By Todd Northrop
He's not old enough to drink but he's $451 million richer.
A 20-year-old Florida man has come forward with the lone winning $451 million Mega Millions jackpot ticket from the January 5th drawing.
Shane Missler, who bought the winning Mega Millions ticket from a 7-Eleven in Port Richey, chose to claim a one-time, lump sum payment of $281.9 million.
"I'm only 20, but I hope to use it to pursue a variety of passions, help my family and do some good for humanity," Missler said in a news release from the Florida Lottery on Friday.
Missler said he wasn't surprised that he had won and that he had "a feeling" that he might.
When he realized he had won, he called his brother first.
On his Facebook page on Jan. 5, the evening of the drawing, Missler had also shared a brief post, "Oh. My. God."
He shared the news with his father over coffee the following day.
Missler will actually pocket $281,874,999.00 after taking the lump-sum payment for his winning ticket, according to the Florida Lottery.
The ticket was bought at the 7-Eleven at 7131 Ridge Rd. in Port Richey, which is is northwest of Tampa in Pasco County.
The winning numbers were: 28, 30, 39, 59, and 70, with Mega Ball number 10.
The $451 million jackpot started building from a $15 million starting point on Oct. 17, 2017. It took 23 consecutive drawings without a top prize winner to accumulate the massive jackpot.
Missler's winnings are the 6th-largest jackpot ever by a single lottery ticket.
Under a rules change that took effect on Oct. 31, Mega Millions now starts at a $40 million jackpot, and the jackpot grows a minimum of $5 million for each drawing that does not have a winner. The upcoming drawing on Friday night features a $45 million grand prize.
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 $2 each.
The Mega Millions winning numbers are published at USA Mega (www.usamega.com) minutes after the drawing takes place.
What a wonderful blessing to start off the new year.
Congratulations..
20 yrs old and won and I've been playing for 40yrs and STILL can't win a lottery!
Oh well hopefully before I hit 90!
This boy. yep boy's life will be ruined. A 20 y/o lacks the life experience to fend off all the scam and con artists out there. When I was 20 I was in college and not playing the lotto. Eventually, LP will post horrible stuff that happened to him during his lifetime
but then he may surprise us all yet
It will happen Mac, keep on buying and believing
I agree we may be reading about his misfortune and being taken advantage of. His age does not give him the experience to deal with such a tremendous amount of money. Even at my age, I lack experience to handle such a tidy sum but gimme a try lol!
Good Luck to the winner and I mean that sincerely. Maybe he needs to get off Facebook?
I know I have always been naturally careful with money and I was in college also. He hopefully will have good common sense so he may not go too crazy with the money. Wisdom about money is not always age related. I come across more than a few over age 40 or 50 professionals who have massive debt and have not saved or invested a dime and they are dependant on their wages. And one does not need to know everything about a topic, but if he has the good sense to do the research and hire the experts, he will have a good chance of not blowing it all.
Most lp'ers know you have to do your homework if you have a major win.
Shane Missler has a little less than $175 million dollars to work with. He now needs excellent advice and professional help. Open the yellow pages, go online, ask friends and family for referrals. Shane is set for the rest of his life. He could live for another sixty to seventy years. Maybe he will welcome in the next Century. Congratulations to him and his family!
Congratulations Shane Missler on your jackpot! I wish you continued good luck and much wisdom throughout life.
I just googled Florida taxes. Florida is one of seven states that have no income tax. That will leave Shane Missler with $175,500,000.00
As long as he only makes small mistakes like going on Facebook he should be set for life.
Prenups are mandatory here.
Shane is already in Florida which is the destination of past winners. Wealth abounds there. But so are the sleaze and criminals too.
This is going to be a huge test for this kid. He now has a target on his back and he also has to deal with unchecked self destructive desires.
Many pitfalls await but if he has a solid foundation, he might might be a quick learner.
Let's hope he listens to wise counsel and enjoy his winnings. Don't write him off.
CONGRATS to Missler. Agree with his pursuits, all except "do some good for humanity". *&%# Humanity. I would have nothing for "vulgar, vile, racist" humanity.
One article said he bought 5 quick picks with $10 he'd won with a scratch-off.
Thank You, zephbe. The best ten dollars he has ever spent! Now, was that the last ten dollars left to his name? LOL
I will continue placing my trust in quick picks. 70% of the winners are quick picks.
my brothers late 20s and thirties 1 is early 50s said, "The kid will blow it."WOW.
I hope Shane do good for humanity. that is a #realadvocate real man to think this way.
My congrats being sent his way. and i hope he take GOOD care of his young parents i heard young only 40s
for which is not OLD yet, "older yea."but not old. I am hearing on FB he going to do that, family should come first.
MANY disagree about him sharing his info on a FB page, but i am sure he will/might help even those asking him strangers etc.al., i sure would!
I really would."
I hope he though donate such and also other good deeds as i would do for the homeless/no one should be homeless or the vets
and foster kids too.I sure would. If not, he will lose it in a few years. and LOL @ Mac. Yep as my parent saying, today great job for him. But, yep some are just lucky. Others play for well just about 15 to 50 years ... Since 18 or as my dad buddy ince 21 so that's 61 yrs...My father's good buddy years ago, did win a few x jackpots over 5 to 30,000 he said on scratch offs. This is so nice though ...So congrats."
Because of hs age, I feel he should of taking the annuity.
WTG!!!! Shane!!!!
Lottery officials said the money will be paid to a trust, set up with Missler as the managing member, called “Secret 007, LLC.”
I wonder why he set up a trust to place the money in. It obviously wasn't so he could get the money anonymously.
fellini, A lawyer can create a Revocable Living Trust instead of a will. A will leads to Probate after Shane dies. There is no need for Probate when a trust is used.
Remember to fund the trust. A judge will force probate upon you if the trust is not funded correctly. Bring this up with your lawyer.
I read that Shane created an LLC named, "Secret 007, LLC" This is not a Trust. It is a Limited Liability Company. I like the name of the LLC.
Congrats to this kid! If he plays his cards right, reaching billionaire status should be a walk in the park. At least, that's the direction I would go (putting all that money to work for me instead of piddling it all away on trying to impress others).
I did not think of that! But you are absolutely RIGHT! Guaranteed income! that way he doesn't blow it. But I know that if I had won at 20 I would have made MANY mistakes. People that I thought were my friends were not my friends. Family members that I thought were awesome are not. I'm sure some pretty girl will come along and take him for a ride for sure.
Congrats to the 20 year old . I just hope he don’t be in the news for past lottery winners who are broke list. He will make mistakes . He just have to learn from them he is only 20 and he must surround himself with good financial advisers, lawyers and accountants. Because he need them not only from the no good scamming people from his family and close friends they will hit him up for cash .
I'm watching CBS This Morning right NOW! and they have ALL his Facebook photos splattered all over the NEWS!
Quicksloth, how would playing cards help? ♠?♣?♥?♦?
Congratulations and Good Luck to this young man. He has been given a gift and his life changed forever. I hope he enjoys his adventure and keeps his boat steered on course.