San Jose, California, resident Daniel Bruckner visited relatives in New York for the holidays last month and came home with quite a souvenir: a $208 million winning lottery ticket.
A Silicon Valley financial analyst swept in Friday to collect a $208 million windfall after buying a single Mega Millions ticket last month at a Long Island supermarket.
The couple will return home to San Jose, Calif., with an after-tax windfall of $101,440,236.
"They are happy for themselves, but I think it's really hitting them that the baby's future is going to be so affected," a family friend said.
But don't expect any Beyoncé-style preparations for the youngster. The father-to-be said he would take pains not to "end up one of those stories where you blow it all."
The goal, he said, is "just trying to be true to who you are, and hopefully you can stay the people who you were before."
Daniel Bruckner, born and raised on the West Coast, was nearly as stunned as the hard-luck New Yorkers who watched the Californian fill his carpetbags with cash.
"The first 10 times you read it, you don't believe it," said the 35-year-old San Jose, Calif., resident. "We're just so happy and lucky."
Bruckner's New York connection is his wife Christine, a Long Island native who joined him at the suburban store where he purchased the winning ticket in the Dec. 27 drawing. He was visiting the in-laws over the holidays when the spirit came upon him to plunk down a buck on the day after Christmas. He typically stops by the store, King Kullen, in Middle Island, to shop when in town, and that's where he bought a meal and his millions.
"I picked up food for dinner and saw how big the jackpot was, so I decided to buy a ticket," the fortunate financier said.
He plunked down $26 for computer-generated Quick Pick tickets and headed home.
Bruckner didn't play a single lucky number, opting for a quick picks to cash in on his 1-in-175 million odds of winning. The newly minted millionaire thought so little of his chances that he didn't bother checking his numbers until the morning after the drawing.
And boy, was he stunned when he did.
Daniel's father-in-law alerted his daughter the next morning that the winning ticket had been bought at the same store.
"To humor him, I went upstairs and woke Dan up and said jokingly, 'My dad thinks you won. Go check your numbers,' " she said.
Daniel sifted through a few losing tickets before discovering the winning stub. The ticket had the Mega numbers 23, 32, 33, 39, 43 and a Mega Ball of 8.
"The numbers just lined up," he said. "It didn't seem real."
He stashed the ticket in a safe-deposit box before heading back to California for work.
With all of Long Island buzzing about the mystery winners for three weeks, the couple managed to keep their secret until yesterday's announcement.
"It's been very hard for me because I'm around my friends and family, and they're all talking about it because it's the big buzz, and I couldn't say anything," Christine recalled.
The couple was hesitant to answer personal questions, but Christine, who works in the mortgage business, said they had gone through stressful financial times in recent years.
The pair said the money obligations that had been looming over them — like student loans, a mortgage and other debts — will be wiped out instantaneously.
"This will help," Christine said with a smile.
Her husband said he will return to work in California — at least for now.
"There are a lot of people who are depending on me there," he said. "There are a lot of projects going on. And I think it's important . . . keeping things normal right now."
Friends and family streamed into the Bruckners' modest home to congratulate them yesterday. A portion of the winnings was dedicated to party supplies — two 12-packs of Corona, one of Dos Equis and one of Heineken Light.
The winning couple, whose San Jose home is worth more than $500,000, took a lump sum payoff of $101 million after taxes.
"I'm sure he'll have a lot of new friends he didn't even know he had before," neighbor Steve Rodriguez said.
Bruckner's high-school sweetheart and ex-wife, Dawn Reily, 35, said he deserved the jackpot — but couldn't help taking a potshot at her former spouse.
"I wouldn't say he was generous," said Reily, a single mom who lost her teaching job and is working three gigs to make ends meet.
Reily said she tried to contact Bruckner several times in recent years, but he failed to return her emails.
"I'm jealous. I'm so jealous. We could really use that right now," said the Ventura, Calif., resident. "Send some of that luck my way!"
San Jose neighbor Steve Rodriguez says the couple moved into a three-bedroom home a couple years ago, and just finished putting in a lush front lawn. Records show the house is worth more than $500,000.
Bruckner, the father of a small girlyoung daughter, is a friendly guy who's quick with a wave — but Rodriguez wonders if he's long for the neighborhood.
"I wish him all the luck and hope things don't change too much, but I know they will," Rodriguez said. "I'm sure he'll have a lot of new friends he didn't even know he had before."
The California couple demurred when asked what they would do with the money, saying they needed time to consider the endless options.
"It's very surreal," Bruckner said. "It's exciting, but very surreal."
Three New Yorkers came oh-so-close to splitting the prize with Bruckner. None picked the Mega Ball number, leaving each with a $250,000 prize.
Bruckner said he had played the Mega Millions a few times prior to his victory, but never won more than a few bucks.
Rodriguez, a 20-year resident of San Jose, said he was looking forward to welcoming his now-megawealthy neighbor back home.
"I'm happy for him, totally happy for him," said Rodriguez. "That's great that somebody on my street has won."
Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game that picks winning numbers twice a week. California and New York are two of 42 states that participate, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bruckner's winning numbers were 23, 32, 33, 39, and 43, with Mega Ball number 8.
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Congratz on the collection of $ 208 million windfall pretax
It's not clear if his high school sweetheart ex Ms. Dawn Reily haves a kid with Mr. Bruckner but if she does I hope he does right by his child. If that is not the case than Dawn is on her own and will be not be living the "Life of Reily!" Unless he decides to throw a couple of dollars her way, but I'm sure the current wife wouldn't agree to it! Like Puff said "Mo Money Mo Problems!" Sure would like to have those kind of problems though! Congrats to the Bruckner's.
Bruckner's high-school sweetheart and ex-wife, Dawn Reily, 35, said: "I wouldn't say he was generous."
Well there's a self-fulfilling prophecy for ya. LOL.
My Mom & Dad used to live on Long Island .............. and I have visited California ................. maybe that means that I will win tonite ......................
going GREEN with money tonite .......................
Congratulations to the Bruckners
Why is it necessary to twice mention the Bruckner's home in CA is worth $500,000?
Bruckner's ex-wife is a single mom working three jobs - doesn't sound like Bruckner is the father; and
If he's not the father, why is ex-wife trying "to contact Bruckner several times in recent years" but he's not answering her emails.
IMO article shouldn't have quoted his shady ex-wife - stirring up a hornet's nest with that one - she is definitely looking to get some of that $$$. If he didn't answer her emails before, don't think he's gonna answer them now that's for sure!
Congrats to the Lucky couple
SEEING IS BELIEVING.
The main attraction about this story is seeing a copy of the actual winning ticket unlike other lottery stories where people claimed to win with $1 quick pick ticket and there is no actual copy of the winning ticket to be seen.
Congrats to the growing family. IF Bruckner has a child with the ex, let's hope he will man up to his responsibility. On the other hand, if the ex's child is not his, then she needs to learn that divorce means one is no longer responsible for the other.
Depends on the length of the marriage, too; CA has some "interesting" divorce laws.
"...why is ex-wife trying "to contact Bruckner several times in recent years"..."
I can answer that one cuz I got a little experience in that area.
Here's the answer:
They realize they never had it so good and they wanna come back and will do anything including trying to destroy your new relationship/marriage to do it.
And that is why I don't give out personal info to anybody, cuz I got a couple of 'em who would love to know my whereabouts.
But right now they don't know if I'm up on Wolverton Mountain or lost in Miller's Cave.
And that's the way I like it.
Congrats to the winners...............
thanks time*treat,great tune,
hey ridgerunner, is this song about you ? LOL
LOL nice one!
Very awesome story!
Classic RESPONSE. Classic Country Music Hit! Lol...lol...lol...lol. Hadn't heard this one in a while. This was a treat indeed.
after reading more than a few winner stories, my belief has been confirmed: god likes drama. except for a few cases, many jackpot winners have some messy drama to take care of. and i strongly believe that god enjoys that. see, that's why i am extra careful when i pray to god. all the god's answers have strings attatched so sometimes no answer is the good answer.
just my musing as a spiritual person.
$500,000 house in Silicon Valley is just a regular old house.
financial analyst... another wealthy guy winning...
Uh, wrong dude. Financial Analyst does not make enough to be considered 'wealthy' considering regional cost of living. I don't know too many financial analysts who live in half million dollar homes around here, and there are 5 in my office. Should they live in Silicon Valley where the cost of living is higher, I'm sure they have a higher net paycheck than an area of lower cost of living.
Let's not demean the forum with the greed of envy. Everyone here is wanting to win the lottery. And the lottery has no bias.
Well haymaker, it could be, dadgum straight! LOL.
Thanks time*treat! I can't watch it but I know it well.
He is going to need that jackpot to pay for his baby on the way. My sister has kids and it costs a lot to raise kids these days. $100 million sounds about right to raise his newborn!-weshar75
well i made a judgement, based on how the story is written. it tells about his 500K dollar house a bunch of times and about him being a financial analyst and living in the valley. the impression it gives off to the reader is that he was wealthy, maybe he wasnt, but one thing is for sure, he is now. no demeaning happening here.
From the article
"Buckner, the father to a small girl, young daughter."
Probably why they quote the "shady" ex wife.
Congratulations jackpot winner!!!
I hope that this winner's daughter, living with his ex-wife in California, will soon begin to receive more monies from him each month and throughout her lifetime. I hope the same for his undelivered son or daughter. Helps family members warm.
Love it when an out of stater who is just passing through scores a major lotto! Happened in my home state of NH a couple years back with Powerball. A middle aged couple from out west were visiting with friends over the weekend. While shopping at one of our famous state liquor stores they picked up a couple quick picks....and presto, instant $$$Millionaires$$$
No rhyme or reason.....just being at the right place/right time.... .sprinkled with just a little good karma.
I make it a point to stop by my neighboring state of Mass. every Friday to pick up a couple of scratchers, easy picks on their Mega-bucks Doubler, Cash Winfall and Mass Cash. My time is coming Mass!!!
wow ........... living in a $500,000 house in Silicon Valley is not extravagant by any means.
I went to Realtor.com & searched for $500,000 homes in San Jose, CA & found modest homes listed!
I know 2 "wall street type" people, & each one of them have worked many years at the college level to EARN the positions that they have!
He most likely went to college and EARNED a college degree ........... instead of graduating from high school with straight D's and expecting free everything, from those that studied !!!!!!!!!!
I have a BFA from a State University and I still like free stuff.
I like free stuff too (though I don't get any). Everybody likes free stuff. There are people (myself included) who even like to provide free stuff through charitable giving.
The rub, however, is when the government forces us to provide free stuff to people as a safety net, purportedly for emergency situations on a temporary basis and the people who are provided with the safety net turn it into a hammock for life that they refuse to give up.
There are generations of families that have grown up expecting the government (you and me) to support them. They know all the tricks and scams and ploys to keep the money coming and they are provided with and enjoy many things that some of us who support them have to do without.
And this process carried out to it's inevitable conclusion, can be seen in places like Greece right now where the non-producers who want free stuff have now outnumbered the workers who provide the free stuff. They are now rioting for a continuation of their free stuff which is simply impossible.
And that's the path our current administration has chosen to take us down.
God help us.
Pretty much.
At least a) it was quick picks (true luck) instead of like those three shady guys from Connecticut, and b) he let his face be shown instead of hiding behind two shell corporations and a pack of out of state lawyers.
That's exactly correct, if anyone should happen to be of ivy league education, have good family blood, or certain financial blessings.......let's STONE THE BASTURD'S,.......... WHAT RIGHT DO THEY HAVE TO WIN A LOTTERY??? That lottery winning was meant for us desperate players, who have played for years, have spent thousands of dollars, and are so angry that everyone else has got ahead but,........ ME.
Get over it................either you get a better education, start playing and working smarter, or realize it's YOU that's the problem IDIOT
I just purchased my first $2 Powerball Ticket & it STILL cost less than a $20 Raffle Ticket !
but I will only lose $2 if I don't win .................
Good luck dpoly1, got my two PB 3 easy picks 2-DAY.......got my fingers, toes & karma all crossed.
do you know how many people went to college and are either unemployed or out of work? i'll give you a hint, it's a lot more than the 2 people that you "know". i don't think any one of them is expecting free everything, just a chance to live the american dream. anyway, im glad you cleared it all up for us because i didn't care enough to go to realtor.com and look up what a 500K home looks like.
Well, the concept of welfare is a dillema. There will be, always be unfortunate suckers who can't run in the rat race. But what are we gonna do? Leave them to starve and die? But if we have cradle-to-grave welfare system, someone will eventually exploit the system. :( You know, no system is perfect. When I realized that I pretty much became apolitical.
I know that many people will disagree with me, but I believe that we are living in a world with limited resources. Someone's got to get the lion's share and other less fortunate suckers will get leftovers. And what about severely crippled people? Life ain't no peaches and cream. We as human beings should be humanitarian beings, I guess. But...the sad truth is that there will always be freeloaders. Nothing's perfect, anyway. As as for Greece, I believe no one will believe me but AFAIK tax evasion is a national pasttime. No one's paying taxes and the government is trying to keep up the welfare system? Sigh...
Good luck to you also ...................
Even though this guy won with a QP, he bought a lot more than one.
Hopefully, that ex of his has a good attorney to get the daughter some money. I know I would have already been doing that before the win. I don't like people not taking care of their children. I take it personally.
Congrats to them,now they can buy a $10 million dollar home!
If a person wise enough , they can make there money last , not tell the world
hire a lawyer , financial advisor and CPA . Make your money work for you ,
Live on "certain amount " and invest the rest . Don't go out and buy "stupid stuff "
like one man buys statues , people doesn't have common sense . Shelter , Food ,
pay your monthly bills . You've to research and plan for the best of your family
not someone else . Trust funds for your sons or daughters and when they become
age , then you've a "trustee " to help you . They kids will only get small amount
every 5 years or so . If they're adults then they need there own jobs , health insurance
etccc . It would be nice if the world didn't know everything , and the kids knew very little.
If I won , I would've more rules of do's and don'ts . I seen enough on Tv , where people
buy there mansions , spend on luxury cars , or whatever , Live in the "now moment "
and not plan in 5 , 10 . I'll win the lottery , and I have my own plan
I don't think people should be on the news letting the world see them , but I know , you've too .
I'm not wanting to be famous , just rich :) , big differences . Camera shy anyways.
Yes the ex-wife is jealous right about know i don't think they have any children together, however believe me she is trying to find out legally if she can get some of his money
I don't think he should give th ex a dime because if he does all of his ex's will be begging and this will cause problems in his marriage. He is crazy for saying he is going back to
his job people are going to hound the mess out of him. Since he mentioned his name and showed his face i think him and his wife needs to move from their house and quit their jobs
I have a big family and soon i will win a huge jackpot of $50 million dollars or more because my lottery system/method has worked for a $200,000.00 win, however i have let my
family know how i will distibute money for a big win and i don't need any new friends or long lost relatives i haven't seen in 10-15 yrs coming around. I see what it has done to my aunt
she won $5milliom 8months ago and her kids are fighting over the money on facebook.
You won 200k? Congrats!
Details?
Wow, congratulations on your $200K lottery win thus far!
The ex is a single parent....didnt see where it stated he was the Daddy. She could well be a single parent from another liason.
I pray the ex does get a good attorney, one that tells her the truth...she needn't go after that which isnt hers. :)
Bravo to this man and his lovely expecting wife! I wish them tons of happiness!