After winning $1 million, would you share it with a coworker you barely knew?
A group of 12 workers at Keller Williams Partner Realty in Plantation are doing exactly that.
Jennifer Maldonado had only been working as an administrative assistant for the company for two weeks, and she hadn't even received her first pay check.
Laurie Finkelstein Reader, a Realtor and head of the team in that office, was going around collecting $20 from each of her colleagues to spend on Powerball tickets. The jackpot for Saturday night's drawing was $338 million, and Finkelstein Reader, who occasionally plays, had a lucky feeling.
But Maldonado opted out.
"I hadn't gotten a paycheck and I was watching my pennies," said Maldonado.
Finkelstein Reader offered to lend her the money, but Maldonado said no.
On Sunday, when Maldonado showed up for work, everyone was there: screaming, jumping, running, hugging, crying.
They told her they had won.
She thought they were playing a joke on her.
"I knew I was the only one who hadn't put in the money, so I thought they were pranking me and going out of their way to make me feel something," said Maldonado, 31.
"I actually realized they weren't messing with me when my boss sat down and said this was real," she said.
The Keller Williams team had the five matching numbers: 17, 29, 31, 52 and 53. All they lacked was the red Powerball number, which would have made them a lot richer.
It was Amy Kilcoyne, also a Realtor, who had checked the numbers on her iPad and noticed one of their tickets matched. But she thought it was no big deal.
"I thought we won like $100 or $1,000," said Kilcoyne.
Eventually, they figured out their share of the prize was $1 million.
"People started freaking out," Kilcoyne said.
After tax money is taken out, each player who cashes out figures to end up with around $83,333.33, Finkelstein Reader said.
The gang stayed up till 4 a.m. on a phone conference talking about their prize and scheduled a celebration meeting Sunday morning at the office.
A couple of them say they will buy a house. Others say they'll donate to a charity, or put some aside for a rainy day.
"I'm blessed," said Finkelstein Reader. "My share of money won't change my life but so far this has touched many lives — it's about sharing the happiness."
Even though she didn't put in the $20, the crew at Keller Williams thinks Maldonado should share in their happiness.
They've all decided to kick in a bit of their winnings — they won't say how much — to give her.
"As a team we put together a fat pile of money," said Finkelstein Reader. "If we do the right thing and always care about other people, the right thing will happen to us."
Another person to benefit from the group's generosity is the clerk at the 7-Eleven Mobil Gas Station on Taft Street in Pembroke Pines, who sold Finkelstein Reader the tickets.
Finkelstein Reader said she never would have had the winning ticket if the clerk hadn't made a mistake.
The clerk, who spoke only Spanish, didn't understand Finkelstein Reader wanted 120 tickets. She thought she wanted $120 worth of tickets. The tickets sell for $2 each.
So the clerk printed half the tickets.
As Finkelstein Reader tried explaining she wanted 120 tickets, a line formed behind her.
People began to yell and one impatient man skipped to another line and purchased a bunch of tickets.
Finally, Finkelstein Reader was able to get her second batch — after the man who'd cut in front of her got his.
The winner was in the second batch.
"We wouldn't have won if it wasn't for that," said Finkelstein Reader.
The group is going to pick up their winnings Wednesday.
Nationwide, there were 13 $1 million winners — including another one from Florida who has yet to step forward.
And one lucky ticket holder in New Jersey matched all 5 numbers, plus the lucky Powerball number 31, to get the whopping $338 million prize.
The next Powerball, which will be drawn Wednesday night, is $40 million.
Will Maldonado and the gang from Keller Williams play?
Nope.
Finkelstein Reader said they're not going to play — and win — until the payout is more than $200 million.
But the next time they do, Maldonado is sure to join in.
"I didn't realize how lucky they are," she said.
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good idea. Keep the lawyers from getting any of the prize money.
heheh im sure the pushy guy remebers who he is to.
As Finkelstein Reader tried explaining she wanted 120 tickets, a line formed behind her.
People began to yell and one impatient man skipped to another line and purchased a bunch of tickets.
Finally, Finkelstein Reader was able to get her second batch — after the man who'd cut in front of her got his.
The winner was in the second batch.
"We wouldn't have won if it wasn't for that," said Finkelstein Reader.
If I worked in that office.....I would have given them a part of my winnings too.......!!!! beaudad
Kudo's to the winners for sharing some og their winnings with her
"Finkelstein Reader" what a cool name
And I bet he's kicking himself in the arse wondering what if!!!!
It's refreshing to see a few lottery pool winning stories of late where the "players" share the win-fall and not the attorneys.
Curiosity is killing this cat though in wondering if they would have been as gracious had they won the jackpot. Maybe give her 100k as an overly generous and belated sign on bonus
Giving her a share, and "each kicking in some" is not the same thing. For all we know they gave her $500.
$20 each is certainly a lot of money for an office pool individual to pay for lottery tickets. It's good that they don't each spend that much money on pooled lottery tickets each week/or every other week. Congratulations to these 12 jackpot winners though!
As the article indicated, it is highly aggravating when a lottery retailer (who even natively speaks and writes English) doesn't comprehend a simple request! I have, frequently, had similar problems. Consequently, I have filled out the PB and MM lottery game's form indicating I want: 1 quick pick, the additional $1 multiplier option, next 4 drawings!
I swing both ways.
Wow.. at first I thought they were gonna maybe give Maldonado $83,333.33; but each of the winners kicking in a bit of there winnings sounds alot more sensible... With that said.. congratulations to the winners!!
Congratulations, also, to these $1M, 2nd Place PB lottery winners.
Now back to your full-time, grueling, daily work!
Congrats, that was nice of them.
I wouldn't give her much since she was offered a chance to be part of the pool and she refused. She probably thought they were morons for wasting money like that. Just like the Albany NY man who was also offered to be lent some money but he said he was "not feeling lucky". History repeats itself and people never seem to learn *shrugs*
Am having a big swimming pool party tonight and all the ladies that won money in this office pool are invited and for the guys they can hangout at burger king for l care lol.
Another obvious question with the ammount of women at this office in ratio to the ammount of men this raises more question where is the equal employment opportunity for men or maybe the boss just likes to be arround so many cute women i wish he didn't win anything .
Yep, thats pretty cool, she hasn't even worked there that long.
Congrats to all the lucky winners.
Im guessing the Realtors gave her $500.
they won a 1,000,000.00 12 ways which is 83,333.33 before taxes isn't it . or am i wrong again. someone please figure the tax takeout. closer to about 60k apiece. not chump change. finkelstein reader not good at math. no way they gave the unfortunate new employee more than 500.00 a piece if that much. not that they had to even do that. kind of goes against the logic of lottery pools. if they won the 338 million different story but this amount would make some of these lucky winners think twice about how much she should get once the euphoria simmers down.
i think the new office girl is lucky that she is getting some money by the generosity of other 12 workers and she should be thankful to the rest of the staff employees .
They didn't have to give her anything but they did, which makes them nice people.
And it sets in motion the reciprocal nature of the universe which will return the favor in some way.
Like winning the lottery again.
Well, that'd be nice...
I just saw a news story on this group. They are certainly a huggy kissy bunch. It was still unclear as to whether she was getting an equal share or just some $ but she was happy regardless.
I think more women may be in real estate because of the flexibility in terms of hours.
Perhaps its because a high school diploma is NOT required? (just saying perhaps) lol.
It sounded clear to me that it was "just some money"
Kinda like tipping the waitress a penny?
Ronnie! I think as of 2010 that women outpaced men with degrees (including advanced degrees) and women have outnumbered men at most colleges for sometime now.
I agree.
Maybe true, but if the goal is to become a Realtor it doesn't matter because NO formal education is required.
right...but how does that equate to your statement of that being the reason why more women become realtors?
"realtor" is an easy job to get. Thats why so many woman do it.
Hmmmm.....that tells me a lot. Kind of disappointing.
I think it was VERY clear that they decided to "kick in a bit" but would NOT say how much..........
Speaking of "full moon" Im still using the silver dollar on a $2 bill method for Positive Energy Flow.
The Full moon is a good thing, if you know how to take advantage.
Mercury is in retrograde, so if it seems like the world is out to get you, it's because it is.
You have to let it bask in the Moonlight.
Thanks for the tip Sully, I will venture out of the house with extreme caution.
Job well done young man, did you remember to consecrate your silver dollar, you have to wash it in salt water, and use a sage smudge to remove negative vibes from other people who touched it. You should always do a spiritual cleanse for items you want to make your own.
Nice of her co workers to do this even though she didn't pay in to win, guess not all humans on this planet are greedy
Had no idea, but makes perfect sense. Will be performed before the Moonrise tonight.
That depends on how much they gave her.
Yes the Moon has a strange effect on EL Gato Diablos.
That is true.
Maybe they gave her equivalent to a day or week wage pay.
Two weeks on the job and co worker's are already giving you something when you as an individual put nothing in the pot?- whether that something is $100.00 or $500.00- its free money.l can't think of anyone who would say " Sorry its too little for me"
Ye right l love that word "flexibility" sounds sweet lol
The Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alHLHcdSIKM
I want to go Disney World
I Hope you win BIG so you can take your family to D.W.
if i win BIG before you i will give you money to go
Nice interview Thanks
The name Finkelstein Reader is really cool, fine and unique, indeed.
The gas station they bought the ticket at is right next to where i work.
I saw the story about her on the Today show a few days ago... it doesn't matter how much they give her, she'll never feel a part of the group because she didn't play.
I always wanted to go too but I didn't know for sure if they had beer gardens there or not.
did you cut the line last week?
Whatever amount given, I hope is greatful.
I hope she is greatful.
You are such a sweetie. Ive been before DH & I went before the boys were born when he was station atFt Stewart we drove down for the weekend.
Can't blame her. Twenty bucks a draw is alot for someone without a paycheck. What if it rolled a few times.
They are so sweet for being so generous and sharing their blessing to other people. I hope all winners are like them. :)
world would be a better place
Being sweet and generous will get old if she doesn't come up with twenty bucks the next time a collection is taken up for the pool.
Congrats to the Winners
For all we know, they only gave her $20. bucks.
Would you feel grateful if you were hungry and someone eating a Burger and frys gave you a couple of frys?
I hope not cause it'll be the most expensive $20 she ever received.
The story does say they put together "a fat pile of money" but that is a very subjective term, and considering "they wont say how much" I would guess its a small amount compared to the $80k+ they are getting.
I still think giving "a share" would have been BETTER. In fact, slitting the money with a 13th person would have given them around $77k each instead of $83k each.
That is very true RJOH......I think she will be in every future draw with "the team"........they probably decided to give her some of the winnings so she wouldn't be a "negative vibe" within the group.....maybe she will buy tickets on her "own" too as well........... and if she wins...give some to the co-workers.......beaudad
I'd rather be behind the guy who cut the line than the guy who cut the cheese in line.
there was something in the story about a man cutting in, and if he hadnt, she felt they wwouldnt have won.
Yeah I know, that turned out to be good luck.
But being behind the guy who cut the cheese in line is always bad luck.
probably.
What's beneath the $2 bill?