Incognito winner sports black marker mustache and shades
What do you do when you've been unemployed for months and your tax refund comes through on April Fools' Day? Michael Perez, 51, of St. Albans decided to take a chance and put $5 on the New York Lottery.
"I felt guilty spending the money, I needed it for other things," he said. He no longer feels guilty; the ticket netted him $14 million.
Perez was joined at the Queens Botanical Garden on Tuesday by representatives of the New York Lottery, who presented him with his check.
Other winners present were Yoon Kim, who stood in for his father, Chong Bang Kim, 52, of Elmhurst, who won $1 million; and Ruben Martinez of the Bronx, who spent $2 on a Win $2,000 A Week For Life instant ticket, and will receive a minimum of $2 million, paid to him after taxes. He'll receive $16, 771 per quarter.
Perez, a former warehouse supervisor for Southern Wine and Spirits in Syosset, L.I. was let go from his job following a miscommunication between himself and his boss.
Since then he had held a temporary job, but had been looking for work.
Sporting dark shades, a painted-on goatee, an NYPD cap pulled down over his eyes, a discreet braid, bright yellow pants, and a cream jacket, Perez explained that his first priority was to clear his debts. He owes about $11, 000, mostly on credit cards. "It doesn't seem like much now, but before it was overwhelming."
His plans for the future begin with a trip to Disney World in Orlando with his wife of 11 years, (Jetaun) Tracy. He's never been there before, but plans to stay long enough to go on every ride, meet everybody and feel ready to come back and decide how to spend the money.
Perez and Tracy, who works as a receptionist at the AIDS Center of Queens County, have been living in his mother's basement, and he has had to rely on financial help from his mother, his mother-in-law and his wife.
He intends to figure out what his family members need. His mother had put him on a budget of $40 a week, which was not enough for gas, before he won the lottery. "Her bank account is low now. I'm going to help out," he said.
Although it had been widely reported that he and Tracy would be buying their dream house and moving out of the basement, Perez said that he would be taking care of his mother and his mother-in-law, first. "One hand washes the other," he said. referring to all their help and support since he lost his job.
He and Tracy have no children, but he has a 30-year-old son by his childhood sweetheart who lives in Albany.
Perez has friends, family, a lawyer and a CPA helping him out with the money, but doesn't plan to make any important decision any time soon.
When asked to remove his sunglasses for a photo Perez said, "That's not going to happen."
The Queens Botanical Garden had provided a large slab cake for the ceremony and Perez was anxious for the interviews to end so that he could enjoy his slice. "Mmm cheese cake," he said, "my favorite."
Later he posed for pictures with his oversized check. At first he held it over all but his eyes, then he peeked around the side of it, laughing and joking with the media.
Suddenly he became bewildered. "Where's my wife?" he asked and when told she was waiting for him to leave, he instantly ended the interview.
Perez said he was still broke, referring to the Lottery's practice of holding the ceremony before handing over the money. "It will be in his account in two to three days," Carolyn Hapeman, of the New York Lottery assured him.
He had opted to take a lump sum, which means that after taxes he will receive $5,052,675.
Yoon Kim, the son of Elmhurst winner, Chong Bang Kim, described his father as an average guy and said that he had jumped for joy when he discovered he and his wife, Chang Hee, had won $1 million.
Kim owns a Korean restaurant but didn't name it. He purchased his ticket on a routine visit to the grocery store and will receive the money in payments of $50,000 per year, $32,251 after taxes, for 20 years.
Perez purchased his Quick Pick ticket on April 1 at the Prince Supermarket on Linden Boulevard in St. Albans.
Quote: Originally posted by JackpotWanna on Apr 22, 2008
I wouldn't mind that figure in my checking account. Wow and with only a $5 investment!
Enjoy your moola.
$5,052,675
Hi, Jackpot Wanna. I never said that $5M isn't a lot of money. (actually, I didn't write anything) However, I've always said I'd be happy with any win. Please re-read the first sentence I quoted and then the second. The key word here is "netted."
Quote: Originally posted by MillionsWanted on Apr 22, 2008
A 65% tax on lottery winnings? That sounds like way too much.
Or is it that the lump sum reduces the winning to half and he pay taxes on that: $2,000,000?
Remember, he is a resident of NY State. Their scartch-off tags are always annuity. So, unless you are amongst the rarist people in the universe, you loose 50% by choosing cash (liump sum). Blink, and the $14M became $7M. Then come the tax people. There is 6.85% for the state, gone with the second blink. Then the feds, who will grab around 38-42% with another blink. When you look at the shiny lure, you blink, and every time you blink, your win drops. If he is lucky, the city, county, or other muncipality won't get more.
This is why a lot of lottery winners go broke. They lose track of what they really win. All those rich people, the Liberals love to tax, and tax, and tax, becomes a lottery winner biggest nightmare. Go out and buy that luxury house, pay a huge tax. Go out and buy a couple of those luxury cars, pay a huge tax. Give your family members a couple hundred thousand, money gone forever. Even if you donate a tone of money, that specific ton of money is also gone forever. Next thing you know, that $5M is colleteral for a loan.
Based on his credit card debt, he has zero idea of how to manage his money. Hopefully, he will find a certified financial adviser - and L-I-S-T-E-N to that person. If not, he'll soon be on the internet as a man who lost $14M; when he NEVER had $14M to start with!
When asked to remove his sunglasses for a photo Perez said, "That's not going to happen." 
Lucky for him!
Hope he spend it wisely.
Just in time- I'd say.
Congratulations to him and the other winners!
Glad he listened to Thing 2 (Desire to win) instead of Thing 1 (Guilt)!
Congratulations and many more blessings to follow!!
I love these types of stories. Rags to riches. WTG!!!
Congrats to him! He was very lucky indeed!
"... the ticket netted him $14 million."
"He had opted to take a lump sum, which means that after taxes he will receive $5,052,675."
I wouldn't mind that figure in my checking account. Wow and with only a $5 investment!
Enjoy your moola.
$5,052,675
Hi, Jackpot Wanna. I never said that $5M isn't a lot of money. (actually, I didn't write anything) However, I've always said I'd be happy with any win. Please re-read the first sentence I quoted and then the second. The key word here is "netted."
A 65% tax on lottery winnings? That sounds like way too much.
Or is it that the lump sum reduces the winning to half and he pay taxes on that: $2,000,000?
I believe this was mentioned in the news article.
"He had opted to take a lump sum, which means that after taxes he will receive $5,052,675."
I absolutely love to hear stories like this. I'm so glad someone that deserved and needed it it so much won.
SOS what is the PROBLEM ???????????????
when HILL or O'BABA get's to be PRESIDENT>>>we will HAVE change
in ALL our POCKET'$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$I
IF I have any spare CHANGE???then I will play the LOTTERY!
LITTLE PEOPLE can live-off GOODWILL & foodbank's and they kan
say>>>>>>>>screw taxes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'm>>>>>GONNA WIN de LOTTERY and BE
free>>>>>free>>>>>>@@@@ LAST>>FREE!
give too "GOODWILL" and
dee "SALVATION ARMY" 2
LOL
PSYKOMO
Remember, he is a resident of NY State. Their scartch-off tags are always annuity. So, unless you are amongst the rarist people in the universe, you loose 50% by choosing cash (liump sum). Blink, and the $14M became $7M. Then come the tax people. There is 6.85% for the state, gone with the second blink. Then the feds, who will grab around 38-42% with another blink. When you look at the shiny lure, you blink, and every time you blink, your win drops. If he is lucky, the city, county, or other muncipality won't get more.
This is why a lot of lottery winners go broke. They lose track of what they really win. All those rich people, the Liberals love to tax, and tax, and tax, becomes a lottery winner biggest nightmare. Go out and buy that luxury house, pay a huge tax. Go out and buy a couple of those luxury cars, pay a huge tax. Give your family members a couple hundred thousand, money gone forever. Even if you donate a tone of money, that specific ton of money is also gone forever. Next thing you know, that $5M is colleteral for a loan.
Based on his credit card debt, he has zero idea of how to manage his money. Hopefully, he will find a certified financial adviser - and L-I-S-T-E-N to that person. If not, he'll soon be on the internet as a man who lost $14M; when he NEVER had $14M to start with!