If you thought you'd just won a fortune, would you go to work the next day? Eight women who toil in a tax office in Morgantown, West Virginia did just that on Monday, as they anxiously await confirmation that they hold the winning ticket in a $276.3 million lottery jackpot.
But whether they'll be back again this week is another matter. The women claim to be the sole big winners in the Powerball lottery, and if they're right, each stands to be transformed from ordinary civil servants into multi-millionaires.
Sheriff's Deputy Roger Magro is married to one of them. When one of the other ticket holders came pounding on his door at 2am Saturday, just hours after the draw, he thought something terrible had happened. He was wrong.
"I just thought, 'You're full of baloney,'" he recalls. "But she was adamant about it."
Until everything is squared away, the women decided to go back to work just in case, as sheriff's deputies kept watch on them. But not everyone is quite so cautious. At least one of their husbands has already quit his job.
If their win is confirmed, they will receive a lump sum payout of $140 million before taxes. After the government gets its hands on its share, they'd be left with about $95.5 million — or roughly $12 million a piece.
West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave talked Monday with Linda Fominko, chief deputy in the tax office and one of the eight apparent winners, White said.
"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," she said.
The Powerball lottery regularly boasts some of the biggest jackpots in the world. The all-time win came in February 2006, when eight workers at a meatpacking plant collected $365 million in the take-a-chance contest. This latest win — if it's confirmed — is the seventh biggest ever.
The winners in this case have yet to say what their plans are — but just don't expect them to report for duty on Wednesday.
And what will Sheriff's Deputy Roger Magro do? He already turned in his resignation letter.
First, congratulations to all the winners - a special congrats given this is my home town.
Just saw the press conference. They are all going to continue working because (among other reasons) this is tax season and to walk now would cause a real mess. I can understand - I would not walk on my boss until I made things right given how much respect I have for her.
For everyone who has debated this on LP more than once, this is a perfect example of why this is not going to work this time. These women work in a public office dedicated to, what else, money. As a group, the net worth is approximately 100M. Even if they put a true police presence on every door, from business open to business close, how long exactly can they hope to be both safe and keep their sanity? The entire world now knows where to find these women every work day, not to mention all the other personal info that will be out there.
Their wish to stay and do the job is commendable. There are just so many ways this will fail - disruption of business, safety issues, not to mention those people who come in and are unable to resolve their tax issues for very good reasons given the state of the economy, and will almost certainly know the person they are talking to is, well, a millionaire. Please don't think that I'm not giving the residents of Mon County credit - I'm related to a lot of them, after all - nevertheless, you know there will always be someone who will cause trouble. On the other hand, when hill people close ranks, you couldn't get in with a tank. There may be hope.
I hope they can work and complete the tax season for the office successfully and, most importantly, safely. It will largely depend on the public they deal with every day. I hope they work it all out and enjoy!
"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," she said.
Since the drawing was Saturday night and they all showed up for work at 9am Monday morning,I'm wondering how they found sufficient professional advice so quickly.Most,if not all, financial institutions and attorneys offices are closed on Sunday.And even if they were open on Sunday,that doesn't seem like a very long time,considering the emotional states they must be in,to be making what can only be viewed as lifechanging decisions.I would have waited until the shock wore off a little bit before stepping forward to collect my millions.
Quote: Originally posted by tiggs95 on Mar 18, 2008
To Madd Mike...They might know someone close who is a lawyer and he filled them in..They might trust a friend who is a lawyer??..
I still would have waited until I had all of my ducks in a row before I claimed the ticket and went public.
But with that many winners in the pool I guess the majority would rule.If most of them wanted the money now,I guess you would have to go along with them.Unless you happened to be the one holding the ticket.
Thats one of the reasons that I would never join a pool.
Did anyone notice how much this group contributed toward their pool? I read several articles but could not find how much each member played. Just curious cause I play enough for a pool by my lonesome, and I would sooo love to win pool money without playing in one.
Quote: Originally posted by MaddMike51 on Mar 18, 2008
"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," she said.
Since the drawing was Saturday night and they all showed up for work at 9am Monday morning,I'm wondering how they found sufficient professional advice so quickly.Most,if not all, financial institutions and attorneys offices are closed on Sunday.And even if they were open on Sunday,that doesn't seem like a very long time,considering the emotional states they must be in,to be making what can only be viewed as lifechanging decisions.I would have waited until the shock wore off a little bit before stepping forward to collect my millions.
"They sought professional advice.... " Probably so. A good while BEFORE the draw! What if, and then, etc. Just hope they went as far as contracts since three of the pool players did not play in this draw.
yes very nice how about the billon dollar blockbuster ticket from massachusetts it cost 20 dollars .The pay off is 130 1 million prize, 10 ,10 million prize and 1,000.000 prize for life go to the web site please let me know . If it is a good bet to play i live in las vegas .No gambling here just kidding no lottery.You all take care and be safe good luck your friend Richard
Quote: Originally posted by colthmn on Mar 18, 2008
Did anyone notice how much this group contributed toward their pool? I read several articles but could not find how much each member played. Just curious cause I play enough for a pool by my lonesome, and I would sooo love to win pool money without playing in one.
They must all be very excited. Congrats to them!
WTG! Good people won!
I do hope that Morgantown has enough Sheriff Deputies to cover all of that manpower that is about to leave.
Congratulations to the Ladies.
litebets
First, congratulations to all the winners - a special congrats given this is my home town.
Just saw the press conference. They are all going to continue working because (among other reasons) this is tax season and to walk now would cause a real mess. I can understand - I would not walk on my boss until I made things right given how much respect I have for her.
For everyone who has debated this on LP more than once, this is a perfect example of why this is not going to work this time. These women work in a public office dedicated to, what else, money. As a group, the net worth is approximately 100M. Even if they put a true police presence on every door, from business open to business close, how long exactly can they hope to be both safe and keep their sanity? The entire world now knows where to find these women every work day, not to mention all the other personal info that will be out there.
Their wish to stay and do the job is commendable. There are just so many ways this will fail - disruption of business, safety issues, not to mention those people who come in and are unable to resolve their tax issues for very good reasons given the state of the economy, and will almost certainly know the person they are talking to is, well, a millionaire. Please don't think that I'm not giving the residents of Mon County credit - I'm related to a lot of them, after all - nevertheless, you know there will always be someone who will cause trouble. On the other hand, when hill people close ranks, you couldn't get in with a tank. There may be hope.
I hope they can work and complete the tax season for the office successfully and, most importantly, safely. It will largely depend on the public they deal with every day. I hope they work it all out and enjoy!
"They have sought professional advice and seem to be well prepared," she said.
Since the drawing was Saturday night and they all showed up for work at 9am Monday morning,I'm wondering how they found sufficient professional advice so quickly.Most,if not all, financial institutions and attorneys offices are closed on Sunday.And even if they were open on Sunday,that doesn't seem like a very long time,considering the emotional states they must be in,to be making what can only be viewed as lifechanging decisions.I would have waited until the shock wore off a little bit before stepping forward to collect my millions.
To Madd Mike...They might know someone close who is a lawyer and he filled them in..They might trust a friend who is a lawyer??..
I still would have waited until I had all of my ducks in a row before I claimed the ticket and went public.
But with that many winners in the pool I guess the majority would rule.If most of them wanted the money now,I guess you would have to go along with them.Unless you happened to be the one holding the ticket.
Thats one of the reasons that I would never join a pool.
Did anyone notice how much this group contributed toward their pool? I read several articles but could not find how much each member played. Just curious cause I play enough for a pool by my lonesome, and I would sooo love to win pool money without playing in one.
Wtg!!!!
"They sought professional advice.... " Probably so. A good while BEFORE the draw! What if, and then, etc. Just hope they went as far as contracts since three of the pool players did not play in this draw.
as article on yahoo stated that they each put in $5.
Excellent,
Goodness, they were lucky. Only $40.00 Thanks for the info. chasingadream!!
yes very nice how about the billon dollar blockbuster ticket from massachusetts it cost 20 dollars .The pay off is 130 1 million prize, 10 ,10 million prize and 1,000.000 prize for life go to the web site please let me know . If it is a good bet to play i live in las vegas .No gambling here just kidding no lottery.You all take care and be safe good luck your friend Richard
$5 each