Why The Record Mega Millions Winner Waited So Long To Claim Her Prize
The South Carolina woman who won a record $1.5 billion Mega Millions jackpot back in October has revealed that she will fulfil her ‘tremendous social responsibility’ and put the money to good use. The winner only came forward last week and has now cleared up the mystery of why she waited so long.
There had been fears that the ten-figure prize would go unclaimed, but the South Carolina Lottery finally announced earlier this month that the money had been claimed anonymously. It was not even disclosed at the time whether the winner was male or female. All that was known was that the winner had chosen the cash option of $877 million rather than the annuity, and that they had bought their Quick Pick ticket from a KC Mart in Simpsonville after letting another customer go in front of them.
More information has now been released about the big winner through a press release from her attorney Jason Kurland. Addressing the subject of why it took her 132 days to come forward, when the deadline is only 180 days, the winner’s statement said: “I want to make sure I make all of the right decisions, which is why I have taken this amount of time to collect my prize.”
Charitable Donations
South Carolina is one of the few states where winners can claim prizes anonymously, and the lucky player said that she wants to keep her identity private so that she can live ‘free of fear’. She is planning to use some of the money for ‘philanthropic endeavours’ and has already thought of several good causes she wants to support.
Specifically, some of the charities set to benefit are the City of Simpsonville Art Center; the One SC Fund for hurricane relief; the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia; In The Middle, a charity in Columbia helping women undergoing breast cancer treatment; and the Red Cross relief fund for victims of the recent Alabama tornadoes.
“I do realize that such good fortune carries a tremendous social responsibility, and it gives me a unique opportunity to assist, support and contribute to charities and causes that are close to my heart,” the winner said.
‘Incredible Luck’
The winner purchased the all-important ticket after visiting Greenville and taking a ‘scenic drive’ on her way to Simpsonville. She had not planned to play Mega Millions and described how she was left in a state of shock when she checked the results, before finally there was lots of ‘jumping and screams of joy’. She added: “Words can’t describe the feeling of such incredible luck.”
The state of South Carolina is also set to profit from $61 million in income taxes now that the jackpot has been claimed, with plans to give every taxpayer a $50 rebate. The KC Mart in Simpsonville, meanwhile, will also receive a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
The $1.5 billion jackpot was more than twice as large as the second-biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever won, but the game always offers great prizes twice a week as the jackpot starts at $40 million and keeps growing until there is a winner. You can take part now and then find out the latest winning numbers after the draws on Tuesday and Friday nights.