Dan Fontana was set to buy tickets for Saturday's $16 million Illinois Lotto drawing with some friends from work but pulled out at the last minute.
Bad move. Really bad move.
Four of his fellow salesmen at an Oak Lawn auto dealership won the Lotto jackpot. They soon may no longer be his co-workers.
"I came to work and heard about it. After that, I just kind of wanted to go home," Fontana said.
The winners are Jeton Asani, 42, of Orland Park; Arben Gashi, 29, of Worth; his brother Nick Gashi, 28, of Bridgeview; and Chris Matyskiel, 30, of Chicago.
They filed the winning ticket Monday with the Illinois Lottery, opting for a lump-sum payment that's estimated at $1.6 million each after taxes.
Earlier Monday, they quit their jobs at the Haggerty Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealership, general manager Bill Haggerty said.
"I got here this morning, and they all had their keys in hand and their offices cleaned out," he said.
However, by Monday evening all four said they would wait a couple of weeks before deciding whether to continue working.
"I guess I'll just take a couple weeks off," Matyskiel said. "What else am I going to do?"
Before any of them jet off on an extravagant vacation, some shut-eye is in order.
"Since Saturday, I could only sleep for a couple of hours," Asani said.
Also Monday, Matyskiel and Nick Gashi bought new vehicles from the dealership — a Buick LaCrosse by Matyskiel and a GMC Denali by Gashi.
The four men had never pooled their money to buy lottery tickets, but Asani, Nick Gashi and Matyskiel decided last week to do so for Saturday's big prize.
They offered other Haggerty employees a chance to join the pool, with each person having to buy $50 in tickets. The only taker was Gashi's brother.
"Who knows if we'd have won with extra people," Asani said. "I feel bad for them, but then more people would mean less money for me."
The ticket was purchased from Oak Lawn Discount Tobacco, 9241 Cicero Ave., on Saturday, said the manager of the store, who identified himself only as Rod. The four winners returned Monday about 8 a.m., he said.
"They were elated, just jumping for joy," he said.
Meanwhile, there were some sullen faces at the Haggerty dealership Monday. While most employees seemed happy for their co-workers, they also couldn't help thinking about what might have been. A few salesmen joked about people being on "suicide watch."
One salesman had $20 when the offer was presented and had to ask for the other $30 from his girlfriend, Haggerty said. She wouldn't give him the money, he said.
Others, such as salesman Patrick Cunningham, just thought the $50 entry fee was too steep. He bought $5 worth of Lotto tickets at the same store, about 15 minutes after the winners.
"Yeah, I lost a little sleep over this," Cunningham said.
Haggerty salesman Sam Shalabi said he didn't enter because he doesn't gamble. Even after seeing his co-workers win, he doesn't plan on becoming a lottery regular.
"It happens once in a lifetime," he said. "It's not going to help to start buying tickets now."
How can you run a lottery pool if everybody has to buy $50 in tickets?
I'm disappointed that a man decided not to buy lotto tickets and let other people win. I guess Dan has to keep working while some of his co-workers possibly not work anymore.
How can you run a lottery pool if everybody has to buy $50 in tickets?
I find it hard to believe that is a serious question. It is so simple, I do not want to waste time explaining.
On a more positive note and as a strong believer in lottery pools, it is good to see pools winning. It appears to me that is the most common characteristics amoung all winners is the use of pools to win.
As lotteries move to bigger odds and bigger jackpots, lottery pools become more of a viable option.
Anybody interested in the $500 million Mega Millions pool I posted about before?
Good luck,
Jake
How can you run a lottery pool if everybody has to buy $50 in tickets?
It seemed to work pretty well for these four newly-made millionaires.
What's the most amount of money you ever spent at one time on lottery tickets?
I'm disappointed that a man decided not to buy lotto tickets and let other people win. I guess Dan has to keep working while some of his co-workers possibly not work anymore.
You think?
Sad news !!!
So sorry to hear that ....
But ... $50/person for one pool is too much !!!
let's it be
How can you run a lottery pool if everybody has to buy $50 in tickets?
It's a good way to find out who can afford to play and who should keep their money for better things. Those folks that didn't play aren't as sorry as they would have been had they spent $50 and lost. Playing the lottery is gambling and people shouldn't gamble more than they can afford to lose.
RJOh
The more you play the more your chances of winning, bottom line. Those that couldnt afford to pony up the money or were too cheap dont deserve anything. I hope there are no "iscriminatory lawsuits" that pop up at this joint. I myself had 40 bucks on this draw, I would have joined that pool in a heartbeat.
At their ages $1.6 mill is not serious retirement money unless the live fairly modest lives and make good investments. It's possible but I expect all will eventually have to return to the work pool. Congrats to the winners!
I think there are alot of smart lottery players here . I've noticed that reading people's posts and the predictions they make.
i had a lottery pool going for that draw only collected $ 2. each person had 50 people in and are group only won $ 9 dollars total.
I was a part of a winning lottery pool about 5 years ago. We hit 5 of six numbers with the sixth number 1 digit off. Just so happened there was more than 4000 people that hit 5 that same week. Split between 17 employees, we ended up with a meager $82 each! Still moe than the $5 bet but a bit of a heartbreak to be so close!
I bet the salesman whose girlfriend refused to lend him the $30 he needed to join the pool is going to break up with her now. LOL It is surprising that they kicked in $50 each for only a $16 million (annuity) jackpot, but someone must have felt lucky!
"Dan Fontana was set to buy tickets for Saturday's $16 million Illinois Lotto drawing with some friends from work but pulled out at the last minute."
Sounds like he second guessed his original decision and lost so has to live with it. That's life!!
1.6 million is some serious cash when u consider these people are quite modest. if i had hit 1.6 I would be allset propably for like 30 years
I bet the salesman whose girlfriend refused to lend him the $30 he needed to join the pool is going to break up with her now. LOL It is surprising that they kicked in $50 each for only a $16 million (annuity) jackpot, but someone must have felt lucky!
The story didn't say anything about a lending. Sounds like the kind of story I see on Judge Judy all the time, some guy ask a girl friend for money and when she ask to be repaid, he considered it a gift. Had he got it, she probably would have had to go to court to split his share 50/50 even if she paid 60% of the cost and they would have broke up any way. If some one has to ask their friends for money to gamble, they shouldn't gamble.
At their ages $1.6 mill is not serious retirement money unless the live fairly modest lives and make good investments. It's possible but I expect all will eventually have to return to the work pool. Congrats to the winners!
You forgot about the tax-man - he has yet to spoil all the fun. Unearned income tax, with an income of over a million dollars, puts you at the top of the tax bracket. April 16th is NOT going to be a happy day at their house.
At their ages $1.6 mill is not serious retirement money unless the live fairly modest lives and make good investments. It's possible but I expect all will eventually have to return to the work pool. Congrats to the winners!
You forgot about the tax-man - he has yet to spoil all the fun. Unearned income tax, with an income of over a million dollars, puts you at the top of the tax bracket. April 16th is NOT going to be a happy day at their house.
The $1.6 mill is after taxes but I think they only take out 25% so they *will* owe more. It will hit them sooner than Apr 15th. They'll have to estimate taxes quarterly and pay as they go.
50 bucks sounds steep for a pool that runs for every drawing. It's the reason I don't play though unless the jackpot is big. If I spend a lot on a drawing where the jackpot is big it makes up for all those times when the jackpot is small and I never played. Sure the numbers might come up when I'm not playing but odds are they will never come up at all. I just view the lottery as my small shot at having a permanent paid vacation.
I really wish that the media would stop turning this story into a bad thing about dan he is a great guy that does not deserve this. he is sad enough without everyone asking him how it feels. the only reason he dident play is because he did not have the 50.00 on him. that was the first time we ever played together and we were lucky enough to win. we played with 50.00 because we figured that we had more chances of winning. It was the same thinking as if we went to a high class restaurant: you do it once in a great while, but you dont do it often. And no one is retiring just taking a couple of weeks off!
I really wish that the media would stop turning this story into a bad thing about dan he is a great guy that does not deserve this. he is sad enough without everyone asking him how it feels. the only reason he dident play is because he did not have the 50.00 on him. that was the first time we ever played together and we were lucky enough to win. we played with 50.00 because we figured that we had more chances of winning. It was the same thinking as if we went to a high class restaurant: you do it once in a great while, but you dont do it often. And no one is retiring just taking a couple of weeks off!
If you are indeed one of the lucky winners, Congratulations!!!
And if you are who you imply, sounds like a one time pool of a high amount to take a chance on the mother lode you all reeled in.
Again Congratulations to the winners!!
Pontiacsales...yes, congratulations...and yes I saw Dan interviewed on WGN (or Fox) and felt really sorry for him. He didn't look like a happy camper....I don't think he needs any more 'grief' right now.
I really wish that the media would stop turning this story into a bad thing about dan he is a great guy that does not deserve this. he is sad enough without everyone asking him how it feels. the only reason he dident play is because he did not have the 50.00 on him. that was the first time we ever played together and we were lucky enough to win. we played with 50.00 because we figured that we had more chances of winning. It was the same thinking as if we went to a high class restaurant: you do it once in a great while, but you dont do it often. And no one is retiring just taking a couple of weeks off!
Hey, congrats!
If you get an interview on TV/in the papers, see if you can get them to mention Lottery Post!
(That's my standard request to winners, because it really helps spread the word about this site, and it's great to have previous winners join our "club" here.)
I really wish that the media would stop turning this story into a bad thing about dan he is a great guy that does not deserve this. he is sad enough without everyone asking him how it feels. the only reason he dident play is because he did not have the 50.00 on him. that was the first time we ever played together and we were lucky enough to win. we played with 50.00 because we figured that we had more chances of winning. It was the same thinking as if we went to a high class restaurant: you do it once in a great while, but you dont do it often. And no one is retiring just taking a couple of weeks off!
Welcome to Lottery Post and again congrats on the win! At my age I'd quit for good with a win like that. At your ages I'd take more than a few weeks off and pick up some classes on investing. I'd still leave the investing to the professionals but the more I'd know about the process the better off in the long run. Enjoy your newfound wealth and don't forget your favorite charities!
I really wish that the media would stop turning this story into a bad thing about dan he is a great guy that does not deserve this. he is sad enough without everyone asking him how it feels. the only reason he dident play is because he did not have the 50.00 on him. that was the first time we ever played together and we were lucky enough to win. we played with 50.00 because we figured that we had more chances of winning. It was the same thinking as if we went to a high class restaurant: you do it once in a great while, but you dont do it often. And no one is retiring just taking a couple of weeks off!
Same thing happened to me once. Lady had a dream of a 3 digit number.....told her dream to about 10 people....they each played 2 bucks straight and called the bookie....I didnt have $2 on me so I said no (figured 3 digit straight bet is a long shot) it hit as I watched TV.....talk about feeling like an idiot......who would have thunk it.......never again.....
I have to say at $50 to get into the pool...Chances are I would still be working!! (If i was single i would probably be in it)
thanks everyone, im still sitting here trying to figure out how 16 mil. came out to 1.68 each. and how much more the irs is going to take? however, its still going to buy me a house. at 30 and no house payment is going to be nice. I promised a pizza party for everyone at chucky cheese if i won so i am going to play lots of skiball. thanks again.
thanks everyone, im still sitting here trying to figure out how 16 mil. came out to 1.68 each. and how much more the irs is going to take? however, its still going to buy me a house. at 30 and no house payment is going to be nice. I promised a pizza party for everyone at chucky cheese if i won so i am going to play lots of skiball. thanks again.
Locate a good reputable tax attorney and let them explain it all. Could be your smartest investment. Good luck to you and yours!!