Hoosier Lottery helps family remain anonymous
First time they ever played Mega Millions
Includes video report
By Todd Northrop
At a press conference Friday it was announced that a family of lifetime Hoosiers anonymously claimed the largest jackpot ever awarded to a single Mega Millions lottery ticket.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted the press conference Friday morning.
The winners were announced to be a family from Hamilton County, Indiana. Those hoping to meet the winners would have been disappointed, as the prize was claimed under a limited liability company (LLC) the family created in order to stay anonymous.
Although the public did not learn the identities of the winning family, we did discover the final tally of the July 8 Mega Millions jackpot: $536 million.
The family, represented by an Indiana marketing company at the press conference, claimed the mammoth prize as a lump-sum cash payout, which totalled $378 million — reduced to $271 million after the initial federal and state taxes were withheld.
Because the initial federal tax withholdings are 25%, it is likely the family will owe some additional taxes at the end of the year.
The July 8 drawing was the first time the winning family ever played Mega Millions. Previously they had played Powerball a few times.
On their way out of town with their two school-age kids for a sporting event, the family stopped at a Speedway gas station along Interstate 70. Seeing the big Mega Millions jackpot, they decided to buy five quick pick tickets.
But it was not until days later when they returned home that they remembered to check the tickets, which were mixed up with some random receipts and wrappers accumulated in their travels.
When the family looked online at the winning numbers and saw they matched up on their ticket, they were in disbelief. So much that they closed and re-opened their web browser: the numbers still matched.
Incredulous, they then rebooted the computer and re-opened the website: the numbers still matched.
Not knowing what else to do, the family went to the Hoosier Lottery headquarters and met with lottery officials, who confirmed the winning ticket and offered some advice around planning their prize claim.
Lauren Littlefield, Director of Client Services for Willow Marketing, was chosen by the family to represent them in public. Littlefield was present at the Friday morning press conference, answering a few questions, and providing some insight into the family.
When first describing the family, Littlefield started to become emotional, which she later said was because she had become close with the family and they were lovely people with "Hoosier values". She continued that she was genuinely excited for the family, whom were all born and raised in Indiana, and plan to stay in the state for life.
Littlefield said the winners have no immediate plans for the money, other than ensuring the well being of their children. They don't have any plans to quit their jobs, and want to do everything possible to stay close to the people in their lives who know and care for them.
The full raw press conference video can be found below.
The July 8 Mega Millions jackpot, which was initially estimated at $540 million, was adjusted to $536 million after all proceeds were counted. The prize was the result of a record 34 consecutive Mega Millions drawings without a winner.
Currently, the July 8 Mega Millions jackpot stands as the 7th-largest jackpot in US lottery history, and the third-largest Mega Millions jackpot ever.
The winning numbers drawn that evening were 8, 19, 20, 55, and 73, with Mega Ball number 5. The Megaplier was 2.
The odds to win the Mega Millions jackpot were 1 in 258.9 million.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 44 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $1 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference
Wow!
Good for them to seek help without nobody knowing who won except your family and close friends.
"They don't have any plans to quit their jobs"? LOL! Yea sure.
Indiana is showing how easy being an Anonymous State is.
Who knows the reason maybe they have Pension benefits coming sooner than later would you wanna loose that?
My Neighbors Husband draws 3 Different Pensions From 2 Jobs and the 1 from being in the Marine Corp that's a Good Chunk of Change. Also he still works. Not sure how old he is maybe 70's.
Why don't these OlE people stop working so much and enjoy What LIFE they have left. It's not like they need the money. Greed i guess..
Congratulations to you Winners Who ever you are i hope you see these messages and See all the People here that are happy for you and Congratulating you. Spend Wisely ...
There have been alot of discussions/fights here at LP about that issue- retire vs keep working when you have enough money.
I Sure don't know why they wouldn't have taken the Annuity payments then if they are not going to do anything with the money right away anyways. $500 Million down to $200 Million BIG Difference.
Do you have the results?
You can claim as a trust or LLC in Pennsylvania, but they still reveal your name.
The best way in Pennsylvania is to just claim and they hide everything in a trust or LLC!
"First time they ever played Mega Millions"
Or......just take a short trip across the river and no one will ever come close to knowing it was you who won. That is what I do, every 5 weeks I take a little time out of my day for what I want most- anonymity after a win
Congrats to what sounds like a young family....
Excellent example of "beginner's luck"
I guess you can say....when it's your time, it's your time!
Congrats to the extremely lucky couple and their family!
Indiana isn't an anonymous state, it merely allows you to have what i call "anonymity by trust" which is different. The 7 anonymous states don't require you to put in the extra work of creating a trust while states like Indiana need you to do it in order to get anonymity.
Awesome win for the family and thank God they can claim the prize anonymously.
I recall reading somewhere that in ohio....one can only claim anonymously but only through a lawyer.
And in SC, you may claim anonymously, but using the freedom of information act, the public can figure out who won...
I could be wrong on both fronts....but that is what I recall reading
Congratulations to the winners.
Enjoy the freedom. You will adjust to the changes.
.
Mr. King of Earth,
This is certainly interesting news.
Congratulations to the winners! 1 ticket, WOW!
Groppo
I don't believe greed is always the answer. Some people enjoy what they do and like being a contributing member of society. He is still a tax payer and his deductions from his paycheck for social security will help the next wave of retirees. If that makes him feel valued, more power to him.
Work places are better served with a diverse workforce and that includes older people. Step outside of your comfort zone!
I think a lot of people say they will keep their jobs because they are afraid of change...and they are still in shock after the win.
Kinda like those folks who say " l'm never going to get married" next thing you know, they have 4 kids.
Lol Right.
Correct. And not all non anonymous states allow one to claim via a trust. It depends on the state rules and who can claim it....a person and/or an entity. Virginia does not allow it but DC does.
Trusts are actually easy to set up but you do need an attorney who specializes in estates.
This is what I do. I don't buy individual tickets that often, (play in an office pool). I've only done this three times so far but worth it to me. Anonymity is everything!
Wow... Good for them.
Another anonymous claim and the lottery hasn't fallen apart
Can you answer this question .
I thought Lottery headquarters CAN'T give advice around planning their prize claim ?????
This is why you've time to figure out your financial and get everything in order .
Hire Attorney , Financial Adviser and CPA......
If you've somebody representing the winner , this means you don't have to
show your face in front of the cameras ? And what about their name and city , they live in ?
Can ALL states that's NOT anonymous , could the "winner " do the same as this family did ?
I am 100% ready to win the power ball :)
What a different turn of past events, for me any ways. The first time I played a pick 3 number I hit.
Way back in the early 80's. I played my license plate number. "463"
Good for the winners in Indiana! I hope they enjoy themselves with their windfall.
They can't complain about that one.
I believe in beginners luck. The first time I bet on a horse race, I won the Trifecta...a $2 bet that won like $268. The first time I sent in a second chance scratch off (before you could enter online like today), I won a trip to Las Vegas and an appearance on the Powerball Instant Millionaire show (the original one). Then it was 12 years of not being able to "hit water if I fell out of a boat" kind of luck. A few weeks ago I was messing around with a number system that I made up myself, played them on July 1st, got 4 numbers and won $500 on Mega Millions. So yeah, it could totally happen.
Congrats to the Hoosier family!
Try your new version of beginner's luck by getting back to the drawing board and abandon old plans. Stop playing those same old numbers, buy tickets at a different store, choose quick picks or your own numbers now, etc. etc.
You "OneTrickpony" Will Hit Something "Big" Very soon! Just play what you can. It will happen very soon too!
I have that feeling for you! It has happened to me too. It might not be a JP. But something decent!
Play what you can afford. You will feel it, just look for the signs and plates on cars that catch the corner of your eye. You will have a strange feeling, but it will come. You may even see the same numbers a few times. Remember, it will be a strange feeling inside of you. In your stomach area. And it will come. Play them for a few days.
Yet another Quick Pick ticket wins big!
So, now both the largest Mega Millions jackpot and the largest Powerball jackpot paid to a single winner were both from Quick Pick tickets...
Buying tickets from different stores does what exactly? It can't increase your odds of winning, l have tried that already.
I thought I read (and I think it was here) that to claim anonymously in South Carolina you could only do so if you were a resident of the state.
If you find out where you read that, check the date(s). I am 100% certain because I saw it over and over again that when MM had the 656M jackpot in 2012, there was only 2 states that allowed anonymity without a trust (MD and KS). It might be that the article(s) are merely outdated.
New Jersey did it again last night on Mega Millions=$5 million since they were smart enough or lucky enough to have purchased the Megaplier option.
LOL!!! No results just lots of opinion's and no one agreeing.
Several of you are right, Indiana is Not an anonymous state but, they do allow a trust or LLC. They also operate under the laws of the "freedom of Information" act.
Maybe they plan to continue to work if they own their own business or perhaps they just love what they do. Not everyone wants to change their life and sleep until the crack of noon.
Congratulations, to the family! I love stopping at a gas station when I travel and getting a ticket or two. That is awesome that the lottery held the press conference at the speedway!
But wouldn't that mean the state gives preferrential treatment to some and not all? I don't believe that's legal?
If they have no plans on not quitting their jobs, then what was the purpose of them playing to win such a large jackpot in the first place?
LOL! I am sure they can find about 271 million ways to enjoy this large jackpot.
My thoughts exactly! I could see a jackpot winner taking their time to finalize any work obligations or transition a replacement if they had a high level executive position but other than that I see no merit on not quitting/resigning.
WHEN Me & my Son WIN(LOL) I have always told him this is exactly how I want to claim our money to remain anonymous, by doing it in a LLC But I didn't know if it would work that way or not?
It's been a long time since I've been out in the real world working right out of College (yes we had them back in my day), that was before the wheelchair!
I wish more State's would adopt an anonymous if you want approach, especially after the terrible tragedy in another State for a lot less money!
Although I'm like most people I want to know who won, but their Family and Safety is more important then my curiosity!!
Curiosity Killed the Cat!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS FAMILY, MANY BLESSINGS, HAVE FUN AND MOST OF ALL ENJOY!!
They rarely played they Lotto to begin with, this was the FIRST time playing MM like EVERYBODY ELSE you hope to win SOME Money, Yes all of it would be nice, you're DOUBTFUL it will, then BOOM it did!
If they wanted everyone to know what their going to do now they would start another DUMB Reality Show!!! LOL
This +100. I'm positive that when people collect, they're given a script with talking points. "Ok, say this money is not going to change you. Then say you're not going to move, and definitely say you're going to keep working."
Makes no sense at all, of course you're going to change, you have no choice. Why keep working if you don't have to? Find a hobby, or travel but to keep working makes no sense.
What I read ( I realize what I had posted earlier is a bit confusing) was that in Ohio to claim anonymously you have to do it via a trust, so a lawyer has to be involved. Its not just a matter of walking up to the claims office and JG Wentworthing it. So you are right....MD and KS are likely the only states where they are true to their word and you dont have to waste time hiring lawyers to claim the money. The nice thing about that too is the lawyers don't get clued in that you are suddenly cash rich. Not that they have to either way.....if the state does not require you to be represented by a lawyer (which I believe is the case with Ohio)
I am not sure about the distinction between residents and non-residents in NC....but I do recall reading about the freedom to information bit...so it is almost useless coz we all know the media likes to be all tattle tale-ish about these sorts of things.
Good luck all
I have a feeling the final tally for this powerball will be bigger than Jan 13...and it will be a single ticket winner
(if what I dreamt a few months ago is anything to go by 
)
I don't know about other States but in AZ you have to claim a Large amount don't about small amounts the in the State the ticket was purchased in!!! We had a (3million?) ticket sold to an Oregon Man and he had to come back to AZ to collect!!!
If I was ever able to travel again like I use to I would find the money somehow to go back and claim that!!!
I also would buy a ticket on my Travels when stopping for gas or whatever!!
I've NEVER been a sit and do nothing kind of person, never had a job I didn't Like, only applied where I wanted to work & Gave 150% to the Job's I had, try going from that to being stuck in a Wheelchair to get around a tiny living place & not being able to work because you can't sit up long enough and have to lay down all the time even when trying to get to the Dr's, I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK, PLUS THEN I WOULDN'T HOPE AND PRAY CONSTANTLY I WISH I COULD WIN JUST ENOUGH IN THE LOTTO TO TRY AND LIVE SOME KIND OF LIFE!!!!
Then I could just play the Lotto for the fun of it and to give and help those in need!!!
Yes and what about the guy that was some kind of Math Professor online a wk or so ago trying to SELL his way of PICKING the winning #'s?????
HHHHMMMM?????
I played the same set of #'s when the Lotto first started, one draw we forgot to buy our ticket, OUR #'S HIT, needless to say we never played them again! Not our time
OMG!!!!!
I don't know what is worse......that or only hitting 5 out of 6 numbers for the second prize. Yes, $1 million is still a hell of a lot of money but my heart would just sink from knowing I was that freakin' close to the jackpot.
I play the same set of numbers too....and that is always my biggest fear. I try to plan in advance to make sure my work schedule does not stop me from getting across the river to play them. The one time the biggest challenge was a storm passing through. The lottery system was down and it only came back up a few minutes before the store closed. Needless to say I got home really late that night (I start work really early so it was way past my bed time)...but if it is a chance to win, hell, I will take it.
This whole playing your numbers versus QP...I don't buy into these # trends and other techniques....The balls fall the way they will fall. If you play the same numbers it can be tonight, next week/year/decade or never at all. QPs make the news because they are by far the most commonly played. Someone has to win....it just a matter of who has the combination that falls that draw.
I have been playing since 2005, when I first came to the USA....I have become a little more organized in my approach (I would like to think). My rational is your numbers have to come up some time if you play them long enough (I just hope I am alive when that finally comes to fruition)
Good luck to all
WOW WAS I WAY OFF!!! The Oregon Man that hit in AZ Won $6.3million! DUH Heck I'd ride my wheelchair
Congratulations to the Mega Millions Jackpot winning ticket! I didn't know that jackpot was revised downward from $540 million to $536 million.
"I also would buy a ticket on my Travels when stopping for gas or whatever!!"
I agree but only when the jackpot is tempting. A few years ago I traveled through several states when one of the jackpots was starting to gain attention, I ended up winning $150 in Florida but I was back in NC when the drawing took place. I ended up mailing the ticket to a friend and she cashed it for me.
I live in NY, but am up in CT about twice a week.
Yesterday, I bought 2 PB tickets in CT and 3 in NY.
I'm covered and ready to win.
If I win in CT, it's a 124 mile drive to the CT Lottery Headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT
In NY, I can claim at any claim center and the nearest one is about 10 miles away from where I live.
If you are smart with it.. In my Opinion..It is always better to take the cash. I am not by any means an expert on this, so take it with a grain of salt.
Can you trust the states to keep paying years from now, especially if economy gets worse? Look at Illinois now. Look at states unable to pay pentions of state employees.
If you are smart you can make up the lost money they took from cash option. Smart investing or simple CDs, plus keep in mind the annuity is not a sure amount. It is projected amount based on interest rates and other market conditions. granted that they are good at projecting.
Anyway thats my two cents.
I agree flipper...Take the money and run.
I always cringe when it comes to state taxes but I sure wouldn't mind if it was attached to a large win.
Good luck to you! Hope someone here at LP can celebrate!
I agree. The return on the lottery annuity is about 1.42%, where you can get over 2% on certain jumbo CD's, which are FDIC insured. Like you said, nothing is guaranteed but if it were my burden to make, I would chose the cash option as well.
A lot of people still don't understand what the difference is between the advertised annuity jackpot and the cash value amount.
They think they are losing money by taking the cash value. Acting like it's a penalty imposed on them for taking the cash and not the payments.
When you take the cash, all you get is what the lottery has accumulated from selling tickets.
When you decide to take cash, that's what you get. You get the cash, but without any of the interest that would have been earned over the annuity period.
If you are careful with the money and invest it wisely, without over-spending, over the next 29 years, you will end up with what the annuitized value of the drawing was...or more!
Yes, of course, you are going to buy a nice house, a nice car (or 2, or 3) and the best of what money can buy, but if you want it to last and become "GENERATIONAL WEALTH" you need to take things slow and easy.
Congrats to the very lucky winners!
Congratulations to the family.....
Congrats to the Indiana family but respectfully I think the press conference speech was bologna. Of course they're loaded now they're going to spend to they're hearts desire and down the road they're going to know who they're real friends are.
$5 INVESTMENT TURNED INTO $536 MILLION. I BOUGHT A DOMINOS PIZZA WITH MY $5.
Yes, they sure knew how to press long-time lottery players' buttons and to pour salt into every hopeful lottery players' wounds!
I would have just said that I play every drawing because you never know when your lucky day will turn up. That way, no one will hate me and I would be 100 percent truthful.
This kind of reminds me of that 18 year old Georgia girl who won the Big Game back in the 90s and that SC Vargas fella.