By Todd Northrop
Updated 6:24 pm: Prize payout information
A retired computer systems designer and his wife, a computer programmer, have claimed the final share of the March 30 $656 million Mega Millions lottery drawing.
Merle, 65, and Pat Butler, 62, claimed the jackpot at the Red Bud Village Hall in the small southern Illinois town of Red Bud. The winning ticket was sold at a nearby Motomart in the town of 6,000 people.
Their share of the record-setting $656 million jackpot was $218.6 million, before taxes.
The lucky couple from Red Bud decided to receive their payout as a lump-sum cash payment, which came to $158 million before taxes of 25% federal and 5% state were withheld. Their net payout after tax withholding was approximately $110.6 million.
The Butlers' prize represents one-third of the record Mega Millions jackpot drawn on March 30. The winners of two other tickets — one in Maryland and one in Kansas — have already been paid, but the winners preferred to remain anonymous.
Lottery rules in Illinois, however, require the winner to be named — and to appear at a one-time news conference — to assure other players that prizes are indeed paid out.
Butler describes managing the money as a full-time job right now, and laughs: "I'm not looking for sympathy," adding, "There could possibly be a vacation."
When one reporter asked Merle if they were going to move from Red Bud, he looked puzzled and said, "We really enjoy living here. We've lived here a long time."
Scores of local residents were on hand at City Hall for the ceremonies, the Chicago Tribune reports, and sent up a loud cheer outside when the winner was announced.
The couple bought a $3 quick-pick ticket at the MotoMart convenience store in Red Bud, which is about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis.
"We've been thinking of ways we can invest it," Butler says.
Butler says the couple has a "real good set of financial advisors," and waited three weeks to step forward in order to get their plans in order first.
The winners spent a sleepless night checking how many other winning tickets they'd be sharing the prize with. "We spent the rest of the night going down to our computer to check the news and see how many winners there were," he says.
Merel Butler, a retiree, says he was watching TV when he heard the result of the drawing. He checked each number, then told his wife, Pat, "We won."
"She kind of looked at me funny, and I said, 'no we won,' and she started giggling," he says. "She giggled for abour 4 hours, I think" he says.
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Congrats to them!!!
Sounds like they have their stuff in order. I feel badly they couldn't choose to be anonymous. Yet, I wish they could have said something along those lines at the press conference.
I hope they don't become the poster-children for why all states should allow anonymity! I always worry about what has to happen for all states to wake up to the dangers of not allowing people to claim large jackpots anonymously. It should be an option - especially for large jackpots!
These sound like a couple of real nice people. Hopefully they don't get too many townspeople and relatives begging for money. They seem like down to earth people.....
Congrats to the winners!
Hurray for the "old"!
That's cute, they really think they are going to be able to stay in that little town and everything is just going to go on being the same. We all know better. They will have moved out within two to six months.
Congrats to the winners.
Good thing that an old couple not some young 20 yr won it.
Quick Pick again
Congratulations to Merle and Pat!Enjoy your millions.
Old????????
"After taxes on a lump-sum payment of $218.6 million, the Butlers will take home $158 million"
Actually the lump-sum cash payment is $158 million and the take home after 25% federal and 5% state taxes are witheld is just a tad over $110 million.
This couple may have enjoyed living in this small town but all that will soon change
They're not old, they are experienced! With modern medicine doing it's thing, they can live to be at least 100.
I agree 100%
Look at how long Royalty thrives!
Congrats to Mr & Mrs. Butler.....
By today's standards, this is a young couple. Why should they let all the gloom and doom naysayers influence their staying in Red Bud?
They should park their ass's right where they are now. This will piss off all the pro anonymous people. They'll get over it!
Good for them but sad for me. Come on Powerball!
Nice poodle golfer1960! Maybe 2nite will be your night.
Why would ANYONE want to live to be 100?
Lottery officials , Media , and whoever else were there at the conference. Outside were all
the citizens standing outside waiting on the winners.
The local newspaper had everything ready on there part , to make sure they've the name and pictures
of the winners. These poor winners will be swamped with people around them .
There's NO Privacy in that town or anywhere in the world .
The city officals freshen up there landscaping , put in new bushes , to make the city look better .
Since they were going to be on National News .
Freshen up the landscaping, new bushes.......Wow big spenders!
They could of done more .......who knows ..........I just say , congrat to the winners ........
If you are capable of enjoying life at that age then why not? I have seen people who are in their 70's and were struggling physically/mentally just to live a normal life.
Science and medicine will keep advancing and who knows what we will encounter in the future. Our life expectancy will most likely jump up another 10 years within our generation.
Kudos to the 2 "middle agers"..........Hope they have great experiences for the rest of their lives.....Course, if he bites the bullet I am on her like white on rice !!!!
........yeah, I know......Gonna get punished for that one....it was just too tempting
Now it all becomes clear.
In my official capacity as an Oracle, I occasionally consult the Ancient Ones to see who won a jackpot here and there to avoid the drudgery of going into a deep trance. Deep trances and channeling can drain you both physically and emotionally so I took the easy route for this record jackpot and called on the Ancients.
Though I still need to descend into a light trance to consult with the Ancients, it's not as incapacitating as a full trance with the rigors associated with channeling dead people.
So it now becomes clear what the Master Ancient kept telling me: "The Butler did it."
I initially said "No man, seriously, who won the jackpot?"
Again he said "The Butler did it."
I said "C'mon Dude, stop jerkin' me around man, who won the friggin' jackpot?"
He said "Hey man, you don't talk to me like that, dude!"
I said "Look Dude, don't make me get crazy up in here, man!"
He said "You are never again welcome in The Hall of the Mountain Kings, Be Gone!"
I said "STFU old man, you don't tell me what to do, mf'er!"
Then he swung one leg back real far and swung it as hard as he could and kicked me right where I hate being kicked the most.
And then I woke up from my trance in incredible pain in the area I hate having incredible pain the most.
And now I sit here with my ice pack and find out who won the jackpot.
The Butler did it.
Is an Oracle the one who samples the newest batch from the still ???? Cause that story even makes Billy Graham want to knock down a few !!!
I have my QP Powerball Ticket ..........I'm ready to win and I'm 1/2 packed .
I am glad that they didn't buy $10,000 worth of tickets like that football player and they still won.
I am glad that they bought quick pics and still won.
I am glad thay they didn't play in a lotto group and still won.
One ticket is all you need. Thats the minimum requirement folks. Sswwweeeet!
$3.00
Quite a return on the investment.
Congrats to the Butlers!
Watched the taped version of the press conference, noticed that they are keeping their plans for the future ambiguous, a very smart move!
I am not sure why it would "piss me off" for them to enjoy their small town.
Them getting all of the crybaby mail from the Greed of Envy Crowd that "have the right", will PISS ME OFF!
And yes, screw you, they have their's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Jill34786, I realized that Todd must have written the article too quickly, and that is why he referred to the "annuity" amount as the "lump sum" amount ... then all the math went down hill from there!
I wonder if the winner's accountant [experienced accountants, here is your chance to chime in your research results] is going to be a helpful hire by recommending that this winner pay some additional Income Tax % to the Federal IRS this year, before April 2013; so that no penalty % will be charged for waiting to pay 'remainder due' until the following year of winner's $$s receival?
Congratulations to this winner, hope he treats his wife to a lot of the winnings $$$s, so that she can retire within a few months!
Fantastic Story.. I am very happy for them..
LOL, that famous football player was probably joking so he could get easy, free, professional media publicity!
When I win, I will find out how much in charitable contributions I have make to be able to tell the current Marxist-Socialist Regime in DC to go pound salt!
I have noticed that NO previous jackpot winner, from both Mega Millions and Powerball, has won via a row of #s that had the 'added insurance' thru "megaplier" or "powerplay" option!
Perhaps only MM and PB players with the "I'm only playing for the jackpot win" mentality are the people that can win the jackpot?
"And in a related news report, the small town of Red Bud has experienced a population boom over the past two weeks as long lost relatives and supposed friends have come from near and far to knock at the door of the town's wealthiest and luckiest couple.
Congrats!!
Great story,always the old people that win,
Thanks, dpoly1, this is one way to solve!
Now, accountants who are into 'Federal IRS code research,' what are a couple more ways to prevent additional Federal Income Tax % tied to winner's new "Marginal Income Tax Bracket" being charged?
I had knowledge of how the estimated tax penalty worked a few years back. It could have changed, but then, there was a "safe haven" that if you had more withheld than 120% (I believe that is the right number) of your tax liability from the prior year withheld in the current year, there would be no penalty. Because the Butlers will have millions withheld, they would meet the safe haven. They would still owe the extra taxes next April, but no penalty would apply.
Right you are, I was working too quickly. I have updated the story with more accurate prize payout info.
Thanks for the update Todd...
I agree! People may know who they are regardless of where they move. So they will get things in order. Sometimes small towns can be protective of their residents. There will be deadbeats asking for money wherever they are. Might as well stay where they are happy. I am sure they can afford some security.
Is it an invasion of privacy to make them be named? Didn't realize the requirement to participate in news conference. Can you say F Bomb city.
$3 MEGA MILLIONS QUICK PICK TICKET TURNED INTO $218.6 MILLIONS BEFORE TAXES.
Much easier SAID, than done.
I'd say it's pretty EASY to do... once you purchase that winning ticket, all you need to do is sit there and watch the numbers. Just not many are capable of accomplishing it. No actual hard work necessary!
I stand corrected LottoNick56. Since you put it that way.....what's the big deal?
I'll start winning this evening with Powerball, Mega Millions+,
and Hot Lotto! (Already got my number in).
Happy for them. Jealous but happy! Cangrats!
They are old, but in 2012 "old" doesn't mean life is over anymore. Funny, I joked about it being some old people before these folks claimed their share.
Congrats to the lucky couple.
Retiring at 62 is not easy these days (unless you are union), so I'd say these folks have planned well in the past. And I agree that the small town will close ranks where these folks are concerned. Everyone knows everyone's business in a small town, but they are the quickest to be closed mouthed to folks who aren't one of them.
Congrats to them! Too bad they live in a state that REQUIRES a press conference (the #1 thing winners should avoid like the plague).
Thanks mcginnin but I only had the Powerball ($4.00).
I hope you faired better.
If I was them, I would invest in technologies that can extend life by ten or more years.
One thing that irriates me about winners are the ones like 70+ years old.
I see all these older winners winning big jackpots and I think to myself is that how I am going to look if I keep playing the lottery?
The article reads: "Butler describes managing the money as a full-time job right now, and laughs: "I'm not looking for sympathy," adding, "There could possibly be a vacation.""
Yes, I think there WILL be a vacation this year, and I think it could even be a "first class, all-the-way-around vacation for this couple and a few of their favorite people!"
Kudos, MississippiMudd, I'll do some investigating on the Federal IRS website, searching under this 120% or so, to see if I find any recent modifications.
Actually it was basketball's Wizards Rookie Chris Singleton who dropped $10,000 on MM QP's.
if it was easy money, we'd all be doing it.
Congrats to the Butler's!! I'm sure they will continue to live in Red Bud, but they will probably have a couple other "vacation" homes to escape to for some peace and quiet. I'd head out on at least a month long vacation to avoid some attention for a while.
I know a nice little place in central Ohio you can stay if you want to just be anonymous for a few weeks.
Just throwing it out there in case they read this thread.
Nah, they'll move...
Something tells me we'll be hearing about them again within a few years and it won't be a positive update.....
I strongly disagree with you about not getting a positive update about the Butlers in the future!
He worked for an insurance company, and she worked for a financial investment company, and neither one of them strikes me as being a spendthrift!
They worked and saved enough to retire at 62, that should speak volumes about their financial savvy ...........
This is how the American dream works, you work hard and save for your future
, while not whining like a grammar school child 
about what everyone else has!
THANK YOU!
And how do you suppose you'll look at that age if you don't keep playing the lottery?
These people will do just fine. I doubt they re-locate, even short-term until this 'blows over'. I'll bet people let them be in Red Bud now and in the future. Maybe they'll buy a beach vacation home in Fla. or Carolinas, but they're grounded, mature, educated, retired professionals who know who they are and know what they want. As far as I'm concerned, people like this can win the big jackpots every single time. Bully for them.
Well said Arrowhead.
Bully for you.
Why do you say that? Is there something about their story that set off a red flag, or are you the jealous type that likes to wish misery upon jackpot winners?
That $70,800,000 wire transfer (no State or Local tax on lottery wins here) will look mighty fine after Saturday's Powerball Drawing!
They will get name & town, but there is no requirement for a dog & pony show like the crooks in Illinois impose on winners!
I will talk to Todd, because he is our fearless leader, Todd Vader!
Or are you a clown who thinks someone not immediately jumping on the bandwagon must be jealous?
No... First, the idea that they're going to stay in the same place, yeah that's not going to happen... Second, your previous profession has nothing to do with preparing you for this sort of windfall, even with those advisers, just because they've hired a "real good set of financial advisors" doesn't mean you're going to be all set. Yeah, they said managing the money is going to be a new full time job and maybe I'll be wrong but we'll see in a few years, I've been fairly accurate with this over the last five years here.
What story did you read? The first sentence in this story states he's "a retired computer systems designer and his wife, a computer programmer" of course they could retire at 62 though it only says he is, they both probably were paid well, retiring at 62 is not some great achievement. Neither of those have anything to do with finance and if they worked for either a insurance or finance company in those roles it still doesn't qualify you in the least bit to handle this and a "team of financial advisers" is great and maybe I'll be wrong but the idea that they plan to stick around raises a red flag to me.
If I'm wrong I'm big enough to own up to it, at the same time, if I'm right I'm not going to gloat about it.
hey, If I had won that much money,I would be long gone,never be heard from again. Traveling all across This great land of AMERICA...If the Butlers would like to share a small amount of their winnings send me a message....you will never spend that much money in your lifetime...not begging/just asking!!
Thats the same thing that majority of beggars say when they beg for cash.
There's no way in hell I'm staying in my old neighborhood after I win. We're going to be gone before we claim and we will be in disguise when we claim.
Fairly accurate about what? Picking which winners are going to blow it all, have difficulty investing their windfall, get fleeced by leeches and scammers? Sure, they just won a bundle of dough, and there's some work involved now in what to do with it all. It's the same problem you and I would have, or anyone else who might have won. It's not a recipe for disaster. Everything that's been made public about these people indicates they're likely to be just fine, no matter where the hell they choose live...Red Bud, Fiji, or planet Mars.
I read the story that Todd wrote!
And I certainly don't need any lectures from you!
I haven't earned anything less than a 4.0 in very technical College level course work since 1980, so my reading comprehension is more than adequate!
Take a hike!
3 bucks....and hits the jackpot.
Congrats to the lucky winners.