Lottery officials: Man in 30s bought 2nd winner

 
No Author Published: December 7, 2012    Comment on this article Leave a comment

PHOENIX (AP) — Lottery officials announced Friday that a married man in his 30s from a wealthy Phoenix suburb has claimed his half of the $587.5 million Powerball jackpot, deciding to collect the winnings now and not next year because of the nation's looming fiscal cliff.

photo - FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2012 photo, Karen Bach, Director of Budget, Products and Communications of the Arizona Lottery, announces during a news conference in Phoenix that one of the winning tickets in the $579.9 million Powerball jackpot was purchased in Fountain Hills, Ariz. The other ticket holders in last week's record $577.5 million Powerball jackpot have claimed their half of the prize but aren't stepping into the spotlight just yet, the Arizona Lottery said Friday, Dec. 7, 2012.  (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2012 photo, Karen Bach, Director of Budget, Products and Communications of the Arizona Lottery, announces during a news conference in Phoenix that one of the winning tickets in the $579.9 million Powerball jackpot was purchased in Fountain Hills, Ariz. The other ticket holders in last week's record $577.5 million Powerball jackpot have claimed their half of the prize but aren't stepping into the spotlight just yet, the Arizona Lottery said Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Multimedia

The man decided to remain anonymous after he bought $10 worth of tickets and kept the winning slip in the visor of his car overnight before realizing he was a multimillionaire.

He gave $20 to the cashier of a Fountain Hills convenience store, and the clerk nudged him to spend the entire amount on tickets. He declined the offer.

After the man and his wife learned of their good fortune, the husband pulled together a team of financial advisers and decided to take all of his share this month to avoid potentially higher taxes in 2013, said Karen Bach, a lottery official.

"He did have concern with the uncertainty with the fiscal cliff in 2013," Bach said, referring to the federal fiscal situation that could result in higher income tax rates.

The man and his lawyer met with lottery officials Friday, and he opted to take the pretax cash option of $192 million. Lottery officials said his wife owns half the prize because Arizona is a community property state.

"He and his wife couldn't believe it," Bach said. "They checked the numbers over and over again — absolutely shocked."

Page 1 of 2




If you prefer your thoughts to appear in The Oklahoman's Opinion section, we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor.


Mortgage Rates Hit 2.50%
If you owe under $729k you may qualify for 2.90% APR Govt Refi Plans.
www.SeeRefinanceRates.com
New Rule in OKLAHOMA:
(APR 2013): If You Pay For Car Insurance You Better Read This...
www.ConsumerFinanceDaily.com

News Photo Galleriesview all