Winners of big lottery jackpots often crave anonymity amid challenges to do so

Comment #52

fastball 9 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:30:26 GMT

It's good that this subject is getting some honest press. This is a very serious issue, especially in states where you are required to claim publicly. It wouldn't be so bad if there were just, legit and honest reasons to do so. But, in each state where you have no choice in the matter, no such case is made. Most say they require public disclosure in order to prove 'there are winners and that the lottery is legit' (see Virginia state lottery website). However, those states which allow you to rema... [ More ]

Comment #51

Simba774 — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:56:12 GMT

The Illinois winner is going to be revealed on wednesday. Illinois does not allow one to remain anonymous, but I do think your lawyer can claim for you. I'm not sure. As much I dislike the state law, I still want to win

Comment #50

CDanaT — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:33:33 GMT

Got to vote for the anonymity over going public........I have no desire for the spotlight.....But for those who do, please enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly from those who feel its their right to pry and learn anything about your life....... As we have seen from all the publicity on how sensational journalists twist things. What sells more ?? Negative or positive stories ?? ........ You may want to ask yourself if there's any skeletons in your closet ?? If there are and you don't want them re... [ More ]

Comment #49

rikubby — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:42:56 GMT

It's the only way to go

Comment #48

Halle99 — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:26:06 GMT

I am also gonna claim anonymously once I win the jackpot(PB/MM

Comment #47

mcginnin56 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:24:32 GMT

Not looking for any front man . I personally don't have any problem going public for a meet and greet session for a state that requires

this ritual. Getting back to my original question, if the state of Illinois reigns supreme in corruption (which I'm not in disagreement with), why

would you assume that by requiring a parade of faces and names of winners are legit, and not a continuation of the lottery scam you allude to

Comment #46

OldSchoolPa — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:06:01 GMT

Well, when you see the parade of winners are people like T. Ramirez, Willy Johnson, Leroy Wilson, Han Ko, Tom McIlroy, etc. it lets us Illinoisians know that the anonymous winners like folks like Rahman Emmanuel, Barack Obama, Pat Quinn, Rachel Quinn, Sasha Obama, Joe Biden, or any of the Daly or Blagoaviche family. Hardly a year can pass in Illinois without someone not being indicted for corruption. Just because something bad happened to one guy does not mean the ultimate winner against astrono... [ More ]

Comment #45

haymaker — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:22:35 GMT

I agree w/Cletu$2 on this, going on camera to talk about how screwed up the world is will achieve ZERO.

unless you consider it an achievement when your audience says,

this guy just won a ton of money and he is talking about how bad things are

Comment #44

Cletu$2 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:10:04 GMT

Either you collect your winnings anonymously or you go on camera and say a few words about how screwed up the world is.You can't have it both ways.

Comment #43

AmoWin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:30:56 GMT

Not even worried about taking the anonymity to that level.

You can always change your name, move to another country. I never wanted to leave this country, but after Japan helped contaminate our wonderful country. . .

Comment #42

AmoWin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:24:43 GMT

I'm in a state that has anonymity rights, and, if I ever won, I'd keep my anonymity.

But I'd want to go on camera and say a few words about how screwed up this world seems to me, and of course my intentions with my lotto winnings.

For one, I'd get as much spread-out land, as I could. This is so when our over-populated planet eventually approaches standing-room only, I'd be set.

Comment #41

KY Floyd — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:31:33 GMT

If you read the actual rules you'll probably find a clause that says something along the lines of the winner agrees to allow the lottery to use their likeness for promotional purposes.

Any pictures taken while you're wearing a disguise won't represent your likeness. OTOH, you can wait to claim your prize until you've gained 100 pounds, grown a beard down to your chest, and hair down to your ass and that wil be what you really look like.

Comment #40

Cletu$2 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:11:14 GMT

Who looks like the picture on their ID,anyway?Picture ID's are notorious for not looking like the person getting their picture taken.

Comment #39

CDanaT — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:09:39 GMT

You can certainly have the 5 white balls first....no problem there..... Then I will accept the 5 white balls and pb ( all on one line of course) as a follow up. ..sounds reasonable to me..

Comment #38

GGStarlings — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:58:43 GMT

Oh come on! Do I have to go get a fake ID

Comment #37

rad242 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:56:48 GMT

Per your instructions:

CdanaT is first and Rad is the EXAMPLE

Clearly you want to lay the burden on me of blazing the trails and I humbly accept.

Comment #36

CDanaT — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:31:29 GMT

Oh brother, RAD, I see you are STILL in Disneyland over that you-first-before-me....I know you prefer its a small world but I think you have had a few too many trips on Space Mountain and are slightly goofy .......take deep breaths and repeat after me...CDanaT first and Rad is second . You will feel better....I know I do

Comment #35

rad242 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:25:00 GMT

Worked well? Is that what you're going to say when Mickey Mouse is asking for MY AUTOGRAPH

Comment #34

CDanaT — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:22:49 GMT

Okay....now that its up over 100 mil, time to start playing again...............was just remaining anonymous for the first 5-6 draws.....my strategy worked well

Comment #33

BuyLow — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:22:04 GMT

Not sure the disguise idea would fly. Pretty sure you need to look like the picture on your photo ID.

Comment #32

rad242 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:11:12 GMT

Didn't you just win? lol! Trying to throw us off your scent aye? Good one

Comment #31

Simba774 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:07:28 GMT

I'll take it

Comment #30

rad242 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:08:04 GMT

The Powerball Jackpot now stands at $113 million

Comment #29

meetoo — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:15:52 GMT

That is incorrect. In Illinois only Illinois residents may purchase tickets online.

I appreciate you bringing that to my attention Uff Da! I stand corrected.

Comment #28

Uff Da! — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:04:27 GMT

I personally think things won't change much until someone's child get kidnapped. Even then I suspect change might come only in the state where the kidnapping takes place and perhaps a few more. Most still won't change.

Comment #27

Uff Da! — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:59:45 GMT

Online sales in any state of our choice means we can choose to purchase tickets in a state that favors anonymity with the very best tax ramifications or no tax at all.

That is incorrect. In Illinois only Illinois residents may purchase tickets online. I strongly suspect that as other states add online sales, they will do the same.

Comment #26

meetoo — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:35:55 GMT

Appreciate the link regarding the story on the pharmacist, CT. In the very near future this subject may be thing of the past. When we consider the fact that Illinois is offering lottery sales online, it's only a matter of time for other states to

follow along. Online sales in any state of our choice means we can choose to purchase tickets in a state that favors anonymity with the very best tax ramifications or no tax at all. I suppose they had not considered this when approving online... [ More ]

Comment #25

GGStarlings — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:24:40 GMT

Disguise is something I have considered should a huge winning occur. I don't think we have the option of being anonymous in Idaho.

Comment #24

brees2012 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:40:54 GMT

The lady who won 4 years ago , she had her plans together . You've to give this lady some credit .

Gives you something to think about . Don't rush , get your finances / paperwork in order , however

long it takes . Use a cellphone instead of landline , Don't tell a sole until you're ready , use a postoffice

box or move to another state . There's much to do when you , win the lottery .....

Comment #23

Cletu$2 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:30:46 GMT

No.

They're convinced that they are doing the right thing.

Comment #22

Simba774 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:15:08 GMT

Since I live in Illinois. We're moving the hell out of our neighborhood before we claim. I never read anything that said you cannot wear on mask or have your lawyer claim. We're still moving no matter what.

Comment #21

maximumfun — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:06:39 GMT

Thanks CoinToss - that thread made good reading and I made it through most of the one that is linked to within it. Then I had to go and turn the meat before dinner burned.

Comment #20

dallascowboyfan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:54:56 GMT

Thanks CT

Comment #19

Lucky SOB — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:54:36 GMT

if more lottery winners get killed, kidnaped or hurt do you think more states will allow anonymity

Comment #18

Coin Toss — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:57:16 GMT

Here's the story on the pharmacist:

https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/172325

Comment #17

mcginnin56 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:35:26 GMT

Following your line of thinking, if corruption reins supreme in Illinois, who's to say that showing the faces and names aren't a scam as well?

If that is the case, how will this reassure you that the lottery still isn't a scam

Comment #16

haymaker — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:18:21 GMT

Yea, i would tell em i did't have a job, a lie of course, but it'll be truth soon after i collect. LOL

Comment #15

Cletu$2 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:58:45 GMT

I remember that.As far as I know she has retained her anonymity.At least she hasn't been on any of those Lottery Ruined My Life shows.I wouldn't have told them what I did for a living,though.

Comment #14

Coin Toss — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:54:01 GMT

A few years ago a female pharmacist in Illinois wonn a Mega Millions jackpot.

She said that if people knew who she was she would get sued for malpractice by people she never even provided drugs for. Having said that, she hired professional movie make-up people to create a disguise for her and that's the way she went to the press conference.

I think it was discussed here on LP.

Comment #13

sandia — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:25:17 GMT

The whole drama, surrounding the colossal jackpot, brought a very interesting conversation between my colleagues and me. You see, our discussion over lunch went into the territory of anonymity. We reasoned that there is no way, the media would leave the winner/winners of this jackpot to enjoy their respite. Surprisingly, 2 out of the 3 winning states, allowed for such a condition to remain anonymous, being present at the conference but in disguise just like the three lucky amigos from Maryland.

Comment #12

haymaker — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:16:49 GMT

the states will claim its a state s rights issue and no one can force one state to do what another state does or does not do.

Comment #11

brees2012 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:19:12 GMT

Give the winner an option if he/she wants to put there face in the camera ,

that's fine .

For those who doesn't want to face the cameras at all , then that's there

choice . Everyone situation is different .

Comment #10

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:14:07 GMT

Anonymity for me, there are a lot of crazy people out there I remember reading about the lady in Florida years back that won the Florida lottery and people were threatening to kidnap her children from school daycare. I have two boys I would not want to put there lives in jeopardy.

Comment #9

OldSchoolPa — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:56:03 GMT

You obviously did not read the part about Illinois where people thought they were playing a legitimate lottery, only to find it was a scam. I am sure the good folks of Tennessee will agree with that since they had an issue with the RNG being rigged in their pick 3 and pick 4 games. Corruption reigns supreme in Illinois and I am all for at least seeing the face and reading the name of that winner even if they do claim it in a LLC or trust. Given the way corruption works in Illinois, if Illinois a... [ More ]

Comment #8

OldSchoolPa — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:49:09 GMT

When I win, I will claim the prize and have a big press conference. All will see my face, hear my voice and know my name and where I live. But you see, I would take at least a couple of weeks before I come forward to claim the prize. During that time, I would meet with my attorney and accountant, set up necessary wealth management accounts, located a rental house (apartment would not be good since I would plan to purchase either a Mazerati or Bentley with my blow some money limit and who lives i... [ More ]

Comment #7

CDanaT — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:51:15 GMT

There is a way to get a jumpstart on the bothersome folks who will try and locate you...........Keep your current mailing address for a year or two. Move to a completely new rental location several miles away or out of state. Or have a trusted friend rent a place in his/her name. Or rent a place FROM a trusted friend.... Already be set up in your new place before the big day you claim. Course if you have younger children that will give you an added issue with schools. Having the Atty as a spokep... [ More ]

Comment #6

dpoly1 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:28:17 GMT

Comment #5

Seattlejohn — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:20:07 GMT

I suspect some enterprising lawyer is crafting a lawsuit about this as we speak. Why should someone in Mass be able to avoid the insanity of lottery madness while someone in another state cannot? Knowing how disasterous the public attention can be, I'd prefer that lottery winners from all states have the option of remaining annonymous (the public isn't served by forcing a lottery winner to be subjected to the levels of scrutiny attention the lottery thrusts upon them). That way, if the lottery w... [ More ]

Comment #4

maximumfun — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:52:53 GMT

The Illinois winner had options... purchase their tickets NOT in IL (WI? IN?); NOT buy tickets, or; not redeem this ticket if they decide the trouble that will come with the win is more costly than the win $$$.

The best choice, to me, will be to claim it and then get outa dodge.

Comment #3

brees2012 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:48:38 GMT

I feel bad for the Illinois winner , he/she doesn't have many option to be anonymous .

Unless his / her lawyer turns in the ticket . What is the best choice for this person(s

Comment #2

Cletu$2 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:30:21 GMT

I'll have my lawyer claim the money for me.Iowa insists that your name and town be made public but doesn't require that you attend a press conference,although they will try to convince you that you'll be better off doing the press conference and get it over with.They want all the publicity that they get because its free advertisement for THEM.They really don't care if you get mugged or murdered after they get their free publicity.

Comment #1

dpoly1 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:08:08 GMT

I'm going to lay low after I claim my Jackpot .......... you cannot claim via blind trust in Pennsylvania, so I will form the RLT after I get the money!

The lottery will not get a press conference from me ......... I will only comply with the minimum requirements ...............

I will be in the very nice hiding place until the frenzy dies down.

Winners of big lottery jackpots often crave anonymity amid challenges to do so

Lottery Post — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:20:22 GMT

The tiny Illinois farm town of Red Bud is the kind of place with few strangers and few secrets. Yet the community of 3,700 has a lingering mystery on its hands: Who bought the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket, and why hasn't the winner of the world-record $656 million jackpot come forward?

Though secrecy surrounds the ticket sold at the MotoMart convenience store, lottery officials note it's not unusual for winners to lay low and those who advise them say it's just plain smart.

It's ex... [ More ]