Florida lottery winner of $803 million Mega Millions jackpot claims prize without fanfare

Comment #27

Nino224 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:22:13 GMT

Kurt Panouses is an attorney in Melbourne, FL. who has worked with big jackpot winners in the past and his clients DO NOT sign their tickets, he does. He meets them at Lottery HQ and, on the Lottery office's CCTV, he will have them hand him the ticket which he then signs and hands over to the clerk as a representative of your Trust. You remain anonymous and his name is recorded. He does charge a hefty fee, though.

He explains the process at length on YT.

Comment #26

Nino224 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:08:26 GMT

I LOOOOVE the fact that somebody walked up to a vending machine in a convenience store, bought a QP and can now change many, many lives.

I'd like to know if they bought one or many.

Comment #25

Nino224 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:05:23 GMT

I sure hope they went in with their lawyer and collected through a Trust so they can remain anonymous.

Comment #24

GiveFive — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:12:29 GMT

On The Florida Lottery's website for the MegaMillions game is a PDF file containing a report created by the Florida Lottery called Jackpot Winners and Retailer Information .

Here's a link to the web page it appears on ==== floridalottery.com/games/draw-games/mega-millions

On that report you'll see that the winner claimed the prize using Florida Statute 1024.51. Under the winner's name field, the winners actual name does not appear, rather the report says EXEMPT PURSUANT TO FS 1024.51.... [ More ]

Comment #23

Jackpot777 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:13:18 GMT

How do you know how the winner claimed the prize using their name if it's exempt from being publicly released for 90 days

Comment #22

Jackpot777 — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 02:42:44 GMT

It would depend on the state and laws where the ticket is purchased. The idea is to consult a knowledgeable attorney, estate planner, etc. first to decide how to claim the prize. LLC, trust, or both? If you put your name on there it could mean losing any chance of staying anonymous to the public.

I believe California (we all have heard the name Edwin Castro) and Oregon don't allow trusts to claim the prize. In those cases, signing a ticket might be the best advice. Every state has their own... [ More ]

Comment #21

Wildbill78 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:10:40 GMT

Whoaaaaaaaa. That's mean and not nice. Im mixture of both and with everything going on in America you shouldn't be saying those types of comments. That's either stereotype or racist. Give me a moment, I'm doing a prayer Im gaining strengths from the heavily father's and I pray with all my soul you never win the lottery Amen No worries. Im okay now

Comment #20

LottoBux — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:54:21 GMT

Didn't that Powerball winner in Kentucky have the option of remain anonymous?

I guess he should have as everything he's done since winning PB has been negative news.

Comment #19

Artist77 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:21:23 GMT

Actually more than a few lp members do not know anonymity rules for their states and often rules change with little notice or publicity. And new people join lp every day.

Thanks to Todd for pinning this topic and updating it. With over 200k views, it has been a great lp resource.

Comment #18

GiveFive — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:04:20 GMT

True. But most posters here dont care or even bother to read them. I already know my states laws with regard to claiming anonymously. Reading that thread in the jackpot forum would be a waste of my time. G5

Comment #17

GiveFive — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:55:10 GMT

The local press in Manatee County (where the ticket was purchased) has been printing pictures of the clerk that sold the winning ticket. That clerk is a vending machine.

Wawa, the convenience store chain where the machine is located, does not have lottery terminals that their employees could use to sell tickets at The Customer Service Counter. Instead, if you presented a play slip or asked a clerk standing at the Customer Service Counter in a Wawa for a QP, they'd point you to the vending m... [ More ]

Comment #16

HoLeeKau — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:41:28 GMT

Yep, and even with the requirement to publish the winner's name, he wouldn't have been caught if he hadn't messed up. Making the winner's name public does nothing to ensure legitimacy. The lottery has the name and social security number, and their security investigates every winner before awarding the prize.

Comment #15

Artist77 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:35:50 GMT

Not bad advice and more the accepted advice now.

Comment #14

Artist77 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:31:37 GMT

The various state anonymity rules are pinned to the top of the jackpot forum.

Comment #13

GiveFive — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:29:09 GMT

The winner will remain temporarily anonymous for only 90 days because they used Florida Statute 1024.51 to claim the 345 million they actually won. (They took the lump sum option). After 90 days has passed, The Florida Lottery will release the name of the winner. Statute 1024.51 is designed to give a big winner a 90 day head start on disappearing and that's all it does.

Because the winner has already claimed the prize using their own name, (but it's hidden for 90 days) they still could hire... [ More ]

Comment #12

Powerball765 — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:53:00 GMT

l think the winner is already a rich person that probably doesn't need the money because that part of Florida is flooded by rich people like Late Jack Whitaker . And that part of Florida has lots and lots of millionaires and billionaires that even if someone buys a $10,000,000 home tomorrow he won't be suspected of winning the lottery unless he is Black or Latino and not Tiger Woods lol

Comment #11

grwurston — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:55:44 GMT

Eddie messed up when he bought the ticket himself and it led to him being caught. If he had had someone else buy it we might still not know what he was doing.

Comment #10

Coin Toss — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:29:20 GMT

Nikkicute, Read what Jackpot777 said about not signing the ticket again.

Comment #9

JustMaybe — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 23:24:53 GMT

That all depends on what they do after the win.

I wish them the best of luck in everything

Comment #8

Nikkicute — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 20:21:54 GMT

Who in the world is giving such bad advice, telling a winner NOT to sign a ticket

Comment #7

CDanaT — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:58:37 GMT

I am trying to make sure I am understanding your transparency request. You are asking for more than a live drawing of PING PONG balls and more than a computer generated quick pick on this win or future wins ?? What exactly are you gaining in transparency by plastering someones name and county/city that they are from ?

Convicted Criminal Tipton manipulated an RNG system . Not ping pong balls. It's going to have to take some serious amount of insider manipulation to alter ping pong balls in a... [ More ]

Comment #6

HoLeeKau — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:56:31 GMT

We wouldn't have known about Tipton if the lottery hadn't told us. There are other ways to ensure real people are winning without releasing names.

Comment #5

Jackpot777 — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:25:03 GMT

I'm guessing the winner will stay anonymous after contacting a lawyer and setting up a trust and or LLC... They may end up releasing the name of the lawyer. That's why they are now saying NOT to sign the ticket, so it's not claimed under your name. I believe there are a few exceptions, like in California it is not allowed.

Comment #4

balmplant — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:30:32 GMT

Agree - These people are constantly harassed endlessly for the rest of their lives. Let them be in peace. The lottery systems have more than enough checks and balances internally with audits to maintain the integrity of the game.

Comment #3

gatorsrok — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 14:28:14 GMT

I think some transparency is needed otherwise you could have Eddie Tiptons claiming jackpots off rigging the lottery and we'd never know it.

Comment #2

Tony Numbers — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:53:53 GMT

What is this freaking obsession with needing to know who won? Everyone should mind their own business.

Comment #1

mypiemaster — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:10:48 GMT

Whoever the winner is, is set for life. Probably sitting somewhere grinning from cheek to cheek. No more money worries for a long time. Congrats are in order.

Florida lottery winner of $803 million Mega Millions jackpot claims prize without fanfare

Lottery Post — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:36:10 GMT

Mystery winner quietly takes on multigenerational wealth

By Kate Northrop

The lottery player who won the $803 million Mega Millions jackpot in Florida in July has claimed the prize quietly, but we still won't know their identity for some time.

The Florida Lottery has paid out the winner of the $803 million Mega Millions jackpot without fanfare, meaning one lucky player from Florida is now set for life with a fount of multigenerational wealth.

According to online records, the Flor... [ More ]