$273M Mega Millions jackpot winner from NJ says he initially forgot the lottery ticket at the store
FullStrike
Posts: 4,353 ✭✭✭
TTT
I found another Lottery Winner Story thats cool. Too bad we'll never know anything about the SC Mystery Winner. They will stay in the shadows forever. Wise decision.
Too bad we won''t have a clue about what happened . This will be a bigger mystery than the Saddle Ridge thing.
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Did they move to a state with low or no income tax?
I'm still studying my options.
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Lottery tickets are a voluntary tax where most of the profits go to corruption and private parties. Unsurprisingly "players" are often not the sharpest knives in the drawer. It's not at all unusual to find winning tickets scattered about since they often don't know about trash cans either.
I'm surprised a lot more of these don't go unclaimed.
Place that sold the ticket will really get clipped. Probably a couple million their way that is contingent upon the win being claimed.
That's the type of money that can make kingdoms rise and fall in the third world; but still huge money in the big money US. Most likely someone misplaced the winning number or didn't realize it and cast it aside. Maybe on someone's "messy desk"? Went through the wash, etc..
There was an episode of "American Greed" where a security expert cracked the lottery code out West, Iowa. It took a dogged investigator to find out why the suspicious looking guy didn't claim his prize, tried to work through lawyers and divert assets offshore. No dice on that gambit; but that would actually be possible in states where you can claim confidentiality, even through your lawyers.
I always figure that these unclaimed tickets were lost an hour two after being bought, in a bar, or in the trash with the candy wrappers and soda bottles from the convenience store.
Sometimes, people die.
Seeing a billion dollar win could take out a heart.
Agree!!!!!
HAPPY COLLECTING
People who can least afford to lose a buck are often those who lose 1.5 billion. ( they likely didn't even know they won ).
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I wonder if some store owner is frantically searching old security tapes to match the winning ticket with a customer! LOL
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Didn't SC get hit by flooding? Perhaps it was in a home or safe that was flooded and the folks just got out and never worried about belongings.
bob
Possibly a deceased individual or maybe someone incarcerated. In both cases the ticket is no longer with the individual.
Probably someone smart enough to consult a lawyer who is in the process of establishing a trust.
Winner has until late April to claim prize
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
There was an episode of "American Greed" where a security expert cracked the lottery code out West, Iowa. It took a dogged investigator to find out why the suspicious looking guy didn't claim his prize, tried to work through lawyers and divert assets offshore. No dice on that gambit; but that would actually be possible in states where you can claim confidentiality, even through your lawyers.
[https://whotv.com/2017/06/12/iowa-lottery-scammer-pleads-guilty-in-multi-state-fraud-case/]
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2018/03/15/how-gaming-geek-checkered-past-pulled-off-biggest-lottery-scam-u-s-history/397657002/
The State of Delaware had some funny business going on about an unclaimed prize around 10 years ago. If this Mega $1.5 Billion goes "unclaimed" .... ha ha , I'll really believe in the goodness of Lotteries.
N O T
☻
Why would the authorities actually worry if the prize is not claimed?
The money would not be paid out and it would be used for other things.
I can not imagine anyone involved with running the lottery would lose sleep, be tense, or be otherwise troubled if the prize is not claimed.
Your thoughts?
You have a year to claim. You can bet that if I won that much I'd make sure to have everything in place before claiming, checked and double checked.
In South Carolina, they only allow 6 months for a winner to claim the loot. I know Maryland has the same 6 month window , maybe a few other States are like that also. Anyway the Grubmint Peeple in S C are concerned because if there is no claim made in their State then the money will be split amongst all the States that sold tickets. SC would get a smaller share of the $1.5 Billion , than the tax benefits of an instate payout. Other States will be ahead of the game if a South Carolina claimant never steps forward. They will get a big cut of money they'd otherwise never see.
Maybe they will all be so distracted they won't notice if I win $3M this weekend.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
The income would have to be claimed in the state where the prize was won and you were presumably a resident, no? Frankly, I've never seen moving to a no income tax state as advice about what to do if one won.
I'd expect that in these highly promoted big jackpot things that folks make it a point to check their tix. Anyone with a brain would make sure that they didn't lose it.
That's how they nabbed the guy who rigged the hot lotto draw in Iowa.
Why would it have to be claimed in the state that the ticket was sold? People drive to neighboring states to buy tickets but they don't live there,
That's because lottery tix aren't sold in the state where they live. I did ask the lottery officials so we'll see what they say. The various states aren't networked together so they sort of operate independently.
Why should they worry? If the ticket is not claimed by the deadline the prize money goes to participating states. The real loss is to the "winner's" home state and the IRS in income tax not paid.
That varies based on state law and lottery program.
I think that lottery winnings from the "Education" lottery should be tax free. Let the winner decide where the winnings go. To heck with the goobermint. You bought the ticket with after tax funds.
After all, all the other losing tickets were simply "donations". The expected value of any given "play" is a few cents more than the purchase price (if that).
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
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With the posts subsequent to mine I now understand why S.C. officials are worried. S.C. stands to lose money if the winner does not claim the prize.
So sad.........................., so very, very sad for S.C.
Actually, I'm still not convinced. The top marginal state tax rate in SC is 7%. Would South Carolina receive less than 7% of the proceeds if the $1.5 billion jackpot (actually probably only a few hundred million since there is no annuity option at that point) is divided among participating states? Is that division equal or proportional to lottery sales in each participating state, etc.?
Unclaimed money is returned to the various states in proportion to ticket sales in each of those states.
OK! OK! I'll go ahead and come out from hiding & claim my prize!! I'm just about done setting up my off-shore accounts anyway..................
And just to show I haven't forgotten all the "little people" of this Forum who have helped me along the way, keep an eye out for a post on the Giveaway forum shortly.............. SOMEONE's going to get a nice, shiny 90% silver Bicentennial Half!!
Ah come on and loosen up just a little. 😭 After such a big win couldn't you see it in you heart to share a bit more? Like a Complete Bicentenial 3 piece Set?
I like to tell people at work if I hit a big payout I'd walk around handing out $20 Bills. I tell em , don't worry I could afford to be THAT generous.
Seriously, now. I uncovered a clue online about a Guy at a workplace near the Georgia border . Supposedly he checked his Ticket in the break room and walked off the job ... ? Could this be true .... or just internet BS? Hard to say but if soon a winner does step forward we might soon get to stop wondering. If it was me , I'd be doing a dissapearing type gig. It seems like the locals know who it is, already. The Guy may have met with foul play by now.
@Fullstrike said:
Ah come on and loosen up just a little. 😭 After such a big win couldn't you see it in you heart to share a bit more? Like a Complete Bicentenial 3 piece Set?
Give me a break!! It's not like I won TWO billion!!
Understood. Just kidding around.
But if you think about it a Billion is getting to be "low rent" , in today's World. 😮
I mean ... look at the Bezos upcoming divorce. The Wife is supposed to walk with around $70 Billion !
Talk about a P A Y D A Y !
😣
I have been advised not to claim the winnings until mid April, right before the 180 day deadline. I will be doing so anonymously through a "lottery estate."
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Will there ever be a $2.0 $Billion lottery jackpot?
I don't know but after years of chasing rainbows , don't look for any participation from this lifelong lottery dreamer.🤕
Now if we ever get to the $1 000,000,000,000 ( Trillion ) level. Hmmmm ?
Maybe. Maybe I`'ll go in for a few bucks.
My brother hunts in the area, and I kept asking him and my nephew to check the truck consoles just in
case.
Yesterday, my local store manager was putting out scratch off tickets. She spoke to somebody envolved with the SC Lotto and they know who won. The have a time stamp from the store, ticket and and video image.
Apparently the ticket somehow got destroyed.
THAT would be my luck!
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Bummer if the ticket was destroyed. I'm guessing you must produce it, even if you have indisputable video evidence......kind like NFL replay that shows its you that bought it.
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Ouch!!
I'll just leave this right here
Wow! The devastation of that guy...
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Winner is probably just worried that they will be paid in SC state quarters. I understand their fear.
Nic
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The rare "Mega Millions" pedigree... I wonder if there would be a market for something like that.
I know for sure that I did not have the winning ticket.... checked three times
the numbers were still the same each time.... 
Cheers, RickO
TTT
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David Stevenson, a CPA in South Carolina, says he can't think of a good reason why whoever bought an enormous lottery ticket in tiny Simpsonville hasn't cashed in.
The Mega Millions ticket worth more than $1.5 billion was purchased in October. It will be worthless in about two months if no one comes forward to claim the cash.
"I could understand there might have been tax advantages to wait until 2019," Stevenson said Thursday. "But I see no purpose in waiting now. Honestly, I think it's lost."
The winner could walk into lottery headquarters and walk out with a lump sum payout of $878 million. That would also mean a cool $60 million tax payment for the state of South Carolina, which now must allow for the possibility that it won't get the windfall after all.
In Simpsonville, rumors are flying about who the lucky winner might be.
"Anyone who quit their job days after the drawing is a suspect," Stevenson said.
If the jackpot isn't claimed, it goes back to the states based on ticket sales. South Carolina's share, or consolation prize, would be about $11.2 million, South Carolina Education Lottery spokeswoman Holli Armstrong said.
The state Board of Economic Advisors is bracing for the worst and considering a plan to remove the money from the state spending plan, the Associated Press reports.
Then there is C.J. Patel, owner of the KC Mart where the ticket was sold. Patel says business has picked up since the glare of the international spotlight shone on his store. Still, if the prize goes unclaimed, Patel could be out the $50,000 he was supposed to get from the lottery.
For folks digging through drawers hunting for the ticket, the winning numbers were 5, 28, 62, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 5.
The public may never know who claims the jackpot since South Carolina is one of several states where winners can remain anonymous. But the state will make an announcement when or if the prize is claimed.
Stevenson said no one has come to him looking for advice on how to invest $1.5 billion.
"I keep waiting for them to walk into my door and ask me to do their taxes," Stevenson said. "Of course, the cost of preparing their return might go up a bit from $200, but I would be nice about it."
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SC will get about $61 million if the ticket is claimed and I understand that they've already included it in their budget. As to the store owner he did sell a winning ticket so he should get his $50K. Whether claimed or not it's still a winning ticket.
T T T
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Four months after South Carolina's first Mega Millions jackpot win, the staggering $1.5 billion prize remains unclaimed.
That leaves two months until the six-month deadline to cash in the winning lottery ticket — and more time to speculate on what's taking the person so long to collect their winnings.
The winning ticket for the Oct. 23 drawing was sold at Simpsonville's KC Mart #7, and signs in the store window proclaim, "We sold a Mega Millions ticket worth... $1.5 billion."
Still, mystery surrounds the unclaimed jackpot as the convenience store and state officials wait for the winner to come forward.
"It wasn't me," Ray Black said with a laugh as he checked the numbers on a lottery ticket recently at the KC Mart #7.
Missing out on millions
The holder of the winning ticket could've accrued millions of dollars in interest over the past four months.
Hans Blake, principal owner of Intelligent Investing, did the math and calculated that if the winner had taken the $878 million offered as a lump-sum payment back in October and deposited it in a savings account with an interest rate of 2 percent, the money would have grown by about $5.8 million over the past four months.
And, Blake said, investing in the stock market at a 7-percent rate of return would have generated an additional $20 million or so over the past four months.
But, hey, what's a few million when you've got a $1.5 billion ticket?
With the jackpot continuing to go unclaimed, KC Mart #7 owners and the state of South Carolina also can't cash in.
The winner would pay about $60 million in state income taxes.
KC Mart #7 also can't claim their share of the winnings, around $50,000 before taxes, store manager Gee Patel said.
If the jackpot isn't claimed, the money goes back to the states that contributed to the jackpot. The amount is based on ticket sales. South Carolina's share would be about $11.2 million, South Carolina Education Lottery spokeswoman Holli Armstrong said.
Who is SC's Mega Millions winner?
Patel said that the lucky ticket has continued to bring in customers hoping that lottery lightning will strike twice.
They buy "everything" lottery-related, Patel said.
Many customers ask Patel if he knows who the winner is, but he is just as curious as they are. And he does have a theory as to why the ticket-holder has yet to claim the money.
"Maybe they are putting everything in order, you know," Patel said.
Kent Early was purchasing scratch-offs on a recent afternoon at KC Mart #7. He said he occasionally buys tickets for the weekly drawings.
"Every once in a while, on a night that I know they're fixing to draw, if I remember, and it's convenient, and I'm passing by, I'll stop by and pick a couple of numbers for either the Powerball or the Mega Millions," Early said.
Rumors about the winner have flown around town since the drawing. Early said he heard that "it was the guy in Fountain Inn or the guy in Gray Court or the guy here or there... but nobody knows."
Dale Parker said he also heard the rumors back in October, but the person's identity is still a mystery.
Parker doesn't play the lottery, but "I wish I'd played it that day," he said.
"
Still nothing. Hopefully a Winner will step forward before the deadline.🤞