Ryan Paterson was at a safety meeting yesterday around 9 a.m. when his boss joked at the end: "Well, I guess unless someone has won that $54 million, I will see you all later."
"That's when Perry came in and piped up about our ticket," the 23-year-old control room operator at Viking Energy Royalty Trust recalled with a grin. "Everything after that is still a blur."
Mr. Paterson and 16 of his co-workers at a small oil and gas company east of Camrose are the winners of the largest lottery jackpot in Canadian history — $54,294,712.
Hours after Perry Mayne announced the workers' windfall in the meeting, the group and their families crammed into the small beige bungalow owned by Darrell Thompson to celebrate and plot their next move.
Mr. Thompson, who goes by the nickname Tomcat, bought the winning Lotto 6/49 ticket for the group at a Camrose Mac's convenience store.
Camrose is a town of about 15,000, an hour southeast of Edmonton.
"How do you react to something like this?" Mr. Thompson, a plant operator, asked a gaggle of reporters gathered in his tiny backyard. "You kind of go, holy ."
Each of the 17 winners — 15 men and two women, most in jeans, baseball caps and T-shirts yesterday — threw in $20 to play the lottery. The numbers were chosen using a shaker filled with numbered cubes. Each will receive $3,193,806.
"We are normal, hard-working people," one of the new millionaires, Calvin Lewis, 43, said as he calmly sipped a Coke and vodka. "We are just the regular Joes out there. There were no superintendents, no big bosses in on it."
Wednesday night's Lotto 6/49 draw surpasses the largest payout on a single lottery ticket in this country. Twice $30-million has been won by single ticket holders — in 2004 by a New Brunswick man and the year before by an Ontario man.
All of the winners yesterday were eagerly discussing how they were planning to use their share. Most talked about quitting their jobs.
"I just turned 55 on Monday. Talk about Freedom 55," Kirk Maetche said.
The married father of two later teared up when talking about nine co-workers who usually purchase tickets but didn't this time. About 30 people work at the plant.
"It's a real shame that some of the boys didn't come in," he said. "We are hoping to do something for them."
The group has already discussed giving some of their winnings those co-workers.
"We have to do something for those guys. It wouldn't be right to leave them out. We've all been working together for 15, 20 years," said Mr. Thompson, who is planning to use his share to buy "the wife a house, the daughter a car and then go from there."
Judy Larson, who is married to one of the winners, Daryl, said she expects that the rest of the country is wondering, "It's Alberta, don't they all already have enough money?
"In all honesty, this couldn't have happened to a more hard-working group of people," she said. "It's great that it just wasn't one person who won it — that would have been terrible."
The group decided to put the ticket in a safety deposit box yesterday and party the night away. Today, they are expected to drive to St. Albert, a city close to Edmonton, to turn in the ticket. The chances of holding the winning combination of six numbers are estimated at one in 14 million.
"In all honesty, this couldn't have happened to a more hard-working group of people," she said. "It's great that it just wasn't one person who won it — that would have been terrible."
Those Canadians must think the American lottery winners are just terrible since so many of them show up to claim jackpots of $100M or more by themselves.
"In all honesty, this couldn't have happened to a more hard-working group of people," she said. "It's great that it just wasn't one person who won it — that would have been terrible."
Those Canadians must think the American lottery winners are just terrible since so many of them show up to claim jackpots of $100M or more by themselves.
Yeah but I'm betting that Mrs. Judy Larson wouldn't have turned down the jackpot prize if it had just been her husband who won. lol.
Anyways congrats to all those winners!
Good to see another heart-warmer win. Good on those folks.
Jack
It will happen for people like us one day. You don't have a chance until you have a dog in the hunt.
you are right Cahaba. I am so happy for our North American Neighbors. Way to go. And to think you are so kind to think of those who used to play and did not this time. Way to go!
This must be one happy syndicate!!
Did any of them get in on the US$340 million Powerball? They probably know we tax lottery prizes.
I think it's cool too that they are going to do a little something for those who regularly played but didn't get in that drawing.
That's class. I'm real happy for them and applaud their comaraderie.
Feel sorry for the company's Human Resources dept. though. They gotta start replacing people quick. Maybe that would be a good job opportunity for some other folks in that area.
I think it's cool too that they are going to do a little something for those who regularly played but didn't get in that drawing.
That's class. I'm real happy for them and applaud their comaraderie.
Feel sorry for the company's Human Resources dept. though. They gotta start replacing people quick. Maybe that would be a good job opportunity for some other folks in that area.
Rick:
I wanted to quote your signature. A team with "Sox" in its nickname has won the last eight World Series games.
At least the pool was clear about who was in the pool from the get go, every member threw in $20 and it didn't include any co-workers that had intentions of contributing a couple of dollars in the future if they won.
Congratulations to the Oil Company in Canada taking home 54 million. Which oil company in Canada won the jackpot?
Boy we Americans are so spoiled. If I saw $54 million posted on a lottery status display I'd keep driving, anticipating that $100 million + mark. I suppose they aren't quite as greedy as us. I'm so glad to see hard-working people get a break.
OCTOBER 31ST..........6:15 PM EST
HEY.THERE......."LOTTOPHENE".....pleeeezzzzzzeeeee....speak for yourself alone.......
As an American Woman, who plays both the "MM & Powerball"......even when it's only $15-20Mil let me say those "low millions" look very good to me, and it would be $15 million more than I had when I walked into the store to play the game in the Fst place. Admittedly, I am pampered in other ways, but not where money is conerned. LOLOLOLOLOLO
ADDENDUM:
The Canadians have it made.........NO TAXATION ON LOTTERY WINNINGS.......HHHHMMMMM....
Must be very nice....................
ADDENDUM:
The Canadians have it made.........NO TAXATION ON LOTTERY WINNINGS.......HHHHMMMMM....
Must be very nice....................
Why won't somebody introduce a bill in the US Congress to end federal taxes on gambling winnings? The revenue can be made up elsewhere.
NOVEMBER...2ND......5:25 PM EST
CASH:.......You know Congress is far toooooo greeeedy to give up this "extremely easy way" of making more revenue.....let's face it....it's impossible to waste money which you don't have.
AND:when it comes down to the "Fleecing Of America" no group of "self important people" has ever wasted money to the magnitude of our US Congress........Everytime one of us "hits" the Lottery in this Country.....Congress hits it tooooooooo...............
OCTOBER 31ST..........6:15 PM EST
HEY.THERE......."LOTTOPHENE".....pleeeezzzzzzeeeee....speak for yourself alone.......
As an American Woman, who plays both the "MM & Powerball"......even when it's only $15-20Mil let me say those "low millions" look very good to me, and it would be $15 million more than I had when I walked into the store to play the game in the Fst place. Admittedly, I am pampered in other ways, but not where money is conerned. LOLOLOLOLOLO
Okay, alright, okay, alright Ms Libra . . . . . . . so only a few of us knuckleheads are spoiled. I just think $54 million is small fries, especially after September's $250 million plus MM, last month's PB doozy and the current MM. Of course any of us would settle for $54 million as a warm-up.
OCTOBER 31ST..........6:15 PM EST
HEY.THERE......."LOTTOPHENE".....pleeeezzzzzzeeeee....speak for yourself alone.......
As an American Woman, who plays both the "MM & Powerball"......even when it's only $15-20Mil let me say those "low millions" look very good to me, and it would be $15 million more than I had when I walked into the store to play the game in the Fst place. Admittedly, I am pampered in other ways, but not where money is conerned. LOLOLOLOLOLO
Okay, alright, okay, alright Ms Libra . . . . . . . so only a few of us knuckleheads are spoiled. I just think $54 million is small fries, especially after September's $250 million plus MM, last month's PB doozy and the current MM. Of course any of us would settle for $54 million as a warm-up.
Please check the usamega.com pages for the differences between annuity and cash; and the difference between $54 million tax free and $250 million in thirty years - paying taxes the whole time. Your acceptance of the term knucklehead is obviously without any limitations.
Be glad the branding, on the forehead, has long been banned. Perhaps, you should consider a Platinum Membership so that you can tell the difference between taxes and no taxes and annuity and cash. You might win some day, and I whould hate to see you have a heart attack when you learn the difference.
OCTOBER 31ST..........6:15 PM EST
HEY.THERE......."LOTTOPHENE".....pleeeezzzzzzeeeee....speak for yourself alone.......
As an American Woman, who plays both the "MM & Powerball"......even when it's only $15-20Mil let me say those "low millions" look very good to me, and it would be $15 million more than I had when I walked into the store to play the game in the Fst place. Admittedly, I am pampered in other ways, but not where money is conerned. LOLOLOLOLOLO
Okay, alright, okay, alright Ms Libra . . . . . . . so only a few of us knuckleheads are spoiled. I just think $54 million is small fries, especially after September's $250 million plus MM, last month's PB doozy and the current MM. Of course any of us would settle for $54 million as a warm-up.
Please check the usamega.com pages for the differences between annuity and cash; and the difference between $54 million tax free and $250 million in thirty years - paying taxes the whole time. Your acceptance of the term knucklehead is obviously without any limitations.
Be glad the branding, on the forehead, has long been banned. Perhaps, you should consider a Platinum Membership so that you can tell the difference between taxes and no taxes and annuity and cash. You might win some day, and I whould hate to see you have a heart attack when you learn the difference.
Branding . . . not a candidate pal, try again. Seems you’ve taken the liberty of imposing some unspecified details to the argument. Since clarity’s begging I would lean towards a $250 million taxed (oh let’s say 30%), cash jackpot over $54 million tax-free if left choosing. Duh . . wouldn’t you?!
OCTOBER 31ST..........6:15 PM EST
HEY.THERE......."LOTTOPHENE".....pleeeezzzzzzeeeee....speak for yourself alone.......
As an American Woman, who plays both the "MM & Powerball"......even when it's only $15-20Mil let me say those "low millions" look very good to me, and it would be $15 million more than I had when I walked into the store to play the game in the Fst place. Admittedly, I am pampered in other ways, but not where money is conerned. LOLOLOLOLOLO
Okay, alright, okay, alright Ms Libra . . . . . . . so only a few of us knuckleheads are spoiled. I just think $54 million is small fries, especially after September's $250 million plus MM, last month's PB doozy and the current MM. Of course any of us would settle for $54 million as a warm-up.
Please check the usamega.com pages for the differences between annuity and cash; and the difference between $54 million tax free and $250 million in thirty years - paying taxes the whole time. Your acceptance of the term knucklehead is obviously without any limitations.
Be glad the branding, on the forehead, has long been banned. Perhaps, you should consider a Platinum Membership so that you can tell the difference between taxes and no taxes and annuity and cash. You might win some day, and I whould hate to see you have a heart attack when you learn the difference.
Branding . . . not a candidate pal, try again. Seems you’ve taken the liberty of imposing some unspecified details to the argument. Since clarity’s begging I would lean towards a $250 million taxed (oh let’s say 30%), cash jackpot over $54 million tax-free if left choosing. Duh . . wouldn’t you?!
Only if I admitted to being a knucklehead first.
30%, you obviously have no concept of tax laws. I can't believe you actually typed that number. It has to be a typo. Have you slept through the years of threads on taxes for the mega-rich? Your wag (defininetly not a swag) is not even close. Have you ever looked at your W2? A puny paycheck, with a taxable income below $250K comes to way over 39%; remember, most states consider $100K as rich; anything over that become open season. Try the OMB website for education.
No matter how you managed to manipulate the formal tax impact, you would still have to (1) give it away to charaties, etc., or (2) spread it out over extensive periods (trusts) where you would not have access to it in your lifetime. Money not accessable during your lifetime is money you do not have; unless that concept confuses you. Even if you played the "off shore" game, like Ted Kennedy does with his $500M in trusts, you still have that expense - and inaccessabity factor.
Since lawyers and accountants that deal with the multimillions, deal in percentages, the cost of those individuals, plus other long term expenses will have to counted as an impact to the base - take home - value. Unless, of course, you are an expert and don't need those expenses (hehehehehehe). The cummlative losses, for 30-years, would overrule the $250M (after 30 years) over the immediate tax free.
Take your $250M, spread it over 30-years, (if the projected investment in an unknown 30-year market works out) and pay the IRS to monitor your every inhale and exhale, while you spend money after money protecting funds you will never see. I'll take the $54M, pay not a single penney in taxes, enjoy it all in my lifetime. I won't have to wait any longer then the time it takes to go into the buiilding and claim it all- every single penny. I'll have the whole $54M to invest, or just plain give away. How much of the $250M will you have, each year, to spend, give away, or just look at? I think you will be spending the last 30-days of each year watching the bank deposits, so you can finally say, ahh, another small percentage is now mine - then start writing the annual checks to the lawyers, accountants, and who ever else has a hand in your pocket. 30-years if check writing, to stay out of jail.
Chewie,
Mr. CPA / tax assessor / platinum badgeholder:
Rigmarole aside, just tell me that a $54 million tax-free item has more upfront value than a $250 million, CASH (not annuitized), 30% taxed item. If so then I will concede this exchange.
Chewie,
Mr. CPA / tax assessor / platinum badgeholder:
Rigmarole aside, just tell me that a $54 million tax-free item has more upfront value than a $250 million, CASH (not annuitized), 30% taxed item. If so then I will concede this exchange.
Curious, where you gonna get this $250M cash? Remember, U.S. Federal limit is $500M; and the lottery people choose to use annuity as their base. I easily see $54M in an out of U.S. lottery, $250M isn't impossible, but then neither is Angelina Jolie adopting me as her third child. Could happen!
Chewie,
Mr. CPA / tax assessor / platinum badgeholder:
Rigmarole aside, just tell me that a $54 million tax-free item has more upfront value than a $250 million, CASH (not annuitized), 30% taxed item. If so then I will concede this exchange.
Curious, where you gonna get this $250M cash? Remember, U.S. Federal limit is $500M; and the lottery people choose to use annuity as their base. I easily see $54M in an out of U.S. lottery, $250M isn't impossible, but then neither is Angelina Jolie adopting me as her third child. Could happen!
$250 million, cash value $125 million (low-balling it). Minus $37.5 million at 30% = approx. $87,500,000.00 > $54,000,000.00. What moron expects to clear $250 million from a US game?!?
The only person that fits the description, you! By definition.
The only person that fits the description, you! By definition.
I'm not yer daddy!
The only person that fits the description, you! By definition.
I'm not yer daddy!
That is a given, he never called himself, or considered himself, a knucklehead.