is truly a 50 million canadian hit to your bank account and you have to pay no taxes the first year.

the most i have won on the lotteries up in canada is 184 dollars canadian.

now the other thing in case you are thinking of making that run to get that ticket. as a us citizen winning in canada you can't open a bank account up there unless you have residency. plus they do let your state of residency know that you won 50 million canadian. yes you will have to pay uncle sam and your state income taxes if you have income taxes.

i have played for over 10 years in canada. i hope to some day win a big pot. i live near seattle and i go up there once every 3 months roughly and get a ticket that last for either 3 months or 6 months.

later.

Tialuvslotto's avatarTialuvslotto

There are NO Federal or Provincial income taxes payable on Lotto wins in Canada! 

Once you have the money and earn income on it -- then you have to pay tax on the income, but never on the jackpot itself.

But, even if a US Citizen won in Canada (or any other country), taxes are assessed on worldwide income, so Uncle Sam would get his cut.

zephbe's avatarzephbe

Wonder how the other 2 kids who were not included in the win feel--or do they already know about the win?  Maybe the couple had good reason not to include them--drugs, crazy lifestyles.  They can always move if people start acting weird now that it is public.

Congrats to all.

Stormin29

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Dec 18, 2015

Ain't that a snip snip?. Anything for free publicity even peoples' safety huh?.

So a lady sues when she thinks a lottery pool leader was hiding the ticket. This way everyone knows the lottery is not giving to their friend or just keeping it. If your afraid your family going to be mad you don't share too bad don't play! A lot of people have money and that's a risk for kidnapping or a mugging. Again don't like the rules don't play!

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by Stormin29 on Dec 19, 2015

So a lady sues when she thinks a lottery pool leader was hiding the ticket. This way everyone knows the lottery is not giving to their friend or just keeping it. If your afraid your family going to be mad you don't share too bad don't play! A lot of people have money and that's a risk for kidnapping or a mugging. Again don't like the rules don't play!

Greetings and salutations, new member, Stormin29! Noel

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Quote: Originally posted by starchild_45 on Dec 19, 2015

i am a US citizen and i play up there a lot.

the rule is that they get the whole thing and not pay any tax on it for the first year. in the second year it becomes income and you pay taxes on your income. so it is truly a 50 million canadian hit to your bank account and you have to pay no taxes the first year.

the most i have won on the lotteries up in canada is 184 dollars canadian.

now the other thing in case you are thinking of making that run to get that ticket. as a us citizen winning in canada you can't open a bank account up there unless you have residency. plus they do let your state of residency know that you won 50 million canadian. yes you will have to pay uncle sam and your state income taxes if you have income taxes.

i have played for over 10 years in canada. i hope to some day win a big pot. i live near seattle and i go up there once every 3 months roughly and get a ticket that last for either 3 months or 6 months.

later.

Didn't know that. What's the tax the second year.

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Quote: Originally posted by Stormin29 on Dec 19, 2015

So a lady sues when she thinks a lottery pool leader was hiding the ticket. This way everyone knows the lottery is not giving to their friend or just keeping it. If your afraid your family going to be mad you don't share too bad don't play! A lot of people have money and that's a risk for kidnapping or a mugging. Again don't like the rules don't play!

Welcome to LP. I see this is your Ist post and quite an emotional one for you. Since you like RULES so much, how come you did not bother with the nuances and complexities of participating in a pool. I'll just make it very simple for you. If you want to join a pool, get the copies of the  tickets, the names of the participants and the amount they contributed and the store where the ticket was purchased prior to the draw. There is a whole lot more to what else you can do. Lotteries also move the goalpost based on how well you present your level of perceived risk. Your whole argument in your first post holds no water because it was based on emotion not facts. Now that you are on LP, it's time for you to take a deep breath and start to enjoy the wealth of knowledge that will be coming your way. Cruise through LP, and do not go STORMIN' through LP as your name implies. There is a wealth to be acquired in this fountain of knowledge known as LP. Enjoy!!!!. Once again, welcome to LP. I hope I wasn't too hard on you.  Big Grin

travelintrucker's avatartravelintrucker

A two year fight to remain anonymous?! They must know they have some greedy vultures in their family. Dude, you actually think you can win $50 million dollars and remain a regular guy?! GET REAL!! Say goodbye to the old life!

Tialuvslotto's avatarTialuvslotto

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 19, 2015

Didn't know that. What's the tax the second year.

Canadians only pay tax on the income generated by the jackpot, never on the jackpot money itself.

starchild_45's avatarstarchild_45

read tialuvslotto response. she sums it up quite nicely. i just want to win something in the 4 digits as in thousands one time.

noise-gate

l wonder if the Canadian Lottery " demands" that their winners show their faces. If not, why not simply hold the cardboard cheque from their shoulders up? The $400 mil lottery winner from the Bay Area did that a couple of years ago & there was no backlash. 

Tialuvslotto's avatarTialuvslotto

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Dec 21, 2015

l wonder if the Canadian Lottery " demands" that their winners show their faces. If not, why not simply hold the cardboard cheque from their shoulders up? The $400 mil lottery winner from the Bay Area did that a couple of years ago & there was no backlash. 

Good plan, noise-gate!

I always thought of using a disguise -- blonde wig, large tinted glasses, large neck scarf to hide my chin line, etc.  Maybe some of those halloween redneck rotten teeth -- or is that too OTT?

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