An Ohio man drove for three days with the winning $40 million dollar Mega Millions ticket tucked in the armrest of his car before realizing Monday it was worth more than $16 million after taxes.
Sean Harper of Columbus said he forgot about the ticket until he went to purchase tickets for Ohio's Pick Four drawing on Monday.
"It had been in my armrest the whole time. I didn't believe it until the clerk showed it to me on the screen," Harper said, adding that he didn't even know the winning ticket was purchased in Ohio until he asked the clerk to check the ticket.
After discovering he had picked all six numbers correctly, Harper, 35, drove with his father to the Ohio Lottery office in Columbus to turn in the winning ticket.
On Friday night, Harper stopped at a gas station in the Columbus suburb of Whitehall to buy his regular Pick Four ticket and decided to play $5 on the multistate Mega Millions drawing. He chose the cash option and will receive about $16.5 million after taxes are deducted.
The money will help care for his four children, Harper said.
The owners of the gas station also received a check for $40,000 as a bonus for selling the winning ticket, the Ohio Lottery said. The winning ticket was the tenth sold in Ohio since the Mega Millions game began in May 2002.
Quote: Originally posted by CA LotteryGuy on Dec 6, 2006
bambini...in a press release on the Ohio Lottery website it says "The winner used the auto lotto feature when purchasing the ticket."
Unless that is some sort of system that lets your car (auto) pick your nunbers, it was another quick pick win.
Correcto! It was a Auto Pick. I was down that way and that is what they said.
AND CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To see a fellow" Columbuser " win and take home 16 Mill!!!!! You have been blessed and hope that you take care and be smart with your good fortune!!
I'm happy for the winner. Good luck to him. BTW, this is the reason everyone should put their tickets in a safe place. You wouldn't put a million dollars in cash in your glove box and you never know when you'll be the next one!!
Tonight I was hoping for a shot at the FL 6/53 Lotto..just a few numbers would have been nice. I spent a few dollars more than usual and bought 3 quick picks along with my regular 4 cards. I got just 1 number out of all 42! (meaning 7 tickets)
from $40 million he will take home at least $16 million? why didnt they say at least 20 million? thats right, they can only guarantee 16 million. oh my, why so much taken away? i always thought or rather felt that people should pocket at least half of the jackpot if not three quarters, otherwise they should just advertise the take home amount when they advertise the lottery latest jackpot price.
++++++ i always play less than 2 tickets in megamillions, i think i have to crank it up a little more; nowonder i never win nothing.
Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Dec 7, 2006
from $40 million he will take home at least $16 million? why didnt they say at least 20 million? thats right, they can only guarantee 16 million. oh my, why so much taken away? i always thought or rather felt that people should pocket at least half of the jackpot if not three quarters, otherwise they should just advertise the take home amount when they advertise the lottery latest jackpot price.
++++++ i always play less than 2 tickets in megamillions, i think i have to crank it up a little more; nowonder i never win nothing.
maringoman...here are the numbers as I can best figure:
Annuity Value $40,000,000
Cash Value: $24,021,456
Fed Tax w/h $6,005,364
State Tax $1,441,287
Check $16,574,805
And don't forget those tax figures are just witholding taxes, most likely not the final tax figures!!
I am happy for him and he only played $5. I never win anything playing $5 or less. I guess it it's meant ti be, it will be.
Nice to see a non quick pick win!! Congrats to the winner
I don't see where he says he used his own numbers...
bambini...in a press release on the Ohio Lottery website it says "The winner used the auto lotto feature when purchasing the ticket."
Unless that is some sort of system that lets your car (auto) pick your nunbers, it was another quick pick win.
Correcto! It was a Auto Pick. I was down that way and that is what they said.
AND CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To see a fellow" Columbuser " win and take home 16 Mill!!!!! You have been blessed and hope that you take care and be smart with your good fortune!!
Congrtas to the winner..All I want is a million..Is that to much to ask to win..Power Ball is all mine tonight!!
Fourth paragraph down it says, "after he discovered he picked all six numbers correctly, he went to lottery headquarters."
Nice story. Only $5 to win $40 million. Use the money for good my friend.
Dud..ah Dozz..ah dat mean the..ah
auto thing........mean it twazzz
$$QUICK-PIC$$
I want sum for XMA$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
LOL
PSYKOMO
PSYKOMO,
YOU ROCK MAN!
Congrats, way to go! Go wisely!!!
I'm happy for the winner. Good luck to him. BTW, this is the reason everyone should put their tickets in a safe place. You wouldn't put a million dollars in cash in your glove box and you never know when you'll be the next one!!
Tonight I was hoping for a shot at the FL 6/53 Lotto..just a few numbers would have been nice. I spent a few dollars more than usual and bought 3 quick picks along with my regular 4 cards. I got just 1 number out of all 42! (meaning 7 tickets)
from $40 million he will take home at least $16 million? why didnt they say at least 20 million? thats right, they can only guarantee 16 million. oh my, why so much taken away? i always thought or rather felt that people should pocket at least half of the jackpot if not three quarters, otherwise they should just advertise the take home amount when they advertise the lottery latest jackpot price.
++++++ i always play less than 2 tickets in megamillions, i think i have to crank it up a little more; nowonder i never win nothing.
maringoman...here are the numbers as I can best figure:
Annuity Value $40,000,000
Cash Value: $24,021,456
Fed Tax w/h $6,005,364
State Tax $1,441,287
Check $16,574,805
And don't forget those tax figures are just witholding taxes, most likely not the final tax figures!!