California co-winners of $1.6B Powerball jackpot finally come forward

Jul 19, 2016, 4:23 pm (85 comments)

Powerball

Six months after someone in California was announced a co-winner in the historic $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot, the mystery buyer has finally been revealed — and it's a couple who were laying low on purpose, lottery officials said.

Newly minted millionaires Marvin and Mae Acosta said in a statement Tuesday that they were thankful for the "rare gift that has been placed in our care" after hitting all of the numbers.

The couple have taken home their share — a cash option of $327.8 before taxes — from the Jan. 13 jackpot that was split with two other winners in Florida and Tennessee.

But while those winners stepped forward relatively quickly, the Acostas were apparently taking their time to mull over their financial options.

"It may have taken six months for them to come to one of our offices, but these winners did just what we tell all our winners to do — they read our Winner's Handbook and then assembled a team of legal and financial advisors to help them make the most of this windfall and prepare them for their new life as Lottery winners," California Lottery Director Hugo Lopez said in a statement. "We couldn't be happier for them and are thrilled they took the time to assemble the right team before coming in to claim."

The couple confirmed they have been consulting advisers who could help they become "good stewards" of their windfall.

"While many decisions are still to be made, we have committed nearly all of this new resource to a Trust and to charities that are important to us," they added. "While we are very grateful for the wonderful wishes and encouragement we've received, it is not our intention to become public figures, and we ask for and appreciate privacy going forward."

A 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles, also netted a $1 million bonus for selling the winning ticket.

While the couple lives in a state where winners must make themselves known publicly, the couple still declined to be interviewed or have photo released Tuesday, the California Lottery said.

The Florida winners of the shared record jackpot, a married couple originally from Long Island, New York, also opted to take the lump sum, they said after coming forward in February.

The Tennessee winners, a family from the tiny town of Munford, were the first to reveal themselves, telling the Today show just days after they won the drawing that they didn't plan to quit their jobs or buy a mansion.

Thanks to hearsetrax for the tip.

NBC, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Bleudog101

music*:  They must have listened to your advice.  See that about the Winner's handbook?  It is very informative for lottery winners.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

while it's important to get prepared..I don't think...no...I know I couldn't wait as long as they did.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jul 19, 2016

while it's important to get prepared..I don't think...no...I know I couldn't wait as long as they did.

I hear you loud and clear haymaker; maybe two months max, who knows? 

 

Could you imagine what the jackpot would have been if still NOT won?  They probably would have changed the rules and let all the five # winners split it all.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jul 19, 2016

I hear you loud and clear haymaker; maybe two months max, who knows? 

 

Could you imagine what the jackpot would have been if still NOT won?  They probably would have changed the rules and let all the five # winners split it all.

That's about as long as I could hold out.

 

Wonder if they realized they were winners right away ?

With all the hoopla going on at Chino Hills 7-11 they must have know early on,

may not get much more details on this as they choose smartly to shun the publicity

and decline interviews.

 

 

If still not won ?

Interesting thought !

noise-gate

PartyTo the Acosta family.  I'm next. 

Drenick1's avatarDrenick1

I chuckled when I read that the TN winners planned on working and not buy a mansion saying their one story-house was adequate. They purchased a 320 acre estate with a 9900 sq. ft home a month after claiming their prize. 

How quickly plans change!

wander73's avatarwander73

Laying low on purpose.  Really.  So it wasn't that guy that went on social media and told everybody to screw it up their asses.

bsdme

I better start busy reading that winner handbook now so I don't have to wait 6 long months to claim the prize :)LOL

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

I wonder if they will go on HGTV and purchase a house LOL

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by bsdme on Jul 19, 2016

I better start busy reading that winner handbook now so I don't have to wait 6 long months to claim the prize :)LOL

too long to wait unless they really didn't need it right away like most. how many 6 month's do you get in a lifetime. they kinda sorta wasted 1 6 month segment of the rest of their lives. it shouldn't take that long to get your ducks in a row. now they have to pay a bevy of accountants, lawyers, financial advisors, and others and probably won't even spend 10% of the money ever. more than likely leaving it to their kids who will rip through it like swiss cheese.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by Drenick1 on Jul 19, 2016

I chuckled when I read that the TN winners planned on working and not buy a mansion saying their one story-house was adequate. They purchased a 320 acre estate with a 9900 sq. ft home a month after claiming their prize. 

How quickly plans change!

been trying to get information on these clods. are they still working. employer would have to be crazed to take them back. thought the whole thing was a charade to deflect people from hounding them. good ploy.

jacintasc

Quote: Originally posted by wander73 on Jul 19, 2016

Laying low on purpose.  Really.  So it wasn't that guy that went on social media and told everybody to screw it up their asses.

What are you talking about?What?

noise-gate

l am more interested in finding out if the daughter of those TN winners continued her relationship with that con in prison.Supposedly it was he * the con that supplied the parents with the winning # & the money. Some guys just got all the luck.

I guess l'm just a sucker for a good love story.

xstreamgaming15's avatarxstreamgaming15

Congrats to the Acostas in part of the record breaking 1.6 billion powerball win. It was on KCAL 9 news today that the Hispanic couple claimed their share of the powerball prize. It seemed obvious they were getting they're stuff together quietly not even say goodbye to they're neighbors. Everything they did to claim is what I plan to do when I win it BIG someday, except give my full name if the lottery office requires I.D. But I know for a fact that lottery winners will never live normal lifes once they get that giant check. Only time will tell when we'll hear from the Indiana mega millions winner/s.

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