Posted on 03/04/2019 6:18:39 PM PST by buckalfa
COLUMBIA, SC (WSPA) - Officials say the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot from October has claimed their prize.
The South Carolina Education Lottery Commission says the winner chose to remain anonymous and chose a one-time cash payout of $877,784,124.
This is the largest jackpot payout to a single winner in the history of the United States, according to the SC Education Lottery.
The winning ticket for the October 23, 2018 drawing was sold at the KC Mart in Simpsonville.
“We are delighted that the winner is a South Carolinian and has come forward to claim this remarkable prize," said SC Education Lottery Commission Executive Director Hogan Brown.
The winner retained Jason Kurland of Rivkin Radler of New York as legal representation and to act as a spokesperson, according to the lottery commission.
The winner says they bought the Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket after allowing another customer in front of them in line at the store.
The state of South Carolina will get $61 million in income taxes from the winner.
“And the winning number is........not yours...”
Dang. I hope it works out well for the winner.
They took so long to claim, I expect them to have all tax and trust issues in order.
I hope the winner consulted with an attorney and a CPA, to plan the best way to claim it, and also for future investments and tax planning. Hopefully claiming the one time payout was the best choice. Uncle Sam will get his share too, in addition to the noted state of South Carolina tax revenue from this ticket.
Winner took four months to claim. Time to prepare.
I believe they knew who it was not long after the drawing in October.
I believe the attorney has helped other lottery winners before. I think it’s his niche.
Me too.
I realize it’s personal, and clearly anecdotal, but I’ve noticed my entire life that whenever an unexpected financial windfall comes my way, something almost immediatey comes along to wipe it out, and then some.
If I were to win a $1.5 billion lottery prize, I’d be paralyzed with fear, not popping the champagne corks.
Hmmm. Bible thumper? 2nd amendment supporter? Moving to Belize? Good for them, I hope the wear it well. Me, I’d be a jerk! Well more than now.
All convenience stores have surveillance video these days, and they know the exact time the ticket was purchased. Just have to look at the tape for that timestamp.
If I could claim such prize, I’d be pulling up in my camper and a burner phone, with about 6 months of time on it.
Store only has four employees and most customers are local.
Personally, I would rather win a much more modest sum. Nobody could have a normal life by any stretch of the imagination with that much money involved, and who could you trust? Maybe 10-15 million, tops, would be overjoyed with much less. I’d want to make a more secure future for our kids and grandkids, enjoy what’s left of retirement, give some to good causes. And I hate that winners are identified publicly, though I’m sure the ones winning the gigantic sums claim it more quietly with the help of a lawyer.
I didn’t say release. I just said figure out.
That’s what the “anonymous” part is for.
Most states don’t let you collect anonymously. They want you for advertising purposes.
That’s smart. I was working for an investment company in San Antonio when the Texas lottery started. The first big winner - hundreds of thousands - picked up his big check with an adviser from our company standing right next to him.
It looks like the winner made sensible arrangements, but something can always go wrong.
Wow. Over 877 million. It just boggles my mind.
With a win like that, I could pay off most of my credit card debt.
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