Hollywood, FL couple wins half of $80.9 million Lotto prize

Jul 29, 2003, 5:38 pm (5 comments)

Florida Lottery

A Hollywood, Florida couple claimed half the $80.9 million Florida Lotto jackpot Tuesday at Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, choosing to reap their winnings in 30 annual installments of $1,349,000 each.

Lottery officials identified the couple as William and Amy Bashert of Hollywood. The couple could not be located for comment late Tuesday afternoon. The winning ticket was purchased at Exxon Tiger Foot Mart in Fort Myers.

''They were in disbelief. They were still numb,'' said Sheila Griffin, Lottery spokeswoman, who met the winners at lunchtime Tuesday.

The other half of the winning jackpot ticket, sold in Miami, had not been claimed.

Brisk ticket sales increased the jackpot from the publicized sum of $75 million to $80.9 million, the 10th highest total in Lotto history.

Miami Herald

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CASH Only
Time to BASH the Basherts!!

How old are they?

Todd's avatarTodd

The Florida Lottery released very little info about the winners; maybe they asked to keep things low-key.  I have not been able to find their ages.

CASH Only

I think they'll be besieged with HATE mail for choosing Annuity.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

I don't blame them for not wanting their personal information in the "public eye".  The worse thing you can do is to let them publish your personal information.  You will be hounded by newspaper reporters and all kinds of freaks, people selling things, etc....you don't know the feeling unless you have been there.  I won a small jackpot some years ago and didn't know anything about such stuff....now I know and if it ever happens again, I wouldn't even let them use my name.

CASH Only

Well, they have to worry about making sure they get each yearly check through 2032.

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