20 N.Y. Costco workers share $202M Powerball lottery jackpot

Jun 17, 2011, 9:12 am (48 comments)

Powerball

MELVILLE, N.Y. — The 20 oversized checks, each made out for $201.9 million, seemed appropriate for these lottery winners.

A group of 20 Long Island Costco employees calling themselves the "1937 Flatbush Avenue Dodgers" stepped forward Thursday in the parking lot of the big box store where they work to claim first prize in a June 1 Powerball jackpot.

The winners, who opted to take a lump sum payout, will share $70.2 million after taxes, New York state Lottery officials said.

Kim Karkota, one of two winners who were designated as spokespeople for the media-shy group, said the group each chipped in $5 a week and pooled their money for the lottery tickets. She said the group had only been playing Powerball together for about a month when they hit the jackpot.

"It's a great thing for everybody," said Ralph Green, 61, of Copiague, one of the new millionaires.

 Manzolillo of Lindenhurst, the elder of the group, said he nearly forgot to buy the tickets for the June 1 Powerball drawing.

"I forgot the group's money!" said Manzolillo, who realized the slip when he went to the Maulik & Chandri Stationary store in Lindenhurst to buy his usual tickets.

"I went all the way home and back to the store so I could buy our numbers," he said.

While a few said they plan to retire, most said they intend to keep their jobs.

"We don't see any reason to leave," said Green, the group's chief spokesman.

Allen VanDett, 27, whose wife, Jamie, was among the winners, said they plan to set up college funds for two daughters, ages 4 and 8 months, and have some fun.

"Maybe [buy] a Rolex or something," Allen VanDett said.

 The winning combination was 8, 18, 38, 46, 56 with the winning Powerball No. 31.

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Lottery Post Staff

Comments

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Seem like nice people .................... but I like when 1 person wins !

Thumbs Up

fwlawrence's avatarfwlawrence

Now they can afford to go to Sam's club and stock up.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by fwlawrence on Jun 17, 2011

Now they can afford to go to Sam's club and stock up.

LOL Congrats to the winners.Cheers

ConstantlyB's avatarConstantlyB

with a  pot that big...i love it more when it's shared.......CONGRATS  to all the winners!

...and they've only been playing a month!!! AWESOME!

JAP69's avatarJAP69

New York Lottery winnings are subject to state and Federal income taxes. New York City and Yonkers residents also are subject to local income taxes.

They will have a hefty tax bite for state taxes. I did not think it was that high.
State Tax on $550,000.00 or more Mad 8.97%Mad

Mario38

Another example of group play at work. Each person chipped in only $5 per week - a reasonable amount to spend on lottery tickets per week. But becuase they were playing in a group, they got the same odds to win as if they were spending $100 each per week. Most people cannot afford to spend $100 per week ($5,200 per year).

Congrats to the lucky group.

freeobama's avatarfreeobama

Congrats to all the winners,after all them taxes they should have a pretty penny left. MY day will come!!!ROFL

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Congrats to all the winners.......Hurray!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Mario38 on Jun 17, 2011

Another example of group play at work. Each person chipped in only $5 per week - a reasonable amount to spend on lottery tickets per week. But becuase they were playing in a group, they got the same odds to win as if they were spending $100 each per week. Most people cannot afford to spend $100 per week ($5,200 per year).

Congrats to the lucky group.

Actually, you're much more likely to win as an individual than with a group.

Comparatively speaking, it is very rare for a group to win.

Always go with the best odds.

Avoid groups and all the hassles and problems that go along with them.

Mario38

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jun 17, 2011

Actually, you're much more likely to win as an individual than with a group.

Comparatively speaking, it is very rare for a group to win.

Always go with the best odds.

Avoid groups and all the hassles and problems that go along with them.

It is a mathematical fact that 100 tickets have a probability of winning a jackpot that is 20 times better than 5 tickets.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Mario38 on Jun 17, 2011

It is a mathematical fact that 100 tickets have a probability of winning a jackpot that is 20 times better than 5 tickets.

Let's forget what you learned in your commune, comrade. Down here we think for ourselves. Let's just deal with facts.

It's a literal fact that the odds of an individual winning are vastly greater than those of a group.

It's a logical fact that the way to win is to play the odds.

That's just common sense.

Wake up.

Take a break from the trampoline for a few weeks.

Your brain stem is coming unplugged.

Mario38

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jun 17, 2011

Let's forget what you learned in your commune, comrade. Down here we think for ourselves. Let's just deal with facts.

It's a literal fact that the odds of an individual winning are vastly greater than those of a group.

It's a logical fact that the way to win is to play the odds.

That's just common sense.

Wake up.

Take a break from the trampoline for a few weeks.

Your brain stem is coming unplugged.

Your inability or unwillingness to understand mathematics leaves you with your usual method of reply - insults and attacks. Pathetic.

NoShame's avatarNoShame

I think the odds of a group winning versus an individual depends on how the lottery pool itself is organized and I doubt that many lottery pools/groups are organized the same.  Some pools will have everyone pitch in a dollar and buy a ticket for each dollar in the pool for that game or they'll donate only 50 cents or whatnot ir they'll collect loose change and whatnot and only buy the tickets when the jackpot gets high enough...etc, etc

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by Mario38 on Jun 17, 2011

Your inability or unwillingness to understand mathematics leaves you with your usual method of reply - insults and attacks. Pathetic.

Work on common sense first.

I'll try to teach you the rest when you've mastered that.

Now take off, hoser.

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