$102 million lottery winners - 17 years later

Comment #50

Lucky5of5 — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 06:10:52 GMT

LOL - They left their big piggy bank on the lawn for the jackpot winner to fill up for them. They'd come back later to get it.

Comment #49

Lucky5of5 — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 06:04:18 GMT

I agree. All states should let you remain anonymous if you want. Illinois doesn't though. More people would possibly buy tickets if they knew they could remain anonymous if they won.

Comment #48

Lucky5of5 — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 05:59:38 GMT

Why send or give anything to a jackpot winner. They have more than enough money to buy these items themselves.

Comment #47

Simba774 — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:24:13 GMT

They don't clean up after themselves.

There are a lot things I'm not a fan of and cleaning up is one of them. Cooking too. I'm not a good cook. Having some help would be nice. I'm always happy to read positive lottery stories. I know some would say age was on their side, but there have many older winners who lost their freaking' minds too. 17 years later these folks are still going strong.

Comment #46

josie kat — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:07:16 GMT

the public tend to go for the sensational Jackpot, like the half a billion a couple of months ago. truth is, the 2nd and 3rd prices are just as good.... instead thinking that one shot of Jackpot, think multple wins of the smaller prices. I read this guy in Tucson won 5 Pick 5 in one year.

Comment #45

Bjander53 — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:37:30 GMT

Smart Move! I love this story needs more people in the world like them

Comment #44

mcginnin56 — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:53:08 GMT

Excellent point DC. It's the old adage, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Comment #43

DC81 — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:19:41 GMT

Unless you take out loans against the annuity or sell it like some fools have done which then usually follows with their getting into tax problems. Neither way is exactly safe really.

Comment #42

DC81 — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:17:34 GMT

I thought that was some bank or wealth management group

Comment #41

rdgrnr — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:31:09 GMT

Did you throw in a few thousand extra on your taxes for the government to invest for you?

You know, I never understood you people who love high taxes - why you don't contribute more voluntarily.

There's no law against it, you know. You can give as much as you want.

Give 'em an extra few thousand and watch it disappear in seconds on interest for the money we borrowed from the Chinese to send some anxious Democrat men over to Zimbabwe to study how Zimbabwean men wash their genitals.

Oh... [ More ]

Comment #40

mediabrat — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:02:37 GMT

You assume many things. As usual, you assume incorrectly.

If it matters at all, I ended up owing both the feds and the state on this year's tax return. And I already told you you're wrong about what I do for a living, but you never let facts get in the way of a good drunken sneer-fest.

Speaking of facts, the top tax bracket encompasses about the top 10% of earners. I highly doubt you're a part of that.

Why Do People Pay No Federal Income Tax?

Commentators have often misinterpreted t... [ More ]

Comment #39

rdgrnr — Sat, 26 May 2012 22:19:22 GMT

I can understand why exorbitant tax rates don't bother you a bit, mediabratwurst.

Being a Slushee Slinger at the 7-11 and firmly entrenched in the bottom 47% of wage earners who pay zero taxes, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Your rage for the rich comes from a sense of inferiority and jealousy.

But you have no skin in the game so it really doesn't matter what you think.

Comment #38

mediabrat — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:42:52 GMT

Oh goody, the tax man paranoia is back. Criminy, I could set my watch to this babble.

No tax rate in the United States of America will EVER reach WWII levels. Heck, I'll eat my hat if it ever gets back to 50%, which it was during your beloved President Reagan's first term.

Seriously, folks, get a grip.

Comment #37

CDanaT — Sat, 26 May 2012 19:24:05 GMT

I see much hasn't changed in 17 years with demands from winners except even more people(slugs) with their hands out towards today's winners. big sigh oh well, I will be leaving the state permanently about 2 weeks before I head up to collect the big check.

Comment #36

rdgrnr — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:18:29 GMT

Holy Moly, I didn't know that.

6 cents for you, 94 cents for me ~Uncle Sam

Yeah, I think they'd like that real good.

Comment #35

Jill34786 — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:19:12 GMT

If our current administation has it's way the top Federal tax rate would 91% which was in effect from 1945-1963...and that was a reduction from 94% which was in place during President FDR's final years.

Comment #34

Jill34786 — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:10:13 GMT

Most Politicians have no real world skills hence the entitlements given to them by our beloved government.

Comment #33

rdgrnr — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:49:13 GMT

Yep, politicians love that word - retroactive.

Comment #32

maximumfun — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:18:04 GMT

ok... correct me if i am wrong... but tax law is passed in October for the CURRENT year... so you could - potentially - win now and then end up owing your 70-odd % in taxes retroactively this year...

that would really be a new variety of ugly.

Comment #31

maximumfun — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:09:49 GMT

criminy... i thought it was only going to be 70%...

Comment #30

rdgrnr — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:56:43 GMT

Jackpot winners face the prospect of having a huge portion of their winnings confiscated by the government in taxes depending on the outcome of the upcoming Presidential Election.

Because if you win, you automatically become one of the evil, hated rich people .

We all need to keep that in mind when we vote.

Will it be all yours or will the government be entitled to take 75% of it off the top

Comment #29

ChazzMatt — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:35:51 GMT

THAT is the only advantage in getting the annuity. If you go crazy the first year or so (buying houses, Lamborghini sports cars in triplicate to fill your 3-garage homes, jewelry, with hangers-on asking for money), then you still have time to come to your senses. You run out of money Year1, Year 2, by Year 3 you start getting smart. They were getting $3.5 million per year for 20 years. Nowadays the annuites are like 25 - 30 years.

The drawback nowadays about annuities, of course, if the polit... [ More ]

Comment #28

HaveABall — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:22:59 GMT

Litebets27, this cleaver message/meaning was probably: We don't have much money, valuable documents, and jewels to require need of this big safe, since you will we're giving it to you

Comment #27

HaveABall — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:14:48 GMT

It could be a cleaver promotion for a real estate agent: Attention, now is a good time to sell.

Comment #26

luckyshoes — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:51:52 GMT

Its palms up when someone wins big like that. Glad they still enjoy their money. Happy ending

Comment #25

mcginnin56 — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:50:50 GMT

If you've had a dog for a few years, you can become very attached and concerned for their well being. Replacing the dog is not like just

getting another toaster. No disrespect for the grandchildren, just pointing out that there exists a close emotional bond, between people and

their beloved animals.

Comment #24

louise black — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:06:43 GMT

It seem to me they would have been more worry about the kidnapping of the grandchild,then a dog. you can get another dog. Good news for a change,happy ending.

Comment #23

Litebets27 — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:37:45 GMT

Right!

When the Bunky won his 80+ million dollar jackpot in Maryland, someone placed a hugh Safe on his front lawn.

How someone did that without being seen or noticed was puzzling.

And I couldn't understand what that message was.

Comment #22

HaveABall — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:58:44 GMT

Actually, taking the annuity was the only PB Jackpot option way back then!

I'm glad these folks are still able to enjoy their big bank accounts! I want my own big jackpot win!.

Comment #21

Justwinbaby — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:10:12 GMT

It is a blessing to win and to be able to sustain the wealth over a long period of time. To each of us who eventually win the jackpot, I pray the same blessings.

Comment #20

rdgrnr — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:23:25 GMT

I don't like me no alarm clocks, no sir.

Comment #19

Piaceri — Thu, 24 May 2012 00:46:44 GMT

Very much an inspiration to all of us. What a lovely smart couple.

Comment #18

haymaker — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:03:46 GMT

If my brother beat my dogs, he would wind up feeling just like the dogs,

scared and hurt.

Comment #17

jeffrey — Wed, 23 May 2012 22:51:56 GMT

my brother beat my dog and i told him, I know one thing about my dog. i like her. i like her more than i like you. he has never hurt my dog again.

Comment #16

larry3100 — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:32:33 GMT

The Spence's are an inspiration to all of us who play the lottery.It's all about a dollar and a dream.Those alarm clock gifts were for target practice only, to remind them of those days when they had to go to work.

Comment #15

haymaker — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:38:55 GMT

Yea, seems like an alarm system would be more apropriate.

Comment #14

NightStalker — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:10:52 GMT

A perfect reason why all states should allow you to remain anonymous. Threats of violence and kidnapping.

Glad everything worked out for them and that they have been able to stay together.

Comment #13

Cletu$2 — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:07:47 GMT

What a lovely couple.

What a lucky couple.

What a lucky,lovely couple.

Comment #12

Lucky SOB — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:01:38 GMT

lol why send alarm clocks to lottery winners

Comment #11

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:19:54 GMT

Comment #10

dallascowboyfan — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:17:04 GMT

Nice story indeed....

Comment #9

mcginnin56 — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:10:06 GMT

Comment #8

time*treat — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:58:33 GMT

It takes a special kind of lowlife to threaten to kidnap a man's dog.

Comment #7

maximumfun — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:17:52 GMT

lovely. just lovely! they won together, have stayed together, have not squandered all their money, and are loving their life recognizing that they have been blessed. lovely.

Comment #6

rad242 — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:29:52 GMT

And those who INHERITED their wealth should be viewed the same way then...

Comment #5

Coin Toss — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:24:59 GMT

From the OP:

A lot of people wanted money, she said. We had one situation where they threatened to kidnap our grandson and our dog. I mean it was like okay people give me a break, this is ridiculous.

There was another surprise for the couple, when they discovered the only thing they had in common with rich people was their bank accounts. Shirley said she found the rich to be kind of annoying. She said, A lot of them are just, they take everything for granted. They don't say thank-you the... [ More ]

Comment #4

hearsetrax — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:56:02 GMT

you think so ??......

honestly I've been flip-flopping over which would bring less grief and most enjoyment

Comment #3

C0w Pi3 — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:52:24 GMT

For some reason i think this was one of the smart moves for getting the annuity..

Comment #2

mcginnin56 — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:26:45 GMT

Nice story, and 17 years later they have something to show for it

Comment #1

tntea — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:26:35 GMT

What a nice story

$102 million lottery winners - 17 years later

Lottery Post — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:02:23 GMT

Includes video report

Playing Powerball tonight? You may want to hear what a Phoenix woman has to say she won Arizona's biggest Powerball jackpot nearly 20 years ago.

On March 4th, 1995, part time secretary Shirley Pence stopped by a 7/11 store near 24th Avenue and Greenway in Phoenix to buy a Powerball quick pick ticket. Turned out she had a winner.

Oh we just grabbed each other and held each other, she said. And I cried and shook.

Don, a self employed house painter, and his wi... [ More ]