Includes video report
ATLANTA, Ga. — It's the most wonderful time of the year for Ira Curry. The Stone Mountain woman purchased one of two winning jackpot tickets in Tuesday's $648 million Mega Millions drawing.
She claimed her prize Wednesday morning at Georgia Lottery headquarters.
"It's unreal," said Curry, 56. "It's like I'm still dreaming."
Curry purchased her lucky ticket at Gateway Newstand, 3500 Lenox Road, Atlanta. A second jackpot ticket was sold in California.
Curry selected the cash option, which amounts to $173,819,742.50 before taxes for each jackpot winner. Georgia state income tax of 6 percent and federal income tax of 25 percent are withheld from prizes of more than $5,000 at the time the prize is claimed.
After final game sales were calculated, the jackpot increased from an advertised $636 million to $648 million. The jackpot was the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
Curry was driving Wednesday morning when she heard the retailer location and one of the winning numbers on the radio. She asked her daughter to check her ticket and was stunned.
"I was calm because it was unbelievable," she said.
According to Curry, she hasn't had a chance to think about future plans.
Winning numbers from the drawing were 8, 14, 17, 20, and 39, with Mega Ball number 7.
Curry said the numbers are a combination of family birthdays. She added that seven is the family's lucky number.
She purchased only one Mega Millions ticket for the drawing.
The owners of the Gateway Newstand store that sold the winning ticket will receive no bonus for selling the winning ticket because of Georgia state lottery rules.
Stone Mountain is just outside Atlanta. The suburb is frequently referred to as the hometown of fictional TV character Kenneth Parcell, played by Jack McBrayer, on NBC's "30 Rock."
Georgia Lottery Corporation president and CEO Debbie Alford said at a press conference that Curry will take the cash option and, after taxes, will rake in $123 million.
VIDEO: Watch a press conference clip
Congrats to the very lucky winner. Spent $1.00 and became a multi-millionaire.
"She purchased only one Mega Millions ticket for the drawing"
its always a person who purchased ONE DANG ON TICKET
Congratulations Ira Curry & Family Spend Wisely
Wow, another big next day Jackpot claim. Just like Paul White a few months ago.
Hopefully she has things in order as well. Best of luck to her!
And yeah, the single ticket must be the secret. Like many things, if you try to force it,(like buying lots of tickets) it won't happen. Just buy 1, and let the jackpot come to you. I think I'll try that winning strategy next time.
I always buy 1 ticket, well almost always, after this it will be always one !
Or maybe I'll wait til the JP gets big, but it'll still be one ticket.
I spent $27 and won $1
Did she honestly think she had to come forward asap or she wouldn't get the prize. Some people don't think clearly.
"Curry was driving Tuesday morning when she heard the retailer location and one of the winning numbers on the radio."
It's a lot easier to win when you hear some of the winning numbers the morning before the drawing.
That sure was fast. I imagine I'd be in a hurry to claim it, too, but I think it would take me at least a week to get things in order.
Congrats to Ira!
Too bad the Georgia retailer will get no bonus for selling that ticket. That stinks. In California, the San Jose retailer is probably getting a $1,000,000 bonus. I think there's a 1% cap the jackpot retailer bonus.
Wow one ticket and she picked her own numbers! Great job. I hope she is lining up her various experts ASAP.
Lol proof that buying A LOT of tickets is not beneficial at all whatsoever.
Our work pool got up to $135, and we won a total of $0. I wish I were joking, but I'm not.
I'm happy for Ira Curry and it's a blessing, but 2 things I disagree with which makes me wonder how this will unfold over the next 7 years, #1 she claimed her money to fast, I know she has no plans, no financial advisor did she even get an attorney, she didn't want to go public but didn't think to disable her Facebook before she claimed prize, so now she is public, #2 I believe that payments would have been a better option, but that's just me, may god bless and protect her!!
Yeah, I would be in a serious rush too with that winning ticket burning a hole in my pocket.
But I give them the benefit of the doubt on the quick claim. Main thing is, if they've got personal legal representation, that's enough to start. The rest like tax and estate and financial planning and all of that can come together in the intervening weeks between the claim and the actual prize payment.
They may have been up all night. But in that time, I'm sure they can arrange for alternate accomodations with a relative or friend. Go to Walmart and buy a new smartphone. Arrange for a hotel/car/transportation for the next day. I've done that many times before. Or what do most people do that want to avoid the press: go to mommy and daddy's house.
The main thing is the personal lawyer, and if they are upper middle class working professionals, they may already have that, or a good start on it at least.
I agree. I would have first got a attorney because now people know her and she maybe a target.
lol, good catch, I fixed the story.
I'm still waiting to hear the winning numbers of the lottery that will be drawn later that evening....l think we all are.
Even though she refused to do a press conference, there is already facebooks photo of her. A 56 year old grandmopther. And they already dug up a lot of personal information on her. I guess she was too late to delete her account.
http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/12/ira-curry-mega-millions-winner-pictures-photos-facebook/
That's why I never post any photos of myself on the internet. People could easily dig through the web for any photos of someone.
Maybe they were strapped for cash. I just don't see her claiming that ticket so close to Jan 1. She will have a whopping tax bill next year . I thought it was funny that she disabled her FB page so late in the game. She is going to have to go "under cover".
Vice president of insurance company, in upper middle class neighborhood. Shes probably already financially secure, figures /:
Looks like a nice Christian lady teaching her grandchild to pray in that one picture.
God Bless her.
I know lots of upper middle class people who are not financially secure. Many are in debt up to their eyeballs. If she did not need to work, she would not be working there.
Amen. Hopefully she will help out a few causes.
I agree and dumb dumb dumb move on her part for coming forward without consulting lawyers and tax advisors... Watch the money go POOF in 10 years or less just like the other winners have.....
Hope she uses that money for bodyguards, a home in a gated community and a name change after going public in less than 24 hours after the win.
She was probably too excitied and caugth up in the moment. It happens to people and they end up making stupid descisons.
Once again, proof that it only takes ONE ticket to win. No system, no formula, just the luck of the draw...