Quote: Originally posted by sendmedamoney on Apr 18, 2012

Old????????

Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Apr 18, 2012

They're not old, they are experienced!  With modern medicine doing it's thing, they can live to be at least 100.

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Apr 18, 2012

By Todd Northrop

Updated 6:24 pm:  Prize payout information

A retired computer systems designer and his wife, a computer programmer, have claimed the final share of the March 30 $656 million Mega Millions lottery drawing.

Merle, 65, and Pat Butler, 62, claimed the jackpot at the Red Bud Village Hall in the small southern Illinois town of Red Bud.  The winning ticket was sold at a nearby Motomart in the town of 6,000 people.

Their share of the record-setting $656 million jackpot was $218.6 million, before taxes.

The lucky couple from Red Bud decided to receive their payout as a lump-sum cash payment, which came to $158 million before taxes of 25% federal and 5% state were withheld.  Their net payout after tax withholding was approximately $110.6 million.

The Butlers' prize represents one-third of the record Mega Millions jackpot drawn on March 30.  The winners of two other tickets — one in Maryland and one in Kansas — have already been paid, but the winners preferred to remain anonymous.

Lottery rules in Illinois, however, require the winner to be named — and to appear at a one-time news conference — to assure other players that prizes are indeed paid out.

Butler describes managing the money as a full-time job right now, and laughs: "I'm not looking for sympathy," adding, "There could possibly be a vacation."

When one reporter asked Merle if they were going to move from Red Bud, he looked puzzled and said, "We really enjoy living here. We've lived here a long time."

Scores of local residents were on hand at City Hall for the ceremonies, the Chicago Tribune reports, and sent up a loud cheer outside when the winner was announced.

The couple bought a $3 quick-pick ticket at the MotoMart convenience store in Red Bud, which is about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis.

"We've been thinking of ways we can invest it," Butler says.

Butler says the couple has a "real good set of financial advisors," and waited three weeks to step forward in order to get their plans in order first.

The winners spent a sleepless night checking how many other winning tickets they'd be sharing the prize with.  "We spent the rest of the night going down to our computer to check the news and see how many winners there were," he says.

Merel Butler, a retiree, says he was watching TV when he heard the result of the drawing. He checked each number, then told his wife, Pat, "We won."

"She kind of looked at me funny, and I said, 'no we won,' and she started giggling," he says. "She giggled for abour 4 hours, I think" he says.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Merle and Patricia Butler, of Red Bud, Ill., emerged today as the final winners of a record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot drawn on March 30, 2012.

(Click to display full-size in gallery)Merle Butler holds up the winning Mega Millions lottery ticket from the March 30 drawing.

Quote: Originally posted by THRIFTY on Apr 18, 2012

$3 MEGA MILLIONS QUICK PICK TICKET TURNED INTO $218.6 MILLIONS BEFORE TAXES.

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Apr 18, 2012

Much easier SAID, than done. 

Quote: Originally posted by LottoNick56 on Apr 18, 2012

I'd say it's pretty EASY to do...  once you purchase that winning ticket, all you need to do is sit there and watch the numbers.  Just not many are capable of accomplishing it.  No actual hard work necessary! 

Quote: Originally posted by Littleoldlady on Apr 18, 2012

They're not old, they are experienced!  With modern medicine doing it's thing, they can live to be at least 100.

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Apr 18, 2012

Nice poodle golfer1960! Maybe 2nite will be your night.        

Quote: Originally posted by MississippiMudd on Apr 18, 2012

I had knowledge of how the estimated tax penalty worked a few years back.  It could have changed, but then, there was a "safe haven" that if you had more withheld than 120% (I believe that is the right number) of your tax liability from the prior year withheld in the current year, there would be no penalty.  Because the Butlers will have millions withheld, they would meet the safe haven.  They would still owe the extra taxes next April, but no penalty would apply.

Quote: Originally posted by HaveABall on Apr 18, 2012

LOL, that famous football player was probably joking so he could get easy, free, professional media  publicity!