Powerball winner refuses to collect if name is disclosed

[bcla]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-jackpot-is-make-her-name-public-she-refuses/

Apparently the winner of last month's $560 million (of course less after taxes and/or a lump sum) refuses to collect if her name is disclosed. She's already signed the ticket, so it's too late to assign the ticket to an anonymous trust. She would like to remain anonymous in fear of being targeted, but most states' lottery rules require that the name be disclosed. I know in California it's the name and the location where it was purchased. I figure if I ever won, I'd like to have bought it on vacation in Southern California. Then all the people who have the same name (and my name is not unique) living near the sale location will probably have to deal with all the people coming out of the woodwork.

There are a couple of states that allow winners to be anonymous or at least don't have any requirement that the winner be named. I remember one Mega Millions jackpot among three winning groups. One group posed for photos in as the "Three Amigos" with the fake check covering their faces.

 

[Disney Doll]

Well then she’s stupid.

 

[Capang]

Smart. Lottery winners have big horror stories. It can destroy families, relationships, etc. I grew up next door to lottery winners. Everyone in their family expected handouts from them.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

She's welcome to give me the ticket. I'll disclose my name for $560m. Heck, I'd disclose it for $560.

 

[dosekies]

I completely understand where she is coming from. I hate that most states require that information to be disclosed as I can only see it leading to unfortunate situations.

 

[elphaba91]

Lottery winners in Australia are always allowed to be anonymous. In 1960 a young boy was kidnapped and held for ransom and ultimately murderer after his parents’ lottery win was widely publicised. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Thorne_kidnapping After that winners have always been given the option (and the vast majority do).

I understand that the lottery organisers want transparency, but I don’t think it’s fair for that to come at the expense of winners’ privacy and safety.

 

[Hikergirl]

I totally understand her wanting too, I think it is ridiculous that their names have to be made public.

 

[Skellingtonj]

Can you claim and then change your name?

 

[sam_gordon]

I don’t think it’s fair for that to come at the expense of winners’ privacy and safety.

I totally understand her wanting too, I think it is ridiculous that their names have to be made public.

If you don't like the rules, don't play the game. I don't think you should be able to play then decide "I'm not going to follow the rules".

Can you claim and then change your name?

Of course. First thing I'd do (before even claiming the prize) is change my phone number and all the phone numbers of my family. Then I'd debate about changing my name and moving after claiming the money.

 

[MamaBelle4]

This is where having a super common last name comes in handy (like Smith or Jones).

I would let my name be public because there are probably a million "mes" put there. However when I had my maiden name, nuh uh, no way.

 

[lorimay]

She didn't think it through before signing, thats a shame.

She needs to hire a few security guards and maybe move to an undisclosed location.
Family and friends come out of the woodwork when someone wins big. scary

 

[Hikergirl]

If you don't like the rules, don't play the game. I don't think you should be able to play then decide "I'm not going to follow the rules".

I totally agree she decided to buy a ticket and I'm sure it wasn't just so she could get a new bookmark, she was hoping to win. However, I can understand why she wouldn't want to have her name made public when she actually did win, and maybe she really didn't think about that when she first bought that ticket.

 

[smmcgarry]

She didn't think it through before signing, thats a shame.

She needs to hire a few security guards and maybe move to an undisclosed location.
Family and friends come out of the woodwork when someone wins big. scary

Unfortunately, she might not be able to afford to move.

This is the epitome of stupid.

 

[LSUmiss]

Just wanted to add that it’s completely disgusting that we live in a world that she even has to be concerned about this.

 

[Darcy03231]

There's bit more to the story here. I live in NH and its been all over our news.

When the woman realized she won she went to the lottery's website for instructions. The website instructed that she should immediately sign the ticket so if she lost it no one else could cash it in, so that's what she did. It didn't say anything about not signing it if you intended to collect your winnings anonymously (such as through a trust, which NH law allows). The woman said she followed the instructions not realizing that she wouldn't be able to set up a trust and collect anonymously as previous NH winners have done. Once she signed the ticket lottery rules say she has to collect in her own name, which can be made public pursuant to NH's right to know law.

 

[William Ades]

She's welcome to give me the ticket. I'll disclose my name for $560m. Heck, I'd disclose it for $560.

Lol, yep!!

 

[William Ades]

Releasing the names of the winners helps to maintain the integrity of the Lottery System. If they didn't release the names, for all we know it could be someone that works for the Lottery, the location that sold the ticket, a family member of those individuals, etc...

 

[William Ades]

Unfortunately, she might not be able to afford to move.

This is the epitome of stupid.

She releases her name and she will have $560M. I'm pretty sure she will be able to afford to move just about anywhere she wants after that.

 

[NinaBella]

White Out. LOL

 

[Darcy03231]

White Out. LOL

Invalidates the ticket.