Michigan Lottery pays out record $268.6 million on two multi-state jackpots won a week apart
By Todd Northrop
LANSING, Mich. — So who bought the huge winning lottery ticket at the porn shop in Highland Park?
Nobody is saying, not even Mike Greer, 49, of Farmington Hills, who came forward to collect the $128.6 million in Powerball winnings on behalf of Team Victory, a lottery club.
"I didn't buy it," Greer said today. "I never play. I'm sorry."
Greer acknowledged he was being intentionally vague about the club, which he said has "more than two and less than 100" members. The Uptown Book Store on Woodward Avenue in Highland Park is an adult novelty store that rents pornographic videos, which prompted snickers around Detroit when the Lottery announced it had sold the winning ticket.
Greer described club members as a group of family and friends who are lifelong acquaintances. He said he intends to continue to run his digital imaging business and plans to spend some of his share of the winnings fixing up his house. He likes where he lives, but says the place could use some updating.
"I'd be lying if I told you that we weren't going to indulge ourselves," he said, though he hadn't settled on how to spend it.
Members of his group decided on a lump sum payment, which means they will split $69.6 million, before taxes, said Abbey Brewer, a lottery spokeswoman. The lottery is required by law to deduct 4.35% of the winnings for state income tax, and another 25% for federal taxes, Brewer said.
Greer said he would give some money to the church, though he wouldn't say which one.
Lottery rules require someone to publicly claim the prize. Greer said he agreed to be the face of the club, "because they asked me."
Ticket sales are up at the bookstore since the news broke, said owner Sam Soof, who wasn't as lucky as his customers. "I'm sort of sad," he told told local media. "I had a ticket, and all I got was four bucks."
But don't shed too many tears for Soof: His store gets $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.
Big Mega Millions winner too
The other winner was Steve Mays, a retiree who also was tight-lipped about himself. He said he retired about 10 years ago from "a major corporation" and was comfortable until the economy tanked in 2008, when his fixed income came under strain.
"We're going to retire again and start all over," Mays said.
He bought his winning Mega Millions ticket in at the Grape 'N' Grain, a party store in Gladstone that he frequents to pick up up "beverages." He played a single dollar and let the computer pick the numbers. He also played a dollar in the Powerball, hoping to win the jackpot that Greer's group won.
He said he learned he was holding the winning ticket while standing at the machine. He saw he had the Mega Ball, so he knew he had some money coming.
"I checked the first number and I had it," he said. "They just kept coming out."
Mays said the first person he told was his wife. They have four children and six grandchildren, who can expect to share in his new wealth "eventually."
Mays chose to receive his winnings in annual payments instead of a lump sum. He'll receive $5.4 million a year, before taxes, for the next 26 years, Brewer said. Mays said he has sought professional guidance on how to invest his money "because nobody knows everything."
Greer wouldn't discuss the unusual business where the winning ticket was purchased, saying he didn't buy it and didn't know who did. A member of the group of family and friends bought it and wanted to share the wealth, he said.
"Why us?" he said. "I can only assume the Lord trusts us. It will allow us to support things we believe in."
(Click to display full-size in gallery)
Some portions sourced from the Detroit Free Press.
Congrats to the BIG WINNERS
Who cares where u guys brought ur tickets, They r WINNERS, and both of u r going home with some$$$$$$$$$$$$$
people will talk no matter what. SO NJOY guys
Mr Greer didn't buy the ticket.
Check.
Mr Greer never buys lottery tickets.
Check.
Mr Greer never plays the lottery.
Check.
Mr Greer belongs to a lottery club though.
Check.
Well alrighty then.
Glad we got that settled.
rdgrnr, you are too funny!
I must say though,
I got the impression that "Team Victory Lottery Club" ( that is what's written on the mock Powerball check in the photo) was formed AFTER the person who actually purchased the winning ticket (at the adult book store) decided to split it with family and friends.
It is possible that Mr. Greer really is telling the truth and has never purchased a lottery ticket.
I think people will say what they want about the person who actually bought the ticket at that store, but you have to consider the fact that they shared the winnings..........and did not keep it all for themselves says alot about that person...........even if they were doing so to keep from being embarassed, it still says a lot about the person willingness to share it.
And if Mr. Greer is telling the truth about never buying lottery tickets, then he never would be on the receiving end of so much money unless someone gave it to him.
Congrats to them all and may they receive good, solid financial advice and stick with it!
BTW, many lottery jackpots have been won by people who purchased their winning tickets at the local
7/11 Store.........and you can see the "adult mags" right behind the counter.......
"Porn shop lottery winner doesn't reveal himself"
Well, I guess we're lucky he didn't. That would've really been a freak show then.
LOL, good one Todd.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....I wouldn't reveal myself either! Maybe money CAN buy you brains?
congrats to the winners!
so we have a porn shop winner and it sounds like possibly a liquer store winner?
I'm thinking i need to re-evaluate my hobbies and where i buy my tickets LOL
now, if i t were me, and i bought my winning ticket at a pornb shop, the only one i wouyldnt want to know would be my grandparents. everyone else in the family wouldnt care (i would however be the butt (haha) of jokes for a bit) and the general public- i dont care what they think anyways!
nice of the winners to share the wealth!
WOW...Congratulations to the winner/winners! God bless you and your family. Enjoy your riches.
Thanks Pt2.
I'd say you're right about the club being formed after the win by someone who wanted to share with his loved ones.
God bless him.
Well I guess God isn't against gambling or porn.
It was being said that the ticket was bought by a security officer at Greektown Casino named Tonya. It was reported earlier that she was telling coworkers about the huge win. she supposely came to work and exited just as quickly as she had entered. Congrats to all involved, stay underground, and move and start enjoying a lot of life.
People are talking about this story in a funny way but I saw on the news and they show a clip of the store and the book store have a window where they sell lotto tickets. I am assuming the person bought it outside of the store and didn't enter the store. Who knows
Did "Greer" just set himself up to be audited by the IRS by saying he's never "participated" ? What could he have been thinking?
"played a single dollar and let the computer pick the numbers."
Love it.
Mr. Mike Greer is actually a very nice and very smart guy. He is a former Engineer and now has his own photography business. He was my photographer at my wedding just a few months ago. I am very happy for him, his wife and children. This could not have happened to a nicer guy. Also, our wedding pictures turned out great! Check out his site at www.mikegreer.com
Sounds like Mike Greer is the business person in the family that a family member might turn to for advice on how to claim their prize without exposing their personal business. I think filling out a 5754 form and claiming the jackpot as a group is a good ideas even if the group only has one person or members of one family, that way strangers are less likely to appoarch you asking for money.
The main headline is the the guy that won $140 MILLIONS MEGA MILLIONS with $1 QUICK PICK not the dude that won it at the porn shop.The key to winning mega millions and powerball is just to be a player like this gentleman did by playing one dollar quick pick.LIKE THEY SAY IT TAKES ONE SINGLE TICKET TO WIN BIG.
NUMBERS: 4 19 26 28 39 + MEGA BALL (14)
1 WINNERS OF $140,000,000 JACKPOT.
(TICKETS SOLD IN MI)
6 SECOND-PRIZE WINNERS OF $250,000.
(TICKETS SOLD IN CA, NJ, NY, OH)
Winners
Level
Amount
Retailer Locations:
The Mega Millions Jackpot for November 2, 2010 will be $12,000,000.00, including the annuity interest earned over a 26 year prize payment period.
For more information on national results visit www.megamillions.com
Overall chances of winning on a $1 play: 1:39.89.
*Note: The jackpot prize will be divided equally among multiple jackpot winners. All other prizes are fixed amount, except as set forth below.
**In some cases, the fixed prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis and may be lower than these published amounts. Click here for how it works.
The information contained on these pages is believed to be accurate. In the event of a discrepancy between the information displayed on this Web site concerning winning numbers and payouts and the information contained in the official and certified files maintained by the New York Lottery's Drawing Unit, those maintained by the Drawing Unit shall prevail.
Previous Payout InfoTo print, click here.
I agree and I've notice over and over again the quick pick ticket wins most offen. It is strange indeed as if they pick who wins with
the quick pick option. I hope if this is trully the case a wistle blower needs to blow the wistle and revel what they know is going on.
I take the lottery very seriously and many people do eventhough its a game of chance. Sopose to be a game of chance?
it truly all is chance and luck (however you choose to phrase it). Quick Pick tickets win more often because more people buy them. Law of statistics, there.
Oddly enough, I used to play all quick Picks except for one hand picked number, this week I have reversed that and played all wheeled numbers with one or two QP and have won more this week than i have all month. the winners were all wheeled numbers.
so who knows... its all random.
Yeah, the store has a window. And why does everyone assume it's a male? Hell, a female could've stopped and bought the ticket for everybody.
Yes! Undoubtedly some shameless hussy of a wanton and loose, lascivious, lewd and lust-filled Jezebel!
From Conan the Barbarian:
Subotai: Want to stay a night in this village, Conan?
Girl selling amulets and potions: A pittance for your protection?
Conan: Aaach, zayre all slots!
Congratulations on your wedding and thanks for posting the link. It looks like Mr. Greer is a very talented photographer who knows how to handle his business. Makes sense that he was chosen to represent the group - he probably already has the professional contacts (lawyers, financal advisor, accountants) this group will need to help sort out a very nice $windfall$. I wish them nothing but the best.
"LIKE THEY SAY IT TAKES ONE SINGLE TICKET TO WIN BIG."
Unless there are multiple tickets sold with the winning numbers, only one ticket can win whether players buy tickets one at a time or by the thousands. Obviously it only takes one ticket to win but I don't see any significants or logic behind saying players have a better chance of winning by only buying one ticket. There is no difference between a player buying a QP and hoping those numbers are drawn than another player picking numbers and hoping they are drawn. The odds are exactly the same.
Many winners have said they only bought one ticket or it was the first ticket they every bought so there is nothing news worthy and nothing to say. However a story about a player buying their ticket at a porn shop is just begging for comments.
Reading this story, my gut keeps telling me this guy actually IS the ticket buyer & being a proper business man with a good rep, of course he wouldn't want to admit being in a porn shop.
It seems pretty easy to simply say, "No, it wasn't me who bought it - I'm just the one the winner (whom I won't name) picked to come & receive the check"
Anyways, I didn't realize winning as a "club" only requires ONE person to be the public face- I thought ALL the members are required to be present & have their names published, cause now I know how I'm gonna collect if I ever win - and still remain anonymous !!!
The guy stated he liked the home he already has & wants to stay there but, buddy.....I promise you will not be able to do that now !!!! move far away as you can !!!!
Also, it's amusing to imagine a "true Bible following Church" accepting ANY of this "porno -gambling -dirty money"
but i bet they'll be right there to gladly take anything they can get !!-- Keep your money dude, or give some out directly to poor homeless folks -If God wanted the church to win He'd have sent the preacher to the adult bookstore (window, of course) Hahahaha
As the story originally ran here in Michigan. "It was a woman who who purchased the ticket at the window of the porn store. She worked as a security guard at GreekTown casino. She went into work and told her friends."
FOX2 NEWS was reporting about the woman and casino relationship. Then all went quiet until the press release last Friday.
A winner s a winner no matter where the ticket is bought. But, how much attention would this story have gotten if the owner is someone prominent in the church- half paragraph and one days worth of attention?
Are you nuts?!
The left-wing liberal media was probably praying it was someone prominent in the church so they could attack Christianity as they love to do! If the buyer of the ticket was a Christian cleric this story would have been made into a major scandal and stretched out for weeks!
It would have been fodder for Jon Stewart and Bill Maher and there would have been skits about it on Saturday Night Live. Democrats are on a mission to marginalize Christianity. They mock and ridicule it at every opportunity. They're too cowardly to attack Islam though - might get their heads sawed off.
lmao