Includes video report
ROSEVILLE, Minn. — Thomas and Kathleen Morris, a couple from Burnsville, Minnesota, walked into the Minnesota State Lottery headquarters around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon to claim the nearly $229 million winning Powerball ticket.
"It started on Monday," Kathleen said. "We met with our financial adviser and things didn't look very promising. I told Tom the only way we're going to retire is if we win the lottery."
Minnesota's newest millionaires bought the winning ticket at a SuperAmerica at 16161 Cedar Avenue in Lakeville. Morris said he usually buys three Powerball tickets, but decided to buy five on Aug. 10 for the big jackpot.
"I told the kid at the counter, you don't need to sell anymore, I've got the winning ticket," Tom said.
The five tickets were all quick-picks. The fourth ticket was the winner. Kathleen said she kept the winning Powerball ticket in a plastic bag.
"We didn't want to lose it, we didn't want to tear it, we didn't want to soil it," Tom said.
When Kathleen heard some of the numbers, Tom was on the road to Indiana. She dismissed the drawing, saying they didn't sound like numbers she would have picked anyway.
But the couple was watching the 9 p.m. news when they learned someone in Dakota County won the Powerball jackpot. They remembered the Powerball was 38, which matched one of their tickets, sending them on a mission to cross-check the numbers.
The $228.9 million Powerball jackpot is the largest ever in Minnesota. The winners can take an annuity payment over 30 years, or a cash option that comes out to $83.7 million after taxes. As for which option they'll take, Kathleen said they need to talk with their financial adviser, saying this time it will be a more pleasant conversation.
Minnesota State Lottery acting director Jenny Canfield said the lottery's office received calls from several players who didn't win expressing excitement that the winning ticket was sold in Minnesota.
The Powerball winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 11, 18, 36, 41, 46 and the Powerball was 38.
When Tom and Kathleen called friends and family to share the news, most of them said it couldn't have happened to a nicer couple.
"We're just going to live the way we have, just a little bit higher," Kathleen said.
I wish them the best, that peace, joy and many memorable family events. I just wish also they had stayed anonymous.
Those presious people are just like us.Always worrying about the next payday...now it's lifted away...Several less loves ones not to have to worry anymore...That makes me cry for joy for them all...What a blessing I was given today.
Congrats to the winners!!!!!!!!!
Just a little FYI. You can't be anonymous in the state of Minnesota!
Can you be anonymous anywhere, just a thought, we live in a technology society, someone is going to snap your picture ,lol, also state lottery workers will talk if no one else does, just my opinion
Nice story, God bless 'em.
glad random people with a random qp won it seems
their gerls look young for 20s, they should enjoy their parents money!
and a 86 grandmom even getting something, how sweet
funny he had a set buying limit of 3 normal , but changed it cease he just had a 5 bill, i take 5,
lucky buyer :D
"We're just going to live the way we have, just a little bit higher," Kathleen said."
Now that statement puzzles me a little bit.
But I ain't sayin' nothin'.
Just sayin...
"It only takes one. It was our turn this time." <-- I hope to say that one day myself.
Congrats to the couple. Hope they were on their way out of town after that promo.
PS - Glad to hear they are MSU fans from Mi rather than "that other little school down the road". I'm a big follower of MSU basketball/Tom Izzo myself.
except for all the begging
,lol
congrats to the Morris,s wishing them the very best.
Headed to Georgia .....I hope I'm the next Pillsbury winner tonight ,wouldnt that be something......I dont know him personally but I bet he has placed conveyers in our plant though..I will buy 5 quick picks like he did....
I hope you win too TTL, good luck in Georgia!
This was just another great american story They will spend the money as they get it;
They seem like a nice couple. CONGRATS TO THEM!!! The husband still kinda has that deer in the headlights look about him.
I wish they had spoken with their financial advisor BEFORE they did a news conference. I'm sure some IRS employee will see this story and be looking to nab some gift taxes from them for what they give their family (daughters) in excess of the $12,000 allowed /person/year.
Personally, I think they went public too soon gave way too much information about themselves.
I hope they don't wind up on the next curse of the lottery
Congrats to the the lucky couple, Live Higher.
I have been wondering why always the money goes to retired olds and not goes to young people who have tremendous amount of responsibilities ahead
that pisses me off
The only way around that little bit of IRS Tax code is to do it in the form of a Trust!
And the other smart way to do it is;
“Control Everything, Own Nothing” - John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller – one of the richest men in American history - said it best, "
Own nothing, control everything". How can you not own your investment properties, yet still control them? By forming Land Trusts, LLCs, and Corporations and letting these entities own your property.
"....They usually buy 3 tickets but decided to buy 5..." omg! 5 tickets only? and the way I have given up on ever winning with less than 10 tickets.
Our lottery group played 23 lines and won nothing :'(
oh well, aluta continua
I'm puzzled too, Ridge. With that much dough I would make a lot of changes in my life and have a blast. Hey, maybe I'd even send you a case of Jack Daniels.
I'm also puzzled that you "ain't sayin' nothin'." You don't seem to be the bashful sort.
I agree. They talked too much and answered too many questions. And they need to start thinking for themselves a bit and not depend so much on their financial advisor.
Well when she said they would live pretty much the same except "higher" it just kinda reminded me of that old song:
We're gonna sit down in the kitchen
Fix us something good to eat
Make our heads a little high
Make the whole day complete
We're gonna lay around the shanty, Mama
And put a good buzz on.
But I don't wanna cast any aspersions so that's why I ain't sayin' nothin'.
congrats to tom and kathleen enjoy!!!
Old people need it more.
They gotta pay for their Metamucil and Ex-Lax and Preparation-H and Viagra and Depends and hearing aids and Fix-O-Dent and hair dye and all that.
Ask tiggs.
Nice win with a QP. Congrats to the couples.
Sad to hear they can't retire unless they won the lottery. Now, they can enjoy their remaining years in abundance.
LOL Ahhh, the hubris of the young. Before you know it, Pharaoh, you'll be their age. Good for you if you've got tremendous responsibilites ahead of you. Now you can experience the same joy they did in living a good, contributing, responsible life and hope there's a happy surprise in it for you, too. Trust me on this...you NEVER get so old that you aren't grateful for a lottery win.
To answer your question, though, the reason it goes so often to retired old people is because that's who's playing the lottery. At your age, you ought to be saving your money and socking it away for retirement instead of hoping that a one in 95 million chance on winning a lottery will solve all your problems.
Congratulations!!!
It appears that you are what is referred to as a "short term" thinker ... vs. a "big thinker." Because a big thinker, firstly, wouldn't be resenting other winners, regardless of their being older or younger than oneself. Secondly, a big thinker (observer) would have noticed that nowadays, one can live into their 90s. In the case of these two jackpot winners, each is in their early 60s, which makes them 'latter middle-aged.' Therefore, each should be budgeting with an eye to the possibility of requiring spending monies up to 37 more years. I am glad that their have their minds geared towards gifting monies towards those individuals that they know vs. long-arm-transaction formal charities.
Anyhow, CONGRATULATIONS to these two winners!
Caveat: Certainly, would have been kinder and wiser if EACH member of their immediate 4-adult persons family had claimed this huge jackpot (apx. pre-taxed $57.25/each) on the Minnesota Lottery's claim form though!!! That way EACH of the 4 adults would have been made multiple-millionaires within a month. However, apparently it was more important to be an impulse, unrested, fast-mover: be high on the mental adrenalin of winning big $$$, sleep for about two hours, skip breakfast so as to remain unrecharged, eat an unnecessary free lunch at a restaurant after presenting yourselves as jackpot winners to the owners, drive a few hours to the lottery office to personally obtain and fill-out a claim form (that forgets about one's two adult daughters who appear to be very close logistically AND emotionally to your life), give a "cleaver" interview (repeatedly saying "bought five random (computer generated) tickets" rather than the more accurate "bought 1 ticket with 5 draw lines"), then wait the additional 2-4 weeks required before receiving the jackpot funds electronically into their deposit account. Unfortunately, as a result of their unrested "fire-aim-ready approach" it is too late for these two winners to get another opportunity to first visit their financial advisor (though this 'working stiff' may have not be wise enough to ask "is their anyone aged 18 or older that you'd like to add to your one-chance-to-fill-out claim form, listing each a certain percentage subtracted from the 100% total?), or re-fill out the claim form. ESSENTIALLY CRAP, for their two adult daughters, it will be a real DROP when each daughter eventually realizes this unintended HUGE financial void!!!
From watching the video, they're wonderful people and God Bless 'em!
I cant help but wonder about something though. He's kind of low key, he says just enough, but she isnt doing a good job holding her enthusiasm in check, which is understandable. But she's going to have to learn to do that.
It strikes me that they havent yet realized how much unwanted attention is headed their way.
You made excellent, well-thought-out points. Very few people think about what they would do should they win the lottery. I have, and know exactly what I would do when I win the jackpot.
As a follow up to my previous post, HaveABall, lottery winnings are not taxed in Canada, nor are gifts.
If a US visitor buys a lottery ticket in Canada and wins a jackpot, he will be given a cheque for the full amount. However, when he returns home he will have to report his win to his Uncle and pay the taxes due on it.
I wish them courage and good fortune as long as they live on earth ! ! !
At age 58 I am glad that the "old" win alot of the jackpots!
It goes to the people who have the winning tickets. If young people want to win more, maybe they should try spending more on lottery tickets instead of beer and cigarettes.
... and Red Bull, concerts, sports, big-screen TVs., health club memberships, fast food restaurants, vacations, medium-large pets, etc. LOL.
I have found it possible and quite pleasurable, I might add, to buy lottery tickets and copious amounts of beer which I consume with reckless abandon.
Whiskey too.
I gave up cigarettes though which provides an improved cash flow, facilitating increased expenditures for binge drinking after presidential news conferences.
But you're quite correct in asserting that a man's got to know his limitations.
It strikes me that they havent yet realized how much unwanted attention is headed their way.
Exactly what I was thinking.
I also wonder at the lack of mention for an estate atty. At least I do not recall the mention. I'd call the atty before I'd call the planner. Then have the meeting with both at the same time.
Best of luck to them.
Listening & Acting to Our Intutions-
it is vital for our mental health to keep the channels open, because when the voices of the gods are shut out, the devils often take up residence.
What happens when the gods and the devils aren't available?
That's what all my wives never understood about all them other wimmins.
The devil made me do it!
What the video is so aptly demonstrating is a mistake that is made by many lottery jackpot winners. They havent had sufficient time to think it all over and decide what to do next. They claimed the money too quickly.
At the risk of offending some of the ladies that post here, I have to believe that she's the reason for that. She cant contain herself. Notice she responded to every question, even if the question was directed towards the husband. I also think he knows her very well, and he's content to let her have her way. And there's nothing wrong with that, if that's what he thinks he should do. I understand why he might do that, because it's what I do with my wife. We've been happily married over thirty years.
IMHO, there's a lot that can be learned from the mistake being made in the video. Dont get me wrong, I wish them no ill-will. But they are being presented to the public far too early, and that's on them. The drawing was held less than a week ago. They probably did visit their financial planner/advisor prior to going public, but it takes more time than fewer than seven days to get it right. They've got too much thinking and discussing that needs to be done.
But hey... her frustration about him not being able to retire is now gone. That aint so bad!
Said quite politely. Thank you for gearing that matter accordingly. I have a huge problem with young folks wanting hand outs blowing it on things not worth long term then rushing back to the elders for more money.
As a poster said, we really arent as anonymous as we would like to think we are. Drive on a highway, snap!Photo taken. Go to a bank, Snap photo taken, walk down a street, snap picture taken. Talk on a phone...it is being recorded for your *cough*, Protection.
I dont care if the winners stuff the money in a giraffe and dance around with it for years...its their winnings...have at it.
I would have told the cashier to keep the money flowing on player tickets, that way its more money in the pot when claimed :)
CONGRATULATIONS!
Good For You!
yea, after i gave up the cigs,i said now i have $ for lottery,LOL quite an incentive to keep going,w/out cigs.
I have a feeling the reason you feel this way is based on what you would probably do if you won when you're older. Since you resent these people winning, I suspect you would probably have no interest in including your kids, as they're planning to do. One way you could do your part to reduce the number of seniors winning would be to stop buying tickets once you reach 50!
By the way...
Larga vida a la picks rápida!
man you have no idea how much i have spent on lotteries, scratch offs.
but as it might seem to be 99% blessings and 1% pure luck.
keep up the prayers!
thanks,
Congrats to the winners............
Totally awesome, WTG! Congratulations to Thomas & Kathleen Morris!
Maybe the moral of the story is ," a life of hard work and dedication pays off."
Stop your moaning and set some goals for yourself.
WTG sully16 ............ nicely put ................ I get tired of the Greed of Envy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know in most states they are required to release the name and the city where the winners live but are you legally required to have your pictures taken or held a press conference?
redhot7,just a guess here but,i'm thinkin there lots of pressure to do the press thing.
maybe like the way you get jerked around when you buy a new car.
that is to say,you just to want to get it overwith,but the salesperson.
(in this case the people that work at the lottery HQ )well, they got all day.
i know it, i tried the job(selling cars) and hated it.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned their financial guy yet. I mean, he's probably good for what they hired him for ORIGINALLY.... but really, you just won a ton of money, that doesn't mean this guy knows what to do with/about it. It doesn't hurt to talk to other financial planners to get their opinions.
I really think he (financial planner) blew it and they should look elsewhere for a new one. Unless the case is that they didn't follow his advice.
OTOH, I understand the wife to an extent. I'm afraid that when I win the lottery, I'll be driving somewhere and get killed before I can claim it/tell anyone about it. However, you really need to take the time to think and work things out before claiming.
I guess the key here is that they indicated they have not decided annuity or cash. They have the luxury to claim fast, but hold off on the decision until they have consulted with whoever they decide to consult, AND go into semi-hiding. This does null claiming in a trust or limited family partnership. I still think they should have consulted first, after putting the ticket in either a bank lock box or fire proof safe.
I won't claim until I know I can afford to go into hiding, assuming I can't bypass the exposure of publicity. Being a single female living alone would pose a danger to myself if my name is put out there along with my location after a lottery jackpot win. However, I am fully and legally protected against home invasion (social work as my dad calls it).
"However, you really need to take the time to think and work things out before claiming."
I agree. Good advice!
Each state has their own protocols which tend to benefit them more than the winner in the preponderance of cases.
677 fell in washington