More than four months after making his or her fateful lottery ticket purchase, the winner of the $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot has stepped forward — but will remain anonymous, the South Carolina Education Lottery Commission announced.
The winner of the largest jackpot in U.S. history has opted for up-front cash — a one-time payment of $877,784,124, the commission announced shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.
According to a statement from the commission, the winner confided in how unlikely the win was — that he (or she) had let a fellow customer buy a Quick Pick Mega Millions lottery ticket ahead of him in line the day he made his own lottery ticket purchase 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 Hogan Brown, the lottery commission's executive director. "We respect the winner's decision to remain anonymous, and we will honor the winner's wishes."
KC Mart in Simpsonville will receive $50,000 for selling the claimed winning ticket.
The state of South Carolina, meanwhile, will collect $61 million in income taxes from the winner, according to the commission.
The winner has hired attorney Jason Kurland of Rivkin Radler of New York, who will provide legal representation while also acting as the winner's spokesman, according to the commission.
Kurland has represented multiple large lottery winners, according to his firm's website, including the Putnam Avenue Family Trust, winner of a $254.2 million Connecticut Powerball lottery; the Rainbow Sherbert Trust, winner of a $336.4 million Rhode Island Powerball jackpot; and The Ning Trust, winner of a $121.6 million Powerball jackpot in Delaware two years ago.
Kurland could not be reached for comment Monday evening.
Once the South Carolina winner has been paid, a news conference will take place at the S.C. lottery commission's headquarters in Columbia.
The ticket's initial purchase took place Oct. 24, 2018, and the winner had 180 days to step forward.
He — or she — waited 131, prompting intense speculation on social media about what the winner might be up to over the past four months. Was the ticket lost? Did the winner not know he had bought the winning ticket? Had a minor purchased it?
According to a recent report, had the winner deposited the $878 million lump sum into a 2-percent interest savings account on day one, they would have collected $5.8 million in interest alone by now.
Congratulations to the winner!!! Enjoy it!!!
Finally! That attorney Jason Kurland has a reputation for being savvy. Took that attorney for the Robinson’s to task for showing up on GMA & exposing the winners on national television. Called it irresponsible and
. On a side note: l was correct, 
the winner didn’t CARE about the interest they lost on the millions. Now, to parlay that forethought into choosing the winning PB numbers.
well part of the mystery is at long last over, may s/he/they be that happy and put the money to good use
Only thing I'd like to know is how old the individual is just for curiosity.
one can only wonder and no doubt some grandkids will be splurging soon enough on silly things they don't need
Congrats to the winner.I am happy they claimed.It would be crazy that money would go back to the States and the store owner not getting paid his $50k.
I hope the winner stays anonymous but when that money hits the bank ,watch out for chatty tellers.
Congrats to the lucky winner/winners.
$877.8 million American dollars! I agree that hiring Jason Kurland was the correct way. About, chatty tellers, Jason Kurland may help the winner with this problem too. Proceed past the teller to a bank manager. Maybe even to the bank President!
Power Ball is our next target LP Members
Congratulations!!! I like it that the attorney is not returning calls. There will be a press conference with the attorney AFTER the money is paid. That counsel is in control. I really wonder if the winner had children and had to buy another home out of the area and sell the old home. So the children would be settled in a new school once the jp was claimed. This would have kept a family off the nosy body radar.
Congratulations! I just hope the winner(s) can see the opportunity they have and see how many jobs that they can create, industries they can support and businesses they can create while still buying that $15mil mansion, vacations around the world (be careful where you go....) the $2500 dresses and jewelry/watches/cars you buy. I hope they don't spend it willy-nilly. Waste it on $500.000 sportscars you can never really drive. Or heavens forbid going to Los Vegas to gamble.
Whewwwwwww, that was getting a little close, time wise... Congrats to that individual and it was very savy of her/him to have Atty Kurland as a legal representative/spokesman.
Glad I was wrong thinking the ticket was lost. I hope they have wonderful life and bring much joy into others.
The only question unanswered is "why did they wait so long?".
If the banking issue needs a teller, you can probably handle it online. If you win a huge jackpot, you will have money in multiple banks and institutions so a teller will probably have no clue you are a jp winner.
I agree that anyone that hits should stay anonymous. What business is it for anyone on how that winner does what they want to do with it. As far as non profits, if I were the winner I would expose Washington DC for all the non profit frauds that they all are. I don't care if they try and discover me at all.
The store owners that do sell a winning ticket, I was told by this pharmacist where I get my medications if any done, he doesn't really get anything from it. Isn't there something in the contract with the states and business owners?
Remaining anonymous is one thing. Starting rumors is another one.
Also, someone came up to me before the superbowl and bet someone $500 which two teams would be in the superbowl. I never asked him for a dime.
Some of you need to ask a reliable lawyer and accountant because from what I read on here some members are careless and make a mistake.
I think that most people would figure out where they want to live and kind of have that in place. A friend lives abt an hour from Simpsonville and heard it was a guy in his early twenties.
If I am ever that lucky, business as usual for family until I collect.
Think it is wonderful that they were able to wait over 4 months. If he / she had quit minths ago as rumored, someone wasn’t pressed.
Good question, in short Stack et al, they want to by time to think, manipulate and message the info for unseen purposes.
~EK
If that person is in their early 20s, think of a plan for early retirement, or do what I do. Open up an amazon store, start thrifting and get some people to work for that person. I know plenty of ideas to do.
The SC winner got $605,000,000 after fed / state taxes.
How would you have used this amount of moolah?
People are spreading rumors. Someone else posted that they "heard" it was a group. If the winner was that savvy to hire an excellent attorney and get their affairs in order, I doubt any of the rumors are true. If I won anonymously, I would help spread those false rumors. Lol
I heard it was someone here on Lottery Post.
In all seriousness this is probably one of the smartest winners we have seen in a while. Gets a good lawyer to run interference, keeps their mouth shut, and (hopefully) has assembled a good money management team. The only thing I might do differently is claim it sooner. I just could not stand the stress of having the ticket burning a hole in my pocket for so long.
Lol. It was JJ. He is so used to winning jackpots, he could hardly bear to claim another jp win.
I really think the delay was due to children (quietly moving and changing schools) or career obligations.
Won by pulling a reversed Gloria!
"The SC winner got $605,000,000 after fed / state taxes."
Jackpot Cash Value $877.8 million . . so should clear around $491.5 million after 37% federal and 7% SC taxes.
The news item states - "The winner of the largest jackpot in U.S. history has opted for up-front cash — a one-time payment of $877,784,124, the commission announced shortly before 5 p.m. Monday."
The jackpot was the second largest jackpot in US history.
That's good! spread your own rumors and sit back and relax. lol
The winner did their homework. Jason Kurland is the guy to hire. Wow, that’s some fortune.
That sounds like something you'd see in gymnastics, pro wrestling or a porno film.