Florida couple claims share of historic $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot

Jeebus... more lottery winners making bad decisions.  These guys aren't as bad as the 1st announced winners who did the press conference based on the advice of their 2 bit, 3rd rate ambulance chasing lawyer in a cheap suit... but they're not far behind.

Dear lottery winners: the big advantage of claiming the money in a trust (I'm assuming it's a blind trust) is to avoid publicity.  If you were planning to reveal your identities, you shouldn't have bothered to put it in a trust in the first place.  Because of your decision, you'll now start receiving phone calls, texts, letters & e-mails from thousands of people, asking for money.  People will be following you around, writing down your schedule & places you frequent.  Strangers will stop you on the street to ask for money... or even come to your home to do so.  It's possible your home will be burglarized, your car & mail stolen as well.  You're about to be hounded by every salesman of high net worth items (cars, planes, boats, real estate); expect high pressure tactics from non-profits & charities as well.  Every grifter, thief, flim flam man, scam artist & criminal now knows who you are, what you look like & where you live.  Your family, friends & neighbors will probably ask for money, and/or will change the way they think about you & how they treat you.  In short, you should never have agreed to the publicity and the press conference.  I wish you well, 'cause, sadly, I have a feeling you're going to need it...

Congratulations!

Way to go. I knew they took the cash value option.

to these 2 they did not give up nor give in and end the end the win now that what i call marriage congrats. one thing i will said give to a needy church i know god will be please with that cause i say one i will be in you'll shoes . just got to wait shine on u guys and to the wife i would to know how u keep your self so young looking wow

I'm sorry, but you are partially incorrect.

Florida is a Public access for information State Law state which applies to everything you can imagine. 

There is no way to hide this in Florida. 

The only part that I guess they did "wrong" was do a press conference, which is not part of State Law.

The Florida Lottery arranged the press conference, all the winners had to do was say "no".

Congratulation to this Florida couple on their Power Ball Jackpot win. If this couple are out going people . They now have to be careful about other people they socialize with. This lady looks great for 70 years old.

Sweet Jesus must be nice.. Congrats on to them!!

One can hold their breath for only so long, this concept that anonimity equates to safety and security is silly. People are at risk everyday. 

At some point the truth comes out, best to build your portfolio and secure the home ( which they did) . A trust is the way to go to keep the funds in the family. Congrats and may this opportunity fulfill their community outreach programs.

Congrats to the Florida couple on winning part of the 1.6 billion Powerball. They should not be naive about their good fortune since winning the lottery has had its share of good and bad windfall. Now that their names are public the husband should grow a beard the wife dye her hair, change they're names and move out.

Hold the check over your face, give yourself a fighting chance. 

Maybe they took so long to come forward because she was recovering from her Dolly Parton level of plastic surgery. 

I stand corrected.  As I understand it, how it works is the bare bones minimum the lottery commission is required by law to do is have available the winners name & city for anyone who requests it.  That's it.  These people chose to court publicity & do the press conference... thus ensuring anything bad that could happen to them has a much better chance of happening to them.  Sad.  Well, in the positive, at least they're not using it to bail out a drug selling relative/friend for the 4th time... as far as we know...  :)

Firstly, congratulations to the winners!

Secondly, these people look a little spooked about revealing their identities.  I don't know why there cannot be an anonymous way to collect your winnings in EVERY State.  As long as your win is confirmed by three separate lottery officials (or whomever) and an independent auditor, you shouldn't have to reveal your identity.  I understand the lottery wanting to promote their "transparency" and the lottery itself, but c'mon...at the possible risk of the winner(s) life?  South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, North Dakota, Ohio and Kansas don't have a problem selling tickets and they allow anonymity for winners, so you know it can be done.

No. Bare minimum varies depending on the state. So stop acting all tough and knowledgeable about how they were idiots when you don't even understand the basics of what you say they screwed up.

There can't be anonymous ways to claim winnings due to the past corruption in lotteries. 

Even with non-anonymous there still is some corruption, but it is at least a little easier to ferret out.

Classic - Hot Lotto is most recent example.

McDonald's Monopoly, at one point, was another where all the big winners were friend's or relatives of people involved with the game.

Plus if you go back even further, there are tons of stories.

Edit - not lots... stay away from hyperbole... it's bad for you

Congratulations