Man buys wrong lottery ticket, wins $169 million

Comment #65

golfer1960 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:04:29 GMT

Wow, good work Max. I wasn't aware of that prior incident in Brooklyn, NY. The common denominator in both delayed public notification cases is that both times it happened in the State of New York.

Comment #64

golfer1960 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 15:57:38 GMT

Hi D, I agree with you 100% that giving all winners a 3-month or 6-month head start would be great. New Jersey was considering the 6-month option but I never heard anything else about it.

My first reaction was that LP received the information late but the MM website didn't even publish the article until 6/29/16. So MM held off on discovery.

Comment #63

MaximumMillions — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:25:31 GMT

I do remember there was a winner in NY in Sheephead (?) Bay who claimed very late, the PB or MM site years later didn't show claim status as claimed or expired but as pending , no info given on the winner.

Noise-gate found an article on it when I brought it up, but I don't remember where. The whole story seemed very hush-hush. Think it was a 130M$ jackpot.

It was this one: http://www.powerball.com/powerball/winners/2013/NY_Nikolayev111613.shtml

But like I said the Winner's Stories secti... [ More ]

Comment #62

Drenick1 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:14:44 GMT

Hey Golfer- that was my point as well. It seems many here didn't even realize the discrepancy from the tim the ticket was redeemed until the media published the story granted they did take two months prior to claiming their winnings which should have given that enough time to consult with experts and get their financial planning in order.

This case would be a nice precedent for future jackpot winners- giving three month headstart after claiming before revealing their names.

Comment #61

golfer1960 — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 03:28:26 GMT

Hey LottoBux, Yes I would take the time to plan before i claimed the ticket. But have you ever seen someone claim the prize on March 10th and the lottery hold off on publicizing their story until June 29th?

That was nice of the NY Lottery to do that but I've never seen it happen before.

Has anyone ever seen that happen before

Comment #60

LottoBux — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 02:18:53 GMT

If You Won That Much Money,Wouldn't You Take The Time To Decide What You Would Do With It?

These Things Take Time To Plan

Especially Finding Someone To Help You Finance Your Winnings.

Comment #59

noise-gate — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 03:26:13 GMT

Their came in. Plain and simple. Congrats

Comment #58

RedStang — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:53:00 GMT

These days annuity is pointless. You still end up paying taxes on the interest. If you get a good stock broker, they could probably get you at least a 6-8% APY where most banks are 1%. I'd like to know what Bank the MUSL uses to figure out their cash value.

Comment #57

Redd55 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 20:28:43 GMT

About 6 years ago, there was a death that the MSM was trying to make political (it was suicide). I read the local small town news reports and they would include direct quotes from officials. The MSM would remove the quotes, rewrite the statements, and thereby give it the opposite meaning of that was conveyed by the speaker.

So, any time you read a news account where they have he said/he stated, etc., instead of quotes -- be suspicious.

Comment #56

savagegoose — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 18:19:49 GMT

Australia isnt totally tax free, the winnings are, but there is a gambling tax paid at time of the tickets purchase, for every ticket. 1/11th of the bet, its a gambling tax the gov charges all gambling operations. but yeah we get our advertised Jackpots

Comment #55

Drenick1 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 17:37:33 GMT

Very sad state of affairs as even blogs are considered news outlets.

Comment #54

music* — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 17:29:37 GMT

Decline the press availability and the grip and grin photo shoot. The media will learn and listen.

Comment #53

music* — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:59:03 GMT

Vote with you dollars. Stop buying the newspapers, magazines, and do not buy what is advertised on the tv news shows.

Comment #52

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:56:11 GMT

I took journalism in high school in the early 70's. My teacher would not recognize what is called journalism today. It's all deception and slanted.

Comment #51

Drenick1 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:50:04 GMT

I just re-read the entire article written by the NY Daily News which is an ultra left wing outlet and they insinuate that the husband only bought the $1 mega million and none of the PB tickets that his wife requested. Several other articles not written by the Daily News mention that he bought $20 worth of Powerball tickets thus leaving him with a dollar in his wallet and at that point decided to spend it on a MM ticket.

Articles like this use selective editing in order to glorify a set of eve... [ More ]

Comment #50

Toronto — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:49:23 GMT

How will it stimulate even more? All I read on this site is people not spending, not being like those stories in which people blow it all. Just like the wealthy upper-income do in society now, most who win big jackpots would just hoard money, so how would removing taxes on lottery wins (which by the way you in no way earned and didn't even have the day before winning so it's $X million more than you had) be a better outcome

Comment #49

Bleudog101 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 16:19:08 GMT

Hope he throws in the towel as a police officer. His picture plastered all over the place certainly is not too safe for him or his family.

Comment #48

TheMeatman2005 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 14:21:23 GMT

Watch this video, it will explain the difference between cash value and annuity.

Either way you decide to collect a lottery win, you always get all your money If you select cash value, you receive the cash on hand from selling tickets, without the interest from investing the money. But, if you choose the annuity, you get the full amount of the annuitized jackpot amount broken down over many years to come. Watch the video

Comment #47

Bleudog101 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 12:54:59 GMT

It's awful that you have pay taxes, IMO, on big lottery wins. It is basically a voluntary tax buying tickets. Too bad our Congress, which writes IRS laws, are so money hungry they don't realize that folks will stimulate the economy even to a higher level if weren't for Federal taxes.

I can remember to this day when IRS big wigs were dining lunch in the D.C. area and then realized time to tax the heck out of the underpaid waiters/waitresses/servers. This was in the 80's while stationed in... [ More ]

Comment #46

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 12:54:06 GMT

You get your money either way. The cash value is the true jackpot amount. They invest the cash amount to pay an annuity for 25, 30 years, whatever. You would be getting the money over a period of years. If you elect to take the cash, you just invest it on your own.

Comment #45

mypiemaster — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:39:50 GMT

total

Comment #44

MaximumMillions — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:33:32 GMT

+Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech republic, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Malta, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan...

Comment #43

Kingofearth — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:12:29 GMT

WRONG

Only 9 countries give it tax free (Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechentstein, New Zealand, and the UK).

Comment #42

Kingofearth — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:07:03 GMT

Yes state taxes are applicable in this case, to the tune of 8.82% State and 3.5ish% City.

An emergency room doctor saves your life: His income is taxed

A soldier risks his life in the deserts of Iraq: His income is taxed

A food bank worker spends long hours helping people in need: Her income is taxed

You spend 5 minutes of your day off the sofa to get some tickets for a game of chance and happen to win big: Tax free?

We need to have a flat national rate of 50%. If you live in Tex... [ More ]

Comment #41

mypiemaster — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 08:06:15 GMT

Yes, every year. It is sad that we are the only advanced nation that taxes lottery wins. Some idiots have said before, If you don't like it, don't play .

Comment #40

speeddmon — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 07:58:11 GMT

Wow I didn't know that. I guess I would want to take 30 year annuinty to make sure I get all my money lol. So you have to pay taxes on your win every year as well? Time to figure out how those celebrities and 1% beat paying out their tax each year.

Comment #39

mypiemaster — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 07:39:00 GMT

$169 million is the value based on a 30-year annuity for megamillions if you choose to get paid over 30 years.. The actual cash value is a lot less if you choose the lump sum payment.They chose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum payment of $64,796,160. Today, at the time of this post, Mega Millions is $449 million 30-year annuity, the cash value is only $313.3 million if you take one-time lump sum cash. Hope that makes it a little clearer for you. Remember 25% fed taxes and some portion... [ More ]

Comment #38

speeddmon — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 07:22:41 GMT

Can some explain the math of a $169 million dollar win to less than $64 million after taxes. That's less than half. Thanks

Comment #37

TheMeatman2005 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 05:25:18 GMT

That could be the reason the lottery waited to announce the win.

He put in for retirement and it takes a while for all the paperwork to go through.

By now, he is probably no longer a police officer.

Comment #36

xstreamgaming15 — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 01:55:11 GMT

Congrats to the Viola couple but did they really have to show a picture of the husband? like his life is in any less dangerious as a cop.

Comment #35

Kyle7824 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 22:48:25 GMT

Thanks

Comment #34

Slick Nick — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 22:47:45 GMT

I agree with Gator

Comment #33

LOTTOKING2016 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 22:14:34 GMT

Nice observation

Comment #32

JackpotWanna — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 21:06:16 GMT

Wow! $1 ticket

Comment #31

mike cos — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 20:43:41 GMT

hurray for that brother in blue--congrats to my fellow staten islander also --it appears the NYPD just got another resignation --veryy good sgt viola --enjoy prosper god bless

Comment #30

Ricklou — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 20:41:21 GMT

Nice one congrats

Comment #29

ressuccess — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 19:19:18 GMT

Congratulations to this lottery jackpot winner. I didn't know that jackpot was revised upward from $165 million to $169 million in that upcoming draw on my sister (Phuong)'s 37th birthday because it was her birthday that day.

Comment #28

Kyle7824 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 18:19:31 GMT

Hey in Lotto math, 3-8 are the same number mirror haha

8:33 Time

Date 8th... just saying... hehe

9 = 4

8 = 3

7 = 2

6 = 1

5 = 0

Comment #27

Kingofearth — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 17:50:08 GMT

34 seconds. 8:33:34, maybe i should buy my Mega millions ticket on Tuesday at that time. It worked for them.

Comment #26

jjtheprince — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 17:23:53 GMT

You're the odd man out I guess

Comment #25

LOTTOKING2016 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 16:19:48 GMT

If that was true then why I haven't won yet? Since OCT 2011

Comment #24

SoleWinner21 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 15:37:29 GMT

You got that right. NY can leave lose

Comment #23

jjtheprince — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 15:20:18 GMT

LOL they didn't win because they bought the wrong ticket, they won because they bought in a Cain't lose state.

Comment #22

LOTTOKING2016 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 15:00:13 GMT

Thanks buddy..What's the seconds

Comment #21

LottoMetro — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:34:34 GMT

Can you imagine their winnings had they bought the right lottery ticket

Comment #20

sully16 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 14:16:47 GMT

Congrats to the Lucky couple.

Comment #19

Saylorgirl — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 12:07:15 GMT

Congratulations, enjoy your newfound wealth

Comment #18

DELotteryPlyr — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 09:16:06 GMT

Yea I was thinking the same thing

Comment #17

MaximumMillions — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 07:49:49 GMT

Yolanda Vega is always on .

Comment #16

Kingofearth — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 05:29:14 GMT

It was bought on Friday January 8th at 8:33 AM Eastern Standard Time.

Comment #15

maximumfun — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 05:28:49 GMT

Lovely job! Congratulations

Comment #14

LOTTOKING2016 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 05:19:45 GMT

What's the date and Time this ticket was bought ?? I can't see properly

Comment #13

TheMeatman2005 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 02:48:25 GMT

I don't think he bought the wrong ticket

His wife called and said get a few PowerBall tickets...He takes out a $5 bill and buys 2 tickets @ $2 each and has $1 left over. He says...Give me ONE MEGA since that $169 mil jackpot wasn't too shabby. They win with the 1 ticket!

It wasn't the WRONG ticket, it was most definitely the RIGHT ticket!

Congrats

Comment #12

Piaceri — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 02:41:38 GMT

It was meant to be. Congrats to the Viola family

Comment #11

Dd2160 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 02:37:39 GMT

WOW that's really nice

Comment #10

ekem6078 — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 01:04:10 GMT

Wow, that was nothing but a blessing. Spend it wisely like helping others that need help, like meeeeee lol. Just kidding. Congrads to the lucky couple.

Comment #9

Albeone — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 00:43:32 GMT

Congrates to this couple. Love stories like this, just proves it don't matter what system or routine you use, it's all about the luck of the draw.

Comment #8

Coin Toss — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 00:32:51 GMT

Good for them.

Any one still deny Luck

Comment #7

Kingofearth — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 00:23:12 GMT

They claimed it 2 months after the drawing...... It just hasn't hit the news until yesterday.

Comment #6

quicksloth35 — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 23:55:35 GMT

Huge congrats to the winners. Par-tay!!!!

That is the mysterious MM claimed, now where is that Chino Hills PB winner

Comment #5

MotoX2 — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 23:54:43 GMT

All it took was $1 quick pick ticket. Very lucky and congrats to them.

Comment #4

golfer1960 — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 23:44:27 GMT

If they claimed the ticket on March 10th, why is this story only hitting Lottery Post on July 1st

Comment #3

music* — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 23:04:35 GMT

Congratulations to the Lucky couple. Spend and invest wisely.

Comment #2

jacintasc — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 22:52:38 GMT

they took a long time to claim

Comment #1

gatorsrok — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 22:42:06 GMT

That's awesome for them. Seems like they are planning to use the money responsibly. I'd be happy with $1M.

Man buys wrong lottery ticket, wins $169 million

Lottery Post — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 22:37:01 GMT

Her husband didn't listen and it paid off to the tune of $169 million.

Mega Millions winner Nancy Viola asked her husband, Vito Viola an NYPD sergeant to buy Powerball tickets from the 2520 Foodmart in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island on Jan. 8. She had the Powerball fever that was gripping the country.

Because the jackpot was $900 million, she said. It was big. It was all everybody was talking about. He didn't listen.

Instead, her husband used a leftover dollar to buy a Quick... [ More ]